Do you know how/why you were named?

For many generations, most families named at least some of their children after their parent or a grandparent...some had several middle names, with one of them maybe being the Christian name, followed by other names with various purposes or backgrounds.
My middle name comes from my grandfather August Kusel, one of my brothers has the middle name of Gene after our mother's brother.
Mother had 2 middle names after her mother's first and middle name: Clara Mae.
Mother's one brother has 2 middle names John Dick after their paternal and maternal grandfathers.
Mom's maternal grandmother has 3 middle names: Anna Friederica Caroline.

Many older generation Manning families have very similar situations but, today, this is less common to no family connections for the naming of their children.

I recently received an interesting e-mail from a good friend and classmate, Mark Rowedder, who had been reading some of my featured stories and one of the Doctors listed as a pallbearer caught Mark's eye...
Below is his e-mail and some background on the Doctor he was named after.
While I'm sure most people won't care much about how Mark was named, I wish more people would send me little anecdotal stories like this, so I can archive them in my Manning Historical Database.


Colene (Gray), Mark, and Virgil Rowedder 1957

This e-mail down below from Mark Rowedder inspired me to have Connie Petersen see what she could find on Dr. Edward Mark of Manilla.
Ironically in Dr. Robert Williams obituary, Dr. Amos Carlile was also listed as a pallbearer which is linked farther down below under another feature I made.
What's in a name?
My dad, Amos Kusel, was named after Dr. Amos Carlile - my grandmother Kusel liked him so well she gave dad his first name of Amos.
Many people were named after a relative but it is interesting when someone is named from outside the family, like Mark Rowedder.
My middle name comes from my grandfather, August Kusel. My brother Douglas' middle name comes from our Uncle Gene Ehrichs…mother's younger brother.
Not surprising there are always more little connections such as Adele Gray (Colene's sister) graduated with Gene Ehrichs…
I hope this feature will cause people to stop to think about how/who they might have been named after…just little tidbits of historical information, while it may not seem interesting or important, but is information I like to document and preserve. More pieces of the Manning Puzzle.

November 25, 2024 e-mail
Hi, Dave
We saw the post on Quilts of Valor- Martha in particular was interested as she is a member of the local chapter- she and her "partner," one of my former teachers, have designed and constructed many quilt tops. Quilting is her main "retirement job." Thanks for sharing
Also, I was looking at Dr. Williams obit. you had and noticed one name of his pallbearers, Dr. Mark of Manilla.
Don't know if you knew this but my mom barely survived a couple serious illness as a child…Mom had Rheumatic Fever, which was blamed for her arthritis issues in her right side, and also had high fever from an infection from tonsils. Her fever spiked and my grandparents rushed her to a hospital (I remember being told in Carroll?) and a Dr. Mark (assume the same) did emergency surgery to remove them.
Gram {Bernice (Frank) Gray} told me, I may have been named for the doctor since he gets credit for saving mom's life.
Mom told me they gave me a short first name to go with Rowedder but she agreed Dr. Mark was part of my naming.
Thought you'd be one to find that interesting.
Have a great Thanksgiving, Dave.
As always, thanks for the work you do.

Mark Rowedder

Dr. Edward Merle Mark
Birth 1905
Death September 14, 1965
Burial Lynwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Iowa
Son of Louis Edward and Emily Viola (Moger) Mark

Clarksville, Iowa
Dr. E.M. Mark underwent a major operation at the Charles City hospital Monday morning. His mother, Mrs. Emma Mark of Harvard, Nebraska, is with him.
Mason City, Globe Gazette, January 22, 1947

Lightning Strikes Manilla Structures
Special to the Nonpareil
MANILLA

Lightning struck the chimney of the Cash Trading Store during Sunday's electric storm and splintered a corner of the building. A wire conducted the electricity to the Fiscus Barber shop and started a fire in a stack of towels. A tree was splintered in the yard of Dr. E.M. Mark.
Carroll, Daily Nonpareil, August 16, 1938

DR. MARK ESTABLISHES CLARKSVILLE PRACTICE
Clarksville, Iowa

Dr. E.M. Mark, formerly of Denison, has arrived with his family in Clarksville and has opened an office for the general practice of medicine in the building which was occupied by Dr. R.E. Shaw.
Dr. Shaw has gone to Iowa City for a six-month post graduate course in obstetrics, after which he will be associated with the Dr. Rohlf Memorial Clinic in Waverly.
Dr. Mark's family consists of his wife and two sons.
Waterloo, Iowa, Courier, July 11, 1941

Clarksville's Only Physician, Dr. Mark, Dies
COURIER NEWS SERVICE
CLARKSVILLE

Funeral services for Dr. E.M. Mark, 60, Clarksville's only doctor, who died unexpectedly Tuesday night, are pending at Hammel Martin Funeral Home here.
He died of a heart attack while performing medical duties at the Charles City Hospital.
Surviving are his wife, two sons: the Rev. Edward Mark, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Dr. Allyn Mark, Minneapolis.
Courier, September 15, 1965

DOROTHY LEIGH MARK
CLARKSVILLE
Dorothy (Leigh) Mark, 93, of Clarksville, died Friday, October 31, 1997, at the Community Nursing Home in Clarksville, where she had been a resident since 1987.
She was born on September 8, 1904, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Enos and Etta Leigh. She graduated from the University of Nebraska and later worked at the Omaha Public Library.
In November 1929, she married Dr. Edward Merle Mark in Omaha. They moved to Clarksville in 1941, where he established a medical practice. She assisted him for many years as a receptionist and was later employed by the Butler County Department of Social Services, eventually becoming director.
Dorothy was a strong supporter of the Clarksville Public Library and served as a member of the board from 1943 to 1987. She served as president of the group for a number of years and was president during the building of the new library.
Dorothy was a charter member of Chapter IT P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was initiated in 1927. Chapter M of Omaha and had been recognized by her chapter on her 50-year membership in the Sisterhood.
She also was a longtime member of Eastern Star, was a member of the High Hopes Investment Club and an active member of Community Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Women's Society.
Survivors include two sons, Rev. Edward L. Mark of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Dr. Allyn Mark of Iowa City; four grandchildren, Curt Mark of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kristen Mark of Chicago, Illinois, Jonathan Mark of Seattle, Washington, and Jessica Mark Welch of Cambridge, Massachusetts; a great-granddaughter; and a brother, Lewis R. Leigh of Omaha.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1965; and a sister, Eleanor Strain.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 5 at Community Church, Clarksville, with Rev. Allen Poore-Christensen and Rev. Julie Poore-Christensen officiating.
Burial was in Lynwood Cemetery, Clarksville.
Waverly Democrat, Waverly, Iowa, November 6, 1997

DOROTHY LEIGH MARK
CLARKSVILLE, IOWA
Dorothy Leigh Mark, 93, of Clarksville, died Friday, October 31 at the Community Nursing Home, Clarksville, after a lengthy illness.
She was a social director.
Survivors include two sons, Rev. Edward L. Mark of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Dr. Allyn Mark of Iowa City; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and a brother, Lewis R. Leigh of Omaha, Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Edward Merl Mark in 1965; and a sister, Eleanor Strain.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 5 at the Community United Methodist Church with burial in Lynwood Cemetery, both in Clarksville.
Bremer County Independent, Waverly, Iowa, November, 4, 1997

Manning
Perhaps never in the history of the town has there been such a building boom as now on. Too, practically every house that is being built this year will be the home of the builder.
More new houses would have been built, but the lack of carpenters has kept other new homes from being built.
George Dethlefs has just completed his second new building. He expects to sell both before the year is over. The other citizens building new homes are Claus H. Reinholdt, Jens Hansen, Will Schelldorf, Ward Billick, George Schelldorf, Caroline (Mrs. Martin) Brunnier, George J. Ohde, Chris Kaiser, Herman Vogt, Adolph Hinz, Hannes Hass, Henry Opperman, Edward C. Perry, and Charles Rocksien.
Marshalltown, Iowa, Evening Times Republican, August 26, 1913


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