I have been hashing over in my head the best way to continue. I believe that writing about the different ancestors, both individuals and married couples, might be the best and most interesting way to proceed.


Lorenzo Dow Weinhart (gg-grandfather on my mother's side) – Lorenzo has the distinction as being my longest living ancestor. He lived to be one hundred four. He was born in Dallas County, Iowa on May 12, 1855 to Joseph and Beulah Weinhart. Joseph died of pneumonia when Lorenzo was only five. Beulah had a total of four husbands and outlived all of them. He had three brothers and a step-brother and step-sister. Charles, his oldest brother was killed in an Indian raid while serving in the U.S. Cavalry in 1871. One of Lorenzo’s earliest memories is providing fresh water from his step-father’s well to a troop of Union Soldiers. In 1880 he married Florence Archer from Adair County. They had three daughters. According to family legend she left him for a circus worker. Lorenzo married his second wife, Matilda Gordon, in 1890. They had four daughters. After spending time in Des Moines and Polk City, Lorenzo and Matilda ended up in Ankeny where he established a Poultry, Eggs, and Cream business. He was elected mayor of Ankeny twice (1910 and 1920). He eventually moved out to California to live with his daughter. When he reached the age of one hundred he was invited to appear on the Art Linkletter Radio Show. He died in Huntington Park, Los Angeles County, California on October 22, 1959. His first daughter Elsie was my great grandmother.  ¶ 3:04 PM