It’s that time of year. At least it was until today. You’ll have to remember back a week, because I write these articles a week ahead. It’s been a beautiful fall, trees in all their colorful glory, shining brightly in cloudless blue skies. Temperatures that make it difficult to choose between traditional autumn plaid flannel shirts or a t-shirt and shorts. Maybe it’s just me (or maybe global warming), but I do remember more of the smell of burning leaves as a kid growing up in the Midwest. We do have to remember to be careful with fire, however; a lesson learned by the subject of this week’s column … actually by the entire community of Webster City.

It was about 11:30 at night on May 13, 1907. A beautiful night, though the wind was blowing a bit more than the usual Iowa breeze. A few young men were just stepping out of a billiard hall on Second Street; they noticed a fire had started near the blacksmith area of the Webster City Steel Radiator Company. One of the group headed to the police station while the others alerted the other patrons in the billiard hall. By the time fire personnel arrived the fire had spread to the whole Radiator works and the wind was moving flames across the street to the Younkee Lumber Yard.

The Webster City Freeman’s report sums it up well: “Had it not been for the work of the fire department and the citizens the lumber yards would have been fired and the heavy winds would have swept on the flames until the entire business district of the city was reduced to ashes and the flying cinders and particles burning wood set fire to the homes in the residence district.”

The owner of the Lumber Yard, Charles Younkee, was born on April 10, 1840, in Germany. The family, two parents and nine children, moved to the United States in 1854. Seven years later, Charles enlisted in the 4th Wisconsin Light Artillery and fought through the Civil War. In 1866 he married Libby Rice of Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1870 the couple moved to Iowa, settling first in Applington.

The year 1884 saw them move to 810 First Street in Webster City, where they made their home. Charles and Libby raised a son and daughter here in our community. Libby is best remembered for her beautiful singing voice and was involved in all things musical during their time here.

Charles began a coal business but is best known for the 25 years he and his son, George, ran the Younkee Lumber Yard. Again, the Webster City Freeman, in his obituary of January 12, 1925, describes Charles well: “Mr Younkee was a quiet man, in whom the community had full faith as to his integrity and high honor. He was successful in business because he was a hard worker and a man in whom all had an implicit trust.”

Libby died in their home in the summer of 1922. Charles spent the last three years of his own life working and living in the same house. He took ill and quickly faded in late 1924, finally passing in the house he loved, shared and raised a family in. He joins numerous friends, family and community members in Our Neighborhood.

As our weather warms, hopefully, in the days of autumn yet to be enjoyed … please be careful enjoying the smell of the burning leaves.

Our Neighborhood is a column by Michael Eckers focusing on the men and women whose presence populates Graceland Cemetery in Webster City.