James M. Scholls Reflect on Marriage of 58 Years

Columbia Missourian

March 14, 1966

James M. Scholls Reflect on Marriage of 58 Years

One of the first things Mr. and Mrs. James M. Scholl did when they married March 11, 1904, was stake out claims in North Dakota and build a sodhouse or “shack.” Today, after 58 years of marriage, they recall vividly “those awful times,” As Mrs. Scholl calls them.

While they lived in North Dakota for 33 years, the Scholls can’t forget April 15, 1915 – the day a snow blizzard hit, covering the windows of their two-story frame house and snowing under cattle, cows and hogs for three days.

Mr. Scholl used to hunt coyote and was sheriff of Towner N.D., for seven years. Mrs. Scholl ran a dressmaking shop in Grandview, N.D. But the 30’s brought a sandstorm and drought: six of their horses starved to death.

“You couldn’t see your hand before you,” Mrs. Scholl said.

Mr. and Mr. Scholl left their homestead – 500 good acres – and went to Tacoma, Wash. There they lived for 12 years, where they both worked at Ft. Lewis, Wash., during World War II, Mr. Scholl in the canteen, Mrs. Scholl in the sewing room.

They visited Centralia in 1943 and decided to stay. Mr. and Mrs. Scholl had a dairy farm in Centralia for a time – “32 cows without a milking machine.” Their daughter, Genevieve, could “milk as many cows as anybody,” but their son Glenn didn’t like it.

A retired foreman of the Centralia Special Road Dist., Mr. Scholl now patrols Centralia’s school children.

The Scholls have seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Their son, Glenn, lives in Tacoma and has five children. Their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle W. Barnthouse, Centralia, have two children – Mrs. Thomas Cox, also of Centralia, and Rex, a freshman at the University.

Mr. and Mrs. Scholl have lived in Centralia for 23 years and say they will take Missouri over North Dakota anytime.