Dale Van Eman - dismalscientist86/FamilyTree GitHub Wiki

• Born: July 31, 1899
• Died: December 23, 1989
• Parents:Elliot Van Eman, Susie Rupert
• Spouse: Thelma Blake
• Children: Evelyn Van Eman, Bruce Van Eman
• Lived in: Greene, Iowa; Butler, Iowa; Parkersburg, Iowa
• Relationship: Miriam/Amy Sandler> Danielle Havicon > Carolyn Van Eman > Bruce Van Eman > Dale Van Eman

Early Life (1899–1916)

1900 Census:

Dale was 10 months old and lived with his parents, Elliot and Susie in Coldwater Township in Greene, Iowa where they rented their home. Elliot was employed as a barber. Both of his parents were literate, and they and their parents were all born in the United States. His father was 26 and his mother was 21. They had been married for 2 years.

1910 Census:

At age 10 Dale was living with his parents, Elliot and Susie and his 7 year old sister Leone. He was attending to school, but his sister was not (or at least there was no answer for her). His family lived in Greene, Iowa and his parents owned their home. His father continued working as a barber in a barber shop.

1916 Iowa Recorder

Dale was in the school play New Men and Old Acres at the local opera house in Greene, Iowa, alongside his future wife Thelma Blake.

Early Career and Marriage (1917–1930)

1917 Draft Registration Card:

At age 19 Dale registered for the draft. He listed his occupation as "Barber and Student" and his father as his employer, in Greene, Iowa. He was medium height and medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

1918 Military Service

Dale enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps at Drake University. The Student Army Training Corp (SATC) was a program created in 1918 to speed up the training of soldiers to go to war. Students would simultaneously take classes and train for the military. He was discharged on December 10, 1918.

1918 Drake University Matriculation Card:

Dale Matriculated to Drake University on September 23, 1918, and then switched to the law school for the 1919-1920 school year. He was Methodist. He graduated on June 1, 1922 with a LL.B. (equivalent to a JD. The JD replaced the LL.B. in 1971 \footnote{\url{https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-LB-4565}} )

1920 Census:

At age 20 Dale was enumerated in his parents’ house, despite living in Des Moines to attend Drake University (Census practice at the time was to count college students in their parents’ households). His 17 year old sister, Leone was also living at home with their parents. Their father, Elliot continued to work as a barber, and listed himself as an employer, so presumably owned his own shop by then. They lived in Greene, Iowa on 309 Fourth Street, in an owned house with a mortgage.

1921 Drake University Yearbook:

Dale was part of the Model Senate while in college and in Phi Alpha Delta (professional law fraternity)

After graduating from Drake University in 1922, Dale did some post-graduate work at the University of Chicago. He was admitted to the bar in 1922 and returned to Parkersburg, Iowa where he started to practice law with W.T. Evans in 1923.

1924 Marriage License

1925 Iowa Census:

Dale married Thelma Yolanda Blake on June 18, 1924. He was an attorney at law. They married were married at the home of Thelma's parents, a farm "1 mile north of Greene, Iowa".

Dale and Thelma lived in Butler, Iowa in a house they rented for $25 a month. They had both completed a 4 year college education. Their enumerator was sloppy. Lots of crossed-out corrections (years of education, value of home).

Family Life and Career (1927–1948)

1927 Birth Certificate:

Their daughter, Evelyn Jean Van Eman, was born on December 9, 1927. Dale’s occupation is lawyer and Thelma’s occupation is housewife. They were living in Parkersburg, Iowa.

In 1928 Dale started the Van Eman & Mulder Law Firm, which continued until its sale in 1964.

1930 Census:

Dale, Thelma and Evelyn lived in Parkersburg, Iowa. They now owned their home, which was valued at $7000, and had a radio. Dale was a lawyer in a general practice. He was listed a veteran of the World War, though from the discharge records, it seems that he was still in training when the war ended.

1931 Birth Certificate:

Their son, Bruce Blake Van Eman, was born on January 17, 1931 at 8:00 in the morning. Dale continued to practice law, with 8 years of experience.

1937 Iowa Recorder:

Dale and Thelma bought property from Henrietta Uhlenhopp in Parkersburg, Iowa.

1940 Census:

Dale, Thelma, Evelyn, and Bruce lived in Parkersburg, Iowa. They were in the same home in 1940 as they were in 1935, and it continued to be valued at $7000. Dale continued to work as an attorney at law. Thelma was a housewife. The kids were 9 and 12 and were both attending school.

1942 Draft Registration:

At age 43, Dale registered for the draft and listed himself as “employed by self”. He was 5’7”, 170 pounds, and had blue eyes and brown hair.

1944 Navy Muster Rolls:

Dale was enlisted in the Navy on August 4, 1944 and serving aboard the ship LST #133

Later Years (1949–1989)

25th Wedding Anniversary:

Dale and Thelma celebrated their wedding anniversary with a large gathering, including their married daughter, Evelyn Leach, and their future daughter-in-law, Mildred Cuvelier, who managed the serving arrangements.

1950 Census:

Dale, Thelma, and Bruce lived in Parkersburg, Iowa on Bethel Street. Dale was working as a lawyer in a private practice. Bruce was 19 and not working, presumably going to school.

Find a Grave Index: Thelma died in 1964 at the age of 64 and Dale died on December 23, 1989 at age 90. They are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg, Iowa with a joint gravestone.