| Biography | | Notes for MINNIE ESTELLE KLUMB:
Mom's eulogy at Minnie's funeral, July 23, 1986:
"Minnie Estelle Castle was born November 29, 1889 in Hampton, Nebraska, the fifth child and oldest daughter of John Jacob and Ida Lurinda Klumb.
With her four brothers (Ray, Hary, Guy, and June) already in their own homes, Minnie and her younger sister, Libbie, spent their teen years in Aurora, Nebraska. They lived above the Hamilton county jail where their father was the sheriff.
Minnie was graduated from Aurora High School in 1908, completed the District's Normal training program and taught one year in a neighboring rural school. In a two room school house she taught students from the lst grade thru high school.
Upon Libbie's high school graduation in 1910, the two girls came west with their parents to Lynden, Washington. Again, Minnie found a rural school and taught elementary grades for two years. The family then moved to Olympia where brothers Ray and Guy were operating the Capital City Creamery.
Minnie gave up teaching to work for her brothers and it was here -- dishing up ice cream cones -- that she met her future husband as he came far more often than necessary to buy ice for his shrimp business.
Minnie and Lewis Edward Castle were married in Chehalis, Washington July 29, 1915 with her brother and wife Herb and Etta Castle, standing up with them. They made their home in Olympia for the rest of their lives.
On their first wedding anniversary they were blessed with the arrival of the first of their 3 daughters, Winnifred. A year and a day later, July 30, their second daughter Doroty arrived. Nine years later, another daughter, Betty Jeane, came to make their home complete.
From the first years of their marriage, Minnie worked side by side with her husband as they owned and operated the old City Dye Works at the corner of West Fourth and Water street, and then for forty years, the Castle Cleaners on the east side at 2112 Pacific Avenue.
There Minnie stood a the steam press, did the spotting and mending, and waited on the public. Always a good listener, she established many friendships with the customers who brought not only their cleaning into the shop but also their trials and tribulations. Many lingered to share their daily experiences and concerns with Minnie.
There were very few sick days and Minnie kept at the family business until in her 80's. It was finally closed out after the death of her husband at the age of 88 in 1969.
Minnie and Lewis were firm believers in education and NEVER, NEVER missed voting in a school levy election nor did they miss an opportunity to be of help to Olympia teachers. They came to the rescue of many when the going got tough to cash school warrants or when teachers homes were about to be foreclosed on them. They lived modestly to be of help to others.
They were proud of the academic and personal accomplishments of their daughters and grandchildren. Their happiest moments were having their children and grandchildren together for their traditional July 29th gathering of the clan to celebrate their wedding anniversary, the birthdays of Win and Dot, and then Wayne. It was always a pilgrimage for Betty and family from Eastern Washington and Dottie from Mexico City. Also among the special family memories are the celebrations for Minnie and Louie's 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries.
The children and grandchildren loved the picnics at Millersylvania Park and the Sunday night popcorn and milk. As grandchildren arrived they loved riding in the delivery truck with their grandfather, watching him water witch wells around Thurston County, and joining in on the family sing-alongs. Minnie enjoyed playing the piano and singing grandpa's favorite songs -- "Spring Time in the Rockie" and "Utah Trail".
She avidly listened to baseball games on the radio and then TV; enjoyed bargain shopping for groceries, did a great deal of reading and sewed many of her own clothes.
She was a life member and past president of the Olympia Lodge of the Degree of Honor Protective Association, a former social member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Neighbors and the Cleaners and Dyers Association.
Minnie took life in stride - always working, doing her share with few complaints and no grand expectations.
She was stoic through all her final physical ordeals -- losing her first leg 6 years ago, the second three years ago and two painful surgeries in 1985 and the last 10 days at St. Peter's Hospital.
While hating to leave her 7th street home of 65 years, she graciously accepted her new life at Evergreen Convalescent Center. She enjoyed her various room mates, the staff and her sister's daily company the past 3 years.
She was sometimes reluctant to join the special events at Evergreen, saying; "I don't want to go down there with all those old ladies."
Until her last breath Friday, she was mentally alert, had an incredible memory and a concern for the world and for those around her.
... As she cared for her aging mother -- making a home for her for nearly 20 years -- Minnie's love of family continues into the present generation.
As family members -- as neighbors and friends --- we Salute and acknowledge the long live of service... a lady who was a joy to know, a comfort to others, a listener par excellant, a ready wit who wanted to live to be a hundred. She almost made it and all are grateful for these many years we had here.... As Dr. Lux said: "She was a grand lady!!"
In 1915-1916 Olympia City Directory, Minnie's occupation listed as book keeper for Capital City Creamery; residence, with J. J. Klumb
From Minnie's oral history:
- walked a mile to a train stop, boarded a train to go another mile to the school.
- didn't like shrimp. That's what Lewis brought into the creamery to get ice for.
- lived in a float house when first married. Didn't have much money. Just off East Bay Drive. Float house was heated by wood which Lewis collected from the beach or from the sawmill... bark and sawdust.... she hated the smell of green wood, and thus didn't like bonfires on a saltwater beach.
- Teaching in Nebraska she made $45 a month teaching in one room school house, grades 1 to 12. In Lynden she made $55 a month in a two room school house, teaching grades 1-6.
From marriage certificate in state archives, mother's maiden name listed as Ida Boslaw.
More About MINNIE ESTELLE KLUMB:
Fact 2: July 23, 1986, Masonic Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington
Fact 4: Aurora H.S., Nebraska
Fact 8: Degree of Honor;
Fact 9: school teacher, seamstress
Notes for LEWIS EDWARD CASTLE:
No children by Zoe Cross.
SSN: 532-32-6446, as filed for death benefits.
Marriage with Zora Cross documented in Olympia newspaper. Marriage took place at Mud Bay by Rev. J. M. Hayes; marriage in the home of the step-father of Lewis, John Peters
Listed in 1910 census living next to N.B. and Sarah Peters at Mud Bay; with wife Zara; working in logging camp; married 4 years; no children
From obituaries:
Owner of Castle Cleaners in Olympia, died Saturday in an Olympia nursing home. Mr. Castle had been in the cleaning business in Olympia for 43 years...He was born in Dubuque, Iowa... and came to Olympia with his parents, Thomas and Sarah Castle, in 1892. He had been in the timber business before buying City Dye Works in 1921. Five years later he started Castle Cleaners on State Ave East and the Castle family are still operating the business. Mr. Castle was a member of the AOUW, the Modern Woodmen and the Degree of Honor. His home was at 1418 E. 7th Ave E. ..... He operated City Dye Works here from 1921 until 1926 and then started the Castle Cleaners on State Avenue East.
(He was diagnosed with TB, probably about 1926...he was advised to move to a drier climate, and bought out of the city cleaners with some sort of legal stipulation that he was never ever to operate a cleaning establishment within the Olympia boundary again. The lawyer Bigelow had something to do with this. When he returned, well, he initially opened another cleaners, but then had to move it to just beyond the city boundary.)
In 1915-1916 Olympia City Directory, Lewis Castle address listed as 431 Jefferson.
In 1917-1918 City Directory, Lewis E (Minnie E) listed as driver for City Dye Works; home 3rd and Chestnut.
Not listed in 1921-22, or 1923 Directory. From Minnie's oral history, he bought the Dye Works in 1921, and ran it with Minnie until 1969.
Affidavit of Lewis: "I, Lewis E. Castle, was born in Dubuque, Iowa March 16, 1881. My father, John Thomas Castle, and brother George came to Olympia in 1891. Mother came the following year with the rest of the children, Charlie, Herbert, myself, Roy, and sister Frances.
Daily Olympian newspaper article about their 50th wedding anniversary, stated that Castle came to Olympia from Fort Dodge, Iowa with his parents in 1892.
From Minnie's oral history:
- in younger days before married, for entertainment Lewis and brothers rowed across the bay from Arcadia to go to dance hall, danced all night, then went back in morning.
- From Belmore, moved to Arcadia.
- Lewis was buying popcorn from J.J. Klumb before he knew Minnie.
- Got his leg sliced open when living at Hartstene, maybe as teenager. He was 37-38 when he got married. Rowed from Hartstene to Olympia to get it attended to. Ax slipped and went down his leg... lower leg from knee on down to bone.
- Didn't have much education.. maybe some school at Hunter's Point, or old Washington School.
- Was working on a shrimp boat when he married Minnie. Harrigan's boat. He took care of the canning. Had been a logger working on a shift, then also worked on the boat. Lost all their tools and couldn't find any, so had to quit.
- After marriage, worked for Ray in creamery... got tired at that, not paying enough for all the work he did. Oliver out of a job, so Lewis took job delivering and picking up laundry for cleaning. All kinds of loggers stayed at the Bayview hotel, so they got a lot of business there.
- He worked a year for Ray. 1921 Lewis and Minnie bought out the cleaners.
- Bought house on 7th street before Dottie was born, moved in May 1, 1917. . Before that living in float house. Roy and wife had a float house on the other side of them, then moved to Shelton.
- Arrived in WA Mar 18, 1892 by train.. took 8 days from Dubuque. During snow storm. 11 years old when he came
- Father and George had come out first to WA, then rest of family later. All worked in the woods.
- Separated from first wife after a year or so... Zoe Cross .. didn't have any children.. don't know if she ever married again or whether she stayed around here.
First Marriage listed at State Archives; wife listed as Zora Cross of Thurston Co; married by Rev. R. M. Hayes; at Olympia; witnesses Francis Castle and Mrs. N. B. Peters; occupation yare foreman; age at marriage 24.
Marriage license and marriage return in State archives: listed as second marriage for Lewis; marriage performed by W. S. Lemmon, christian minister; witnesses were Etta Castle and Herbert Castle, both of Centralia
More About LEWIS EDWARD CASTLE:
Fact 2: Masonic Cemetery, Tumwater, WA
Fact 9: Logger, dry cleaners |