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"The Kinmundy Express" (1914-2005) is now on Newspapers.com!
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Members & Friends of the Kinmundy Historical Society
Current membership list Rev. John D. Arnold Michael Alan Bayliss and Kathleen (Mercer) Bayliss Karen Bess Nancy Hanna Byker Harrison & Virginia Colclasure Wyona (Hanna) Crosley John D. Day Christopher Doeseckle Dorothy Frances (Dunlap) Geiler Debbie Gilbert Dick Hanks & Diane (Gray) Hanks Nancy Hanna Jeanette Hoeinghaus – Secretary Martha (Hanna) Horner Donald L. Johnson Merry Carol (Pruett) Jonkers Paul Kallenberger Connie (Leach) Robnett Luker Meacham Baptist Church Dolores (Ford) Mobley - President & Webmaster Larry Ohms Shelly (Garrett) Phillips Steve & Maggie Robeson Gladys (Corrie) See – Vice President Wayne See Gregory and Kate Shufeldt Kevin and Madeleine Shufeldt Esch Eleanor Tate Bill Waggoner Friends of the Society Barbie (Jones) Ambuehl Donna Annan Bauer family Dylan Bennett John Boland, Sr. Connie Bolen Patrina Boone Dale Brewer Pauline Burgess Family of James & Wanda Eagan Floyd Garrett & Helen (Robb) Garrett Libby Garrett Reed Garrett Don Gilbert Teresa Hanks Family of Fred Howell Spencer Hulsey City of Kinmundy Kinmundy United Methodist Church Nancy Knecht Ryan & Karen (Gilbert) Leak & Ty Robert Lybarger Darrell McCarty Russell & Lila (Jones) McCulley Brooke Neilson Vicky Neilson Steve Neubert Charles Randolph Marilyn Rich Steve & Maggie Robeson (Whisnant / Galloway families) Bud & Karen Robnett Alex Roller Hugh Rosen Bill See Debbie (Diss) See Jason Shirley Gary and Karen Simmons Susan & Keith Smith Lela Mae (Doolen) Smith Family Kent Sullens Helen & Larry Sullivan Linda Summerville Mike Summerville Scott Summerville VFW Aux 2055, Centralia Russell "Cotton" and June Wagoner "Rusty Strings Dulcimer" Ben & Marilyn Webster Jim Williams Martha Williams Paul Williams Barb Wilson Kirk Wilson
Elwyn Cheatum (1928 - 2014)
Elwyn Cheatum was a charter member of Kinmundy Historical Society. He loved Kinmundy and shared its history and his vision for the future to everyone he met. Influenced by his faith and his training with the Dale Carnegie program, he was a very positive person and contributed greatly to his community. Elwyn’s companion of nearly 70 years, his wife Louise, shared information describing the remarkable life he led. She should know because they dated for five years starting when they were seniors at Kinmundy High School and celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary before his passing. In a high school graduating class of 36, four couples married—Louise Green and Elwyn Cheatum, Helen Robb and Floyd Garrett, Leah Williams, Carl Vallow, and Marie Bailey and Bob Johnson. Elwyn and Louise welcomed a son, Dan, and a daughter, Janice, into their family and, over the years, they have been devoted parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. A man of many interests, Elwyn took oil painting lessons as a teenager. Eight of his paintings are still on display. He took a taxidermy correspondence course and started a business making bear skin rugs, mounting deer heads, and preserving all sorts of wild critters. Another artistic endeavor was refinishing furniture which he pursued in his antique shop. He liked rocks and had a large collection from his travels. Louise shared an anecdote about one of his rock collecting ventures. While visiting Louise’s sister, they packed up three adults and four children to visit Big Bend National Park in the rain. The more rocks they collected, the heavier the car load became. When they came to a place in the road where rocks had slid down the mountain, a rock punctured the gas tank. Being a good problem solver, Elwyn took some of Janice’s modeling clay and crawled under the car to temporarily repair the leak. They were able to drive to Presidio, Texas where they found a family owned gas station. Not only did they get the tank repaired for $5, but the owners invited the Cheatum family to their home for rest and refreshment while the repair was made. Elwyn lived in Watson and moved to Kinmundy while in grade school for his dad’s railroad job. After high school graduation, Elwyn, as well as his three brothers, worked for the railroad. He served as a telegraph operator for the railroad in various locations until, much to his dad’s chagrin, his brother asked him to work for Dale Carnegie. With a love for travel, he and Louise attended Dale Carnegie conventions all over the country and even taught the course in Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados. A friend suggested that Elwyn would also be a good real estate agent. With his Century 21 franchise, at one time he had 23 sales persons working for him. Louise was by his side working with him on every business venture. While coming back to Kinmundy to visit his parents, Elwyn admired the Calendar Rohrbough home, owned at that time by 98 year old Fred Grissom. Fred agreed to sell the house with the condition that he continue to live there. Fred lived to be 102. Then Elwyn’s parents lived in the house until the Cheatums were ready to move back to Kinmundy. They also purchased a downtown building which housed a real estate office. They operated the agency as well as starting an antique shop. The move back to Kinmundy started a new chapter for Elwyn. Besides his business interests, he served as mayor of Kinmundy and was instrumental in procuring property and getting a grant to build a city lake which provided a water supply for the city. He was instrumental in getting the old wooden water tower placed on the national registry and then getting it restored. Elwyn was active in the Kinmundy United Methodist Church and was actively involved in planning the church parsonage, restoring the railing around the church bell tower, and restoring the church stained glass windows. Knowing that his home had historical significance with original owner, Calendar Rohrbough, serving in the Civil War, and having architectural significance with its Italianate villa style, Elwyn made presentations to gain approval for the home to be placed on the state and national registry. A visit to Elwyn’s office was a treat. He could offer information about a long lost relative. He could tell a good story about one of his adventures. He could share something from his vast collection of historic memorabilia, or his could just make a person feel good with his positive spin on the world. He was a Kinmundy treasure.
(The photos below were included in an article written about the Cheatums in the "Centralia Sentinel" on June 21, 2009.)
A few photos of volunteers at work ...
Pauline Burgess felt at home in her family's historic cabin.
Eleanor Tate shared her story of growing up in a cabin with a large family!
Helen Sullivan showing her skill with the spinning wheel, and Barbie Ambuehl whipping up some bread.
Nancy Hanna finally gets to sit for a spell after much entertaining in her cabin.
The Gilberts spending time on a nice Sunday afternoon outdoors
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We welcome your suggestions, submissions, or any additions & corrections you can help us with! You can contact us at fordmobley@gmail.com Site and contents copyright 2006-2026 Kinmundy Historical Society, a nonprofit organization.
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