S. E. (Ed) Divelbiss,… was born March 23, 1874, in Canton, Illinois, and came to a farm in Washington county at the age of 6 with his parents, George Russel and Mary Jane Sexton Divelbiss. He was graduated from Keota high school in 1894, was graduated from the Hedrick Normal school and attended Iowa State Teachers college.
He was married to Elsie Gilliland of Lancaster on September 21, 1904. She died January 23, 1949. He later married Leona Poe, who survives.
He came to Sigourney 50 years ago and clerked in the Seibel hardware for a number of years. In 1917, he an Neal Elliott started a hardware business. Wilmer Utterback purchased Elliott’s interest in the Sigourney hardware store in 1919 and this partnership lasted until Utterback’s death in 1953. Utterback’s widowand Divelbiss sold the business to Delbert Smith in 1954.
Mr. Divelbiss was a member of the Methodist church, Odd Fellows lodge and on the Sigourney library board. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Herman Seyde of Fort Dodge, two nephews and a niece. Two brothers preceded him in death.