W-Landau\W-1894-RLIB.DOC

Generation +1 Son #4 of William Landau of Oberlin

	1894 Landau-Bobbitt
born	1894-03-21 Rell Fredrick Landau Kanona Ks	1896-02-24 Ila Alberta Bobbitt Sand Springs Okla
married	1920-02-15 Oberlin Ks
died	1965-11-02 Oberlin Ks	1986- Oberlin Ks
father	1856 William Landau	1865 Francis Marian Bobbitt
mother	1860 Nancy French	1865 Julia Lucy Comstock
#1 child	1923-01-22 Darrell Wayne Landau Oberlin Ks	1929-12-04 Mary Hamilton
#2	1927-09-04 Phyllis Corine Landau Oberlin Ks	19xx George Brown
#3	1929-07-06 Marjorie Elaine Landau Oberlin Ks	19xx Dick Hunter 19xx Len Krisman

Rell Landau Ila Bobbitt

Rell Landau Ila Landau

Darrell Phyllis Marjorie

Phyllis & Marjorie 1932 Marjorie & Phyllis

Marjorie Rell Darrell Ila Phyllis

Phyllis Rell Darrell Ila Marjorie

Marjorie Julia Dick Rell Phyllis Ila George Monica Mary Darrell

40th Wedding Anniversary Dick Marjorie Ila & Rell Eric + Phyllis Kirt + George

40th Nina & Earl, Margaret & Francis, Corna & Wayne Dora & Earl Holden & Neva, Lee & Hazel, Phillis & George

40^th Holden Neva Lee Hazel Phyllis Ila Rell Marjorie Nina __ __ Wayne.

Warren, Mary, Patty, Max, Hazel, Ann, Marjorie Don, Darrell, Jack

left: Darrell, Mary, Marjorie, Phyllis, Ila & Rell right: Mary, Julia, Ila, Darrell, Monica

***O***

The Johnson’s at Rell and Ila’s new home S Buffalo St. Oberlin KS about 1923

Home #1 20x S Buffalo Home #2 306 W Oak St Home #3 102 E North St

Rell & Ila lived at Home #1 from 1921 till 1930, They sold this house & moved in with Grandmother Bobbitt for briefly before moving into homes near their new home being built at 306 W Oak St. They lived at 306 W Oak from about 1931till about 1960 when they moved into their second new home at 102 E North St. Rell died at this house of a heart attach in 1965 having returned from a trip to Kansas City. Ila lived in this same house till she moved across the street into the Good Sameritan Home where she died at age 92. Each of these homes encompassed a different era. The home on south Buffalo was when the town was building it's sewes, installing water mains and electical power. The home on Oak Street was the time of the dust storms, the great depression, the Roosevelt years and durring WWII. It was from here the kids went off to school and got married. This home was the site of many family gatherings and where Ila & Rell celibrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Almost all members of the family were to know this home quite well. The home on E North street was Rell & Ila's Retirement Home. They had made their own plans and built on Oak St and wanted to design and have another one built. They both very much enjoyed this joint endeavor.

Home #2 306 W Oak St Oberlin Ks 40th Rell & Ila with artifacts from 1st

Oberlin Herald July 1910. Miss Ila Bobbitt, one of the compositors in this office, is taking a week's vacation and rusticating in the country.

OBERLIN HERALD 1965

Twice within one week, death has struck down a retired businessman and leader of the community. Rell Landau, 71, suffered a fatal heart attach at his home about 5:15 pm Tuesday. Although he had been in failing health the past six months, death was unexpected.

Funeral services were set for Friday, November 5 (1965) at the Federated Church. At present, time had not been set.

Mr and Mrs Landau returned only Monday from a week's visit with their daughters, Mrs George L (Phyllis) Brown of Overland Park and Mrs Dick (Marjorie) Hunter at Kansas City, Mo, and their families. On the way home they spent Sunday night in Topeka with Mrs Landau's sister Mrs Francis (Margaret Bobbitt) Barclay. He attended Rotary luncheon at the Green Lantern Cafe at noon Tuesday and appeared to be as well as usual.

Landau has been associated with the Farmers National Bank since 1920, when he served as field representaive for both the bank and the Farmers Loan and Abstract Co. He was made a director of the bank in 1945 and within the same year became vice president. In January 1955 he became president, and except for about a year in 1959, when the late Harold Metcalf was president, served in that capacity and as chairman of the board until in 1964, when because of his health he asked to be relieved of the presidency. His request was granted, but he was persuaded to remain as board chairman. At the annual meeting in January, although he was unable to attend because of illness, he was re-elcted to that office.

At the February meeting of the Bank Board he resigned as chairman of the board, and was succeeded by Carl L Frickey.

He was instrumental in organizing the Reserve Building & Loan Assn in 1922 and served as secretary for many years. He was chairman of the board of this institution at the time of his death.

He was born in 1894 at Kanona, attended both Oberlin grade school and DCHS. He married Ila A Bobbitt at Oberlin in 1920.

Landau was a school teacher for several years, worked three years as a printer and at one time was Register of Deeds. He served in the U S Army in 1918-19. He belonged to the Masonnic Lodge and the American Legion, was a Rotarian since 1931 and was a past president.

There is one son, Darrell W Landau of Garden Grove, Calif, besides the daughters, Phyllis and Marjorie.

Besides his widow Ila and three children, Darrell, phyllis, and Marjorie he leaves 6 grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs Holden (Neva) Simpson, Mrs Earl (Nina) Tally, and one brother Earl Landau.

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Rell and Ila had four children, one died in infancy, all born in a little house on S Buffalo Ave Oberlin Ks. It was at the end of a dead end street terminated by a drainage ditch and a railroad spur along same for storage of grain box cars waiting to be filled at the Mill in back of their home. In 1931 they built a home at 306 W Oak St their home till after their children were married. In 1960 they built a home at 102 E North St. Both homes were designed on their kitchen table, Rell had done the electrical wiring for the one on Oak St himself to save money as the country went into the depression years and the weather earned a reputation as the "dirty thirties". In the years just prior and after clouds of dust darkened the southern horizon and converted miday to night. Top soil from Oklahoma & southern Kansas decended like a fog. Kids were let out of school and on one occasion Rell made it home by driving with the car door open with one foot on the curb to find his way up Cass Ave feeling for the turn off at the alley to the garage in back of their home. Coming into the house his face was coated with air saturated silt a ghostly look made more so by the redish haze blocked illumination. The night time bright light reduced to a dim glow at midday. Those were tough years for everyone but Rell & Ila like their brothers and sisters had been conditioned to weather difficulites.

Rell was born in a Sod House on a Homestead near Kanona Ks. Ila in the newly opened state of Oklahoma formerly Indian Territory. Ila's father had died when she was still in grade school and Rell as one of nine kids doing farm chores was not what you'd call pampered. Rell had taught school before going into service, the Infantry WWI. Ila worked at Campbells Drygoods and then at the Oberlin Herald. Oberlin paved many of the streets at the close of WWI, red bricks of remarkable durability considering the freezing thawing rain dehydration and heavy loads they have seen. Rell & Ila spruced up their little house at the end of the dead end street. The Out House was put inhouse, electric lights installed along with running water and a phone. Rell built a Kitchen table to go with chairs from Grandma Bobbitt, a magazine rack and a stand to hold the new Atwater Kent Radio. The radio tube numbers were single digit. A back porch was added and screened in and the cellar under the house enlarged to hold more canned goods in its cool dampness. Gravel was added to the front street and it's rutts periodically removed by the city 4 mule grader, mules and grader were hand operated - Rell was on the Street and Alley commision. After the train overshot the rail stub from the Flour Mill in back and smashed the chicken house, the chicken house was moved. In its place was a new garage for the Company Car with coal bin on the side. The first car was an open Model-T touring car, it sat outside like it's peers the horse drawn wagons; the new Model-T coupe seems to have rated a garage. Things were upbeat - even with the Wall Street Crash of 29' - there was still Chicken Every Sunday for family get togethers. Most of the new fixins were do-it-yourself, the garden was tended and the hens laid eqqs, Ila made bread, scrubed cloths by hand and hung em out for the wind/sun to dry. Everyone was poor but no one knew it, everyone felt well blessed; they never had it so good, toilet paper to flush, coal /coal oil (kerosene) to burn, stuff to can babies to tend. Things were not easy but they were very happy days when they dressed in their best and joined in singing hymns every Sunday. There were lots of family and cousins about.

The term Prairie Town didn't fit Oberlin. In the words of the High School song it was Nestled in the Sappa Valley. One drove out to the undulating plains, down town was in the flat of the creek basin. Trees grew with the town making it a comfortable place relatively speaking during hot or cold weather.

PROUD OF MY POPA (written by Ila age 85, 03-08-1981)

Being house bound because of illness one has few alternitives; read, write and reminisce, and sit in my easy chair and watch the cars, trucks, pickups, vans and what have you roll up and down Penn Ave.

Recently my thoughts have dwelt on our first real home on West Hall next to City Park, which later became Chautauqua Park, and our new home which Papa built.

We arrived in Oberlin on Jume 6, 1904, after living in Dresden for two months. The left-over merchandise from our father's store in Ringwood, Okla, had been shipped by freight via Rock Island RR after selling the merchandise to Lance Alexander we came on to Oberlin. Our first rented home owned by Mr Vale was up Griffith Ave, a block south of Hiway 36. This house was torn down years ago. Our second rented house was at 309 W Commercial, west of the Methodist Church. Our sister Margaret was born in this house, June 15, 1905.

In the Register of Deeds office it is recorded in Book 33-330, "F. M. (Francis Marian) and Julia Bobbitt received the deed dated Oct 2, 1905 at 3:05 pm to lots 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, Block 19 Summit Add to Oberlin. Purchase price was $1200 - Paid $600 down; mortgage for $600." The previous owner was a Mr Witham.

It would seem that our Papa had dreams from the very beginning. Apparently he started the new house at 705 W Hall, soon after our moving to the property in the fall of 1905. In the 75 years ago item in the Oberlin Herald recently it stated "Mr Bobbitt is erecting a house east of the City Park." I remember that our Father helped to build the new Chis Mines home on his farm northwest of Oberlin, because our first telephone conversation was with him when he called from the Mines home to our neighbors the Jim Mahannas. We did not have a phone yet. What a thrill to talk to him.

The new house was practically finished by the spring of 1906. It had been a cold, wet spring and our father had taken a cold, resulting in a condition which could not be conquered by Oberlin Doctors. He was taken to Christs Hospital in Topeka; (now Stormant Vale) where he died June 3 1906. A post mortum was performed and was diagnosed mastoid. Medical technology at that time had not reached the point of a cure. So it was that in less than eight months after our move to our home by the Park our Papa was gone. He had built for us a new home which we were all able to enjoy until we were all married and gone from home. Our mother rented out the new house for 8 or 9 years. A bedroom was added, built by Geo McMullen, as we were becoming grown up young folks, and looked forward to moving into the newer home, which we did around 1915. Dad and I were married in this house Feb 15, 1920. Our mother lived here until her death of a heart attach Sept 9, 1936.

In more recent years the house has been paneled, remodeled, to include modern facilities and is very attractive. Brother Ray built a house in between our "new house" and the one next to the Park. This old home has also been remodeld and is extremely attractive.

Our Papa was a natural musician, playing any instrument he picked up. His favorite was the violin. He bro't it, and his cornet, harpsicord and his big base drum from Oklahoma. He would play our old pedal organ while one of us held his harp in his mouth from over his shoulders. That was an "orchestra" in itself.

PROUD OF MY MOMMA (written by Ila age 86, 08-15-1982)

Sometime ago while I was recouperating from an illness my thoughts seemed to center on the home at 705 W Hall which our father had just completed before his death in June 1906. I was married in this home and our mother passed away in the home. I had the inspiration to write "Proud of my Papa", at that time.

I am equally proud of my Moma. It was always Papa and Moma in those days. Her parents both died in Marble Rock, Iowa, when she was very, very young. She lived with her grandparents, her Aunt Em Rosencrans and Uncle Will Comstock until she was grown. She had the courage, faith and stamina to withstand the trials and hardships which were her lot for a good part of her life.

She taught school in Iowa and later came to Sutherland, Nebraska, to visit her Aunt Lucy Gummere. She taught one term in that vicinity. Her hand writting was beautiful. I have never seen any which was as nearly perfect. Her marriage certificate is filled out in her own handwriting. She met our father, Francis Bobbitt, who was farming in this vicinity. They were married March 23-1890. Two children, a little girl Marvel and a little boy Willie died in infancy. Brother Ray was born in Nebraska, a healthy one. Oklahoma, or Indian Territory then, was open for claims and homesteads. Wanting to try it out, our father went to Indian Territory in the spring of 1894. Mother followed later with year old Ray, driving a covered wagon. I was born near Tulsa in 1896. The family later moved to Walthal, a post office grocery store town, where Earl and Hazel were born. Then later to Ringwood, when our father gave up farming after an injury. Father and mother ran a grocery-drygoods store until the urge to come to Kansas was too great. Mother used to say "We could become nicely settled on one place, when it was up and move again". She always seemed to take it in stride.

We landed in Dresden via Rock Island in April 1904, and on to Oberlin June 6. Then it was that Papa bought the home at 709 W Hall in 1905 and built the new house at 705 W Hall, on vacant lots. His death in Christ's Hospital in Topeka took him at such a young age, not quite 38 in June 1906. Then again our mother must muster up her courage and faith to carry on alone to care for her five young children. Sister Margret was born in Oberlin June 15-1905. Ray was 12, I was 10, Earl 8, Hazel 6 and Margaret nearly 1 year old. I can never remember "going hungry". We had three cows and chickens at our home next to the old Chautauqua Park. These helped a lot to feed us. To help with expenses mother did sewing and ironing at home for other people. At mealtime we all sat down together at the table and bowed our heads while mother asked the blessing. These are fond memories as it seemed in later years that school activities, jobs or whatever prevented us from always gathering at the table at the same time.

Mama continued to live in the home which our Papa built until all the children had left the nest and until her death Sept 9-1936. On Sunday Sept 6, after Phyllis's 9th birthday on the 4th, we were having a family dinner at our home at 306 W Oak. The boys were enjoying a card game and we girls just visiting in the afternoon when Moma said if we didn't mind she believed she would go home. The boys wanted to take her home but being the wonderful mother she was, she insisted on walking. She walked everyplace she went in those days. She suffered the heart attach that evening. She lived until brother Earl arrived from St Louis on Wednesday eve Sept 9.

------------O-------------

Darrell, Phyllis & Marjorie went to the Oberlin City Grade School then the Decatur Community High School. Darrell graduated from High School in 41', went 1 1/2 years to Kansas State in Manhattan. He then volunteered to be drafted by Rell head of the local draft board and went into the Army Air Corp in Jan of 43'. He returned from service in 46', went back and finished school with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 49'. He married Mary Hamilton, a neighbor girl in summer of 46' and they started their own home.

Phyllis finished high school in 44 and attended Kansas State in Manhattan for two years before going to work as County Clerk, she later moved to KC and worked for RCA. She met an married George Brown and they too started their own home.

Marjorie graduated from Kansas State in 5? then went to work in Topeka where she met and married Dick Hunter and they started their own home.

Ray, Hazel, Rell, Edith, Lee -- They loved playing cards

Ray and Rell (RoyTan) smoked cigars, Lee smoked Chesterfied and Francis Lucky Strike cigarets

Ray & Rell died of sudden heartattacks, Lee of lung cancer, Francis of heart failure

Oberlin Garden Club take at American Legion 1976

back: Ruby Diehl, Audry Steinmetz, Elta Mines, Louise Torlumkey, Ila Landau, Betty Schrammel, anna Cederberg, Ethyl Riley, Lora Heller.

Middle: Hazle Bowles, Louise Helmkamp, Tracy Waldo, Vada Shaw, Erlyne Nichols, Edith Cederberg, Lena Wenger, Frieda Scott, Rosa Hahn.

Seated: Mavis Urban, Agnes Morrison, Hattie Gilbert, Arvida Wenger, Sina Lohaefener, Mary Woodward.

Absent: Bernice Wilcoxen.

left: Rell, George, Kirt, Phyllis, Dick seated: Monica, Marjorie, Julia right: Ila, Monica, Julia, Rell

left: Ila, Rell, Darrell, Mary right: David, Julia, Ann (Earling) Bobbitt, Monica, Darrell

About 1960 ? This was the last time they were all together

At left, Mothers Day 1953

Front center, Violet & Mike Roach, Rell & Ila Landau, stopped by Selma CA police to receive key to city. Arranged by Elta (between Vilet & Mike) and Earl (between Mike & Rell) Sproul formerly of Oberlin

Visiting transportation of their youth

As we remember them

Where they rest in Peace

Ownership of 102 E. North; Corner of Penn Ave & North St

Prepared by Ila Landau about 1977

May 29, 1879 United States to John A. and Sarah Rodehaver (Patent)

April 14, 1881 Rodehaver to J. c. and Lou Wilson; Deed $100

Wilson to Bank of Oberlin; becomes Johnson Addition

Surveyed and laid out June 15, 1885

Oct 1887 Bank of Oberlin to J. C. Wilson; $2495.00

April 30, 1896 Wilson to Walter A. and Julia Smith; Deed

March 1911 Walter A. Smith to Wm S. & Maggie Langmade; Deed

W. S. Langmade to Benton & Smith Investment Co.

May 1916 Capital Savings Bank and Trust to W. S. Langmade

Property to Benton & Hopkins; switched back and forth

May 2, 1921 W. S. Langmade to Caleb Smick; $5000 Deed

Oct 10, 1922 C. W. & Lois Smick to Decatur Co. Abstract; Deed

Aug 25, 1923 Decatur Co Abstract to Ralph Clark; Deed

Sept 18, 1925 Decatur Co Abstract to Lee Ora Benton; Deed

Mar 6, 1926 Lee Ora Benton to Ralph Clark; Deed

Unpaid sewer and paving

Title switch back and forth.

Mar 1926 Ralph & Fay to Lee Ora Benton

Dec 17, 1929 Lee Ora & Gerald to Benton & Hopkins

1930 Title switched back and forth with Capital Savings, etc

June 1938 1933, 34, 35, 36, 37 taxes unpaid

Sept 1944 Benton Hopkins to Agnes Dowling; back taxes paid

1945 Right of way for gas line

Jan-Feb 1946 Agnes Dowling to Loyd & Doris Francis

Loyd & Doris Francis mortgage to Reserve Bldg & Loan

Aug 1946 Release of Mortgage to R. F. Landau

May 1947 Loyd & Doris Francis to Cushenberry & John Breemer; deed

July 1947 Cushenberry to John Breemer; Quit Claim Deed

July 14, 1947 John & Edith Bremer to Cushenberry

Dec 18, 1951 Cushenberry to Redman Paddock; “argument” for deed

Redman Paddock, remodeled to apartment, rented

Jan 20, 1953 Redman Paddock to Frank and Betty Ellis

$5000 mtg to Reserve B & L

Mar 1959 $1700 mtg to Reserve B & L

July 25, 1960 Frank & Betty Ellis to R. F. & Ila Landau; Deed

July 8, 1976 Ila Landau to Darrell, Phyllis & Marjorie

From the records it seems that J. C. Wilson built the house on the property in the mid 1880’s. He was owner for 15 years.

W. S. Langmade owner for 10 years with many mortgages

Deeds flipped back and forth, fast for 16 years.

Agnes Dowling was owner for a few years; back taxes

Loyd & Doris Francis owner for aprox 1 ½ years

Cushenberry & Bremer owner aprox 4 ½ years

Redman Paddock owner for 1 year

Frank & Betty Ellis owner for 7 ½ years

Rell & Ila Landau owner; (first time property was out from under mortgage)

Old house was moved to SW part of town, later torn down. New home was built in 1961.

According to Dot Addleman and Lena Eiler, both old timers, the first bathtub in Oberlin was in stalled in this house on the corner of Penn Ave & North St

This location was termed in Acre Tracts instead of Lots.