Bio: Root, George & Emma
Contact: Loyal Public Library 

----Source: Excerpt from "The Centennial History of the York Center United Methodist Church, 1880 - 1980..

ROOT, GEORGE AND EMMA

By Zola Root Lynch

Zola Root Lynch, granddaughter of George and Emma Root writes," My grandparents were among the early settlers of York and church goers in the early years of getting the church started. Their children were. Chloe, Mrs. Griffith of Oshkosh, now deceased; Elwin Root of Tripoli, Louis of Colfax, now deceased; Ross of Conrath, Wis.; and Allie Baker of Wheeler, Wis. Zola, Francis and Jean Root were daughters of Elwin and Ida Root and attended church in later years.

Mr. and Mrs. Root owned a small farm. They made maple syrup years ago and sold it. (This is now the Hanuszczak farm.)

I first remember going to church with my grandmother Emma (Mrs. George A.) Root in a horse and buggy before I was old enough to go to school, probably between 1920 and '22. I was in first grade at Merry Vale in 1922-23. Grandma had a stroke in the spring of 1923. I remember the horse shying as we crossed O'Neill Creek and Grandma telling me the moss swaying on a barbed wire fence frightened him. As we girls grew older we walked to Sunday School and often cousins Sadie and Walter Rowe would give us an auto ride on the way home. I remember Geo. Mortimer being an officer in the Sunday School, Cousin Sadie playing the organ, and Julia (Mrs. Alvin) VandeBerg leading our young people's group.

My folks, Elwin and Ida Root moved north to Tripoli in the fall of 1934. 1 think it was 1960 that my sister, Frances and her husband Floyd took mv folks to an 80th anniversary of the church while I kept their children. A most pleasant memory was going back for the Class of '34 Granton High School reunion in 1970 and staying with my mother's sister, Fern (Mrs. Horace) VandeBerg and surprising her by remember- ing names of former farm owners as I took her from Neillsville by the route my folks used, past our old farm and the church so I could put some flowers on my grandparent's graves and being so pleased the church was just as I rememberd it--all painted white. When she asked if I'd like to go inside I was even more pleased that things were kept so nicely and familiar except that there was a piano instead of an organ. We went back on Sunday for church only to find it was the wrong Sunday for morning services but when I was up for another reunion in 1974 we did go to church and I saw several familiar faces which was another pleasant surprise. It is a cherished place from my childhood.