Irven Martin Phillips was born April 7, 1896 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa to John W and Ida M. Phillips. He was the third of ten children. Sometime before he was 4, he was sent by his mother to be raised by her father, Levi C. Mills. He is listed as such in the 1900 Census. It is unknown why this was done, but it is possible that it was done for one of his sisters also, but that has not been proven. Levi shows up by himself in the 1910 Census, but we know that Irven registered for the draft for WWI in 1917, and at that time he said he was working on the farm of JL Irving. Sometime around 1906 or 1907 his father, mother and siblings moved to Custer County, Nebraska. Ida died there November 7, 1909.
Irven was drafted to serve in WWI. He spent a year in basic training and a year in France. He drove ambulance trucks and other vehicles. It is possible that he was a conscientious objector. During his time in basic training he met Frank Poulson and they became good friends. Also while he was in France Levi died. Since he had no real roots left in Iowa, Frank invited him to live with his family in Merna, Custer County, Nebraska after they were discharged. He found work as a rural route mail carrier and he also found his bride, Ferne Rodgers. This story is further documented in 2 newspaper articles found in the Photo Album for Irven. Note that nothing is said about Irven's mother or father even though his mother died in 1909 in Custer County and is buried in Mason City.
Irven worked his mail route for 30 years. A newspaper article that is included in Irven's Photo Album provides a whimsical account of his time as a mail carrier and his last day on the job.
A few years before retiring from the postal service he studied the Bible, and was ordained as a minister in 1942 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He served churches in Anselmo and Monroe, as well as the Cliff Union Church west of Merna. For many of the 50 years of his ministry he served the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Broken Bow. He was a participant of the building and dedication of a new EUB church building in 1963 in Broken Bow.
His wife Ferne passed away in 1968, Shortly after he moved to Johnson City, TN, to be near Elwyn and Margaret. He purchased a lot on Boone Lake and put a mobile home on it. Elwyn got an old houseboat and tied it up to his dock so he could fish.
Irven had some health issues later in life. In 1967 he had ruptured diverticuli, and traveled to Lincoln for a major surgery. In a letter to Miley Rodgers, Ferne described his condition. "He (Irven) had lots of surgery for one time - they removed the gall bladder and twelve inches of the colon. We have so much to be thankful for - the doctors, both our own and the specialists, said everything indicated cancer of the liver as well as the ruptured diverticulum of the colon. But they found the liver was OK. There was no malignancy of any kind." Ferne said she stayed with friends in Omaha and could visit at the hospital which was only 10 minutes away. After Irven was discharged they stayed with Lola in Lincoln to rest before returning to Broken Bow.
Irven also had a pacemaker, so had some sort of heart condition. It became problematic in 1971 and he moved into a nursing home. He passed away during the night, probably of a stroke.
Irven was drafted to serve in WWI. He spent a year in basic training and a year in France. He drove ambulance trucks and other vehicles. It is possible that he was a conscientious objector. During his time in basic training he met Frank Poulson and they became good friends. Also while he was in France Levi died. Since he had no real roots left in Iowa, Frank invited him to live with his family in Merna, Custer County, Nebraska after they were discharged. He found work as a rural route mail carrier and he also found his bride, Ferne Rodgers. This story is further documented in 2 newspaper articles found in the Photo Album for Irven. Note that nothing is said about Irven's mother or father even though his mother died in 1909 in Custer County and is buried in Mason City.
Irven worked his mail route for 30 years. A newspaper article that is included in Irven's Photo Album provides a whimsical account of his time as a mail carrier and his last day on the job.
A few years before retiring from the postal service he studied the Bible, and was ordained as a minister in 1942 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He served churches in Anselmo and Monroe, as well as the Cliff Union Church west of Merna. For many of the 50 years of his ministry he served the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Broken Bow. He was a participant of the building and dedication of a new EUB church building in 1963 in Broken Bow.
His wife Ferne passed away in 1968, Shortly after he moved to Johnson City, TN, to be near Elwyn and Margaret. He purchased a lot on Boone Lake and put a mobile home on it. Elwyn got an old houseboat and tied it up to his dock so he could fish.
Irven had some health issues later in life. In 1967 he had ruptured diverticuli, and traveled to Lincoln for a major surgery. In a letter to Miley Rodgers, Ferne described his condition. "He (Irven) had lots of surgery for one time - they removed the gall bladder and twelve inches of the colon. We have so much to be thankful for - the doctors, both our own and the specialists, said everything indicated cancer of the liver as well as the ruptured diverticulum of the colon. But they found the liver was OK. There was no malignancy of any kind." Ferne said she stayed with friends in Omaha and could visit at the hospital which was only 10 minutes away. After Irven was discharged they stayed with Lola in Lincoln to rest before returning to Broken Bow.
Irven also had a pacemaker, so had some sort of heart condition. It became problematic in 1971 and he moved into a nursing home. He passed away during the night, probably of a stroke.
Irven Martin Phillips was born April 7, 1896 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa to John W and Ida M. Phillips. He was the third of ten children. Sometime before he was 4, he was sent by his mother to be raised by her father, Levi C. Mills. He is listed as such in the 1900 Census. It is unknown why this was done, but it is possible that it was done for one of his sisters also, but that has not been proven. Levi shows up by himself in the 1910 Census, but we know that Irven registered for the draft for WWI in 1917, and at that time he said he was working on the farm of JL Irving. Sometime around 1906 or 1907 his father, mother and siblings moved to Custer County, Nebraska. Ida died there November 7, 1909.
Irven was drafted to serve in WWI. He spent a year in basic training and a year in France. He drove ambulance trucks and other vehicles. It is possible that he was a conscientious objector. During his time in basic training he met Frank Poulson and they became good friends. Also while he was in France Levi died. Since he had no real roots left in Iowa, Frank invited him to live with his family in Merna, Custer County, Nebraska after they were discharged. He found work as a rural route mail carrier and he also found his bride, Ferne Rodgers. This story is further documented in 2 newspaper articles found in the Photo Album for Irven. Note that nothing is said about Irven's mother or father even though his mother died in 1909 in Custer County and is buried in Mason City.
Irven worked his mail route for 30 years. A newspaper article that is included in Irven's Photo Album provides a whimsical account of his time as a mail carrier and his last day on the job.
A few years before retiring from the postal service he studied the Bible, and was ordained as a minister in 1942 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He served churches in Anselmo and Monroe, as well as the Cliff Union Church west of Merna. For many of the 50 years of his ministry he served the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Broken Bow. He was a participant of the building and dedication of a new EUB church building in 1963 in Broken Bow.
His wife Ferne passed away in 1968, Shortly after he moved to Johnson City, TN, to be near Elwyn and Margaret. He purchased a lot on Boone Lake and put a mobile home on it. Elwyn got an old houseboat and tied it up to his dock so he could fish.
Irven had some health issues later in life. In 1967 he had ruptured diverticuli, and traveled to Lincoln for a major surgery. In a letter to Miley Rodgers, Ferne described his condition. "He (Irven) had lots of surgery for one time - they removed the gall bladder and twelve inches of the colon. We have so much to be thankful for - the doctors, both our own and the specialists, said everything indicated cancer of the liver as well as the ruptured diverticulum of the colon. But they found the liver was OK. There was no malignancy of any kind." Ferne said she stayed with friends in Omaha and could visit at the hospital which was only 10 minutes away. After Irven was discharged they stayed with Lola in Lincoln to rest before returning to Broken Bow.
Irven also had a pacemaker, so had some sort of heart condition. It became problematic in 1971 and he moved into a nursing home. He passed away during the night, probably of a stroke.
Irven was drafted to serve in WWI. He spent a year in basic training and a year in France. He drove ambulance trucks and other vehicles. It is possible that he was a conscientious objector. During his time in basic training he met Frank Poulson and they became good friends. Also while he was in France Levi died. Since he had no real roots left in Iowa, Frank invited him to live with his family in Merna, Custer County, Nebraska after they were discharged. He found work as a rural route mail carrier and he also found his bride, Ferne Rodgers. This story is further documented in 2 newspaper articles found in the Photo Album for Irven. Note that nothing is said about Irven's mother or father even though his mother died in 1909 in Custer County and is buried in Mason City.
Irven worked his mail route for 30 years. A newspaper article that is included in Irven's Photo Album provides a whimsical account of his time as a mail carrier and his last day on the job.
A few years before retiring from the postal service he studied the Bible, and was ordained as a minister in 1942 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He served churches in Anselmo and Monroe, as well as the Cliff Union Church west of Merna. For many of the 50 years of his ministry he served the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Broken Bow. He was a participant of the building and dedication of a new EUB church building in 1963 in Broken Bow.
His wife Ferne passed away in 1968, Shortly after he moved to Johnson City, TN, to be near Elwyn and Margaret. He purchased a lot on Boone Lake and put a mobile home on it. Elwyn got an old houseboat and tied it up to his dock so he could fish.
Irven had some health issues later in life. In 1967 he had ruptured diverticuli, and traveled to Lincoln for a major surgery. In a letter to Miley Rodgers, Ferne described his condition. "He (Irven) had lots of surgery for one time - they removed the gall bladder and twelve inches of the colon. We have so much to be thankful for - the doctors, both our own and the specialists, said everything indicated cancer of the liver as well as the ruptured diverticulum of the colon. But they found the liver was OK. There was no malignancy of any kind." Ferne said she stayed with friends in Omaha and could visit at the hospital which was only 10 minutes away. After Irven was discharged they stayed with Lola in Lincoln to rest before returning to Broken Bow.
Irven also had a pacemaker, so had some sort of heart condition. It became problematic in 1971 and he moved into a nursing home. He passed away during the night, probably of a stroke.
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