Delos & Nelle (Gaunt) Francis, undated

A photograph of Delos and Nelle (Gaunt) Francis sitting on a doily-covered sofa. He wears a tie and suit jacket, while she wears a long dress with a lacy collar.

Delos Francis was born on April 4, 1885 to Charles and Mary Ellen (Clark) Francis in a First Avenue house in Coralville, Iowa. Nelle Ann Gaunt was born in 1888 to Samuel and Arys Ann (Hart) Gaunt. Delos and Nelle married on September 11, 1906. They had four children: Erma (b. 1907), Dean (b. 1910), Alvaretta (b. 1914), and Mary (b. 1918) (Iowa City Press-Citizen, 1958; Lovetinsky et al., p. 103).

The family initially farmed near Hills, Iowa before moving back to Coralville in 1929. Delos continued to farm, but also worked at the University Power Plant until his retirement in 1952. He also served as a city council member from 1929 to 1932 and from 1937 to 1946.

Delos died in April of 1958; Nelle followed him in death on June of 1968 (Lovetinsky et al., p. 103-104).

Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.

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Johnson County, Iowa