Oscar was introduced to Margaret Lamont, a fourth-grade schoolteacher, by Marge and Honey Rothberger in the fall of 1924. Margaret had just started teaching in Eudora and was staying with two girls in an apartment above the drug store on Main Street. Oscar gave Margaret a hope chest and brought her a gift to put into it each time they had a date. Margaret told him when the hope chest was full, she would marry him. Oscar and Margaret had many dates over a short period of time. It was not long before the hope chest was full, but Margaret wanted to wait to get married until after the school year.
Margaret Lamont Engagement Photo - 1924
Lawrence Daily Journal World - 25 Mar 1925
Oscar and Margaret married on 15 May 1925 in the dining room of the house Amos and Oscar were remodeling on Church Street. They spent their honeymoon night at a nice hotel in Kansas City. Oscar wore a nightshirt, not pajamas, and Margaret was embarrassed. They returned the following morning to live in the house Oscar and his father had been remodeling.
Oscar Westerhouse and Margaret Lamont marriage license - 15 May 1925
Lawrence Daily Journal World - 23 May 1925
Oscar Westerhouse and Margaret Lamont - Wedding - 15 May 1925
Margaret Westerhouse on porch at home
702 Church Street, Eudora, Douglas, Kansas
702 Church Street, Eudora, Douglas, Kansas
After marriage, Oscar continued to work as a Standard Oil bulk agent, delivering gas to farmers in the Eudora area. Margaret continued teaching fourth grade at Eudora Elementary School, which was located north of their home on 7th Street. Oscar and Margaret had their first child, Beverly Lamont Westerhouse, on 21 Mar 1929 at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. After Beverly was born, Margaret no longer taught full time. She substituted instead, as she needed to care for Beverly, their only child for many years. In addition, to substitute teaching, Margaret did the bookkeeping for Oscar's Standard Oil business. It was a stressful time when Standard Oil audited the books, but no problems were ever discovered. Margaret enjoyed entertaining with dinners and events throughout the year.
Lawrence Daily Journal World - 31 Dec 1928
The 1930 federal census shows Oscar living on C Street, currently named Church Street, owns home valued at $4000, age 38, married at age 27, working as agent for oil and gas company, veteran. Describes Margaret, wife, age 30, married at age 25, not working. Lists Beverly, daughter, age 1.
1930 federal census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Oscar Westerhouse household)
Lawrence Daily Journal World - 10 Dec 1936
During the summer of 1938, Margaret was having stomach cramps and not feeling well. She went to the doctor and was surprised to learn that she was pregnant. Oscar and Margaret were not planning to have another child. During the next few months, they prepared for a new baby. They hoped for a baby boy whom they would name Peter after Oscar's grandfather. Their baby was expected around Thanksgiving 1938, so Margaret's sister, Hazel Lamont Heizer and her husband, Ken Heizer, traveled by train from Colorado Springs, El Paseo, Colorado, to help with the new baby. The baby became past due after Thanksgiving, Hazel and Ken stayed another week, hoping the baby would be delivered soon. Unfortunately, after another week, the baby had not come, so Hazel and Ken returned to Colorado. Christmas passed, and still no baby! Margaret was in labor for 36 hours at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas and gave birth to their second daughter on 29 Dec 1938. Oscar and Margaret were happy to have a healthy new baby and decided to name her, Margean Elizabeth, after Margaret's grandmother, Margaret Elizabeth Tenpenny. The grandmother and their new baby shared the same birthday.
The 1940 federal census shows Oscar living on C Street, currently named Church Street, owns home valued at $2000, age 41, married, completed eigth grade, working as truck driver for retail gasoline company, working for 66 hours per week, $2000 income from mulitple sources. Describes Margaret, wife, age 40, married, completed two years of college, not working. Lists daughters Bevery and Margean, age 11 and 1, single, Beverly attending school, Beverly completed fourth grade.
1940 federal census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Oscar Westerhouse household)
Oscar registered for the World War II Draft on 16 Feb 1942. The Registration card shows his name as Oscar Edward Westerhouse; his age 43; living at Eudora, Douglas, Kansas; he was born on 21 Aug 1898 in Eudora, Kansas; telephone as exchange Eudora and number 102; Mrs. OE Westerhouse at Eudora, Kansas will always know his address; employer Standard Oil Company, 40th and Main, Kansas City, Missouri; place of employment 40th and Main, Kansas City, Missouri; race of white; color of his eyes are blue; his hair is brown color; he has height of six feet and one inch and weight of 200; Has a light complexion.
Oscar Westerhouse WWII draft card (front)
Oscar Westerhouse WWII draft card (back)
During the World War II years, there was a big demand for rooms to rent in Eudora. This was because of the over 13,000 workers at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in nearby De Soto, Johnson, Kansas. Workers came from out of town, needing a place to stay while working at the Sunflower plant. Oscar and Margaret set up many living quarters to rent out at their home on Church Street. Men lived in the garage, the downstairs bedroom, and in trailers, one in the front yard and one in the backyard. Oscar and Margaret slept in the upstairs south bedroom. Beverly and Margean slept upstairs in the west bedroom. The upstairs north bedroom was rented to Miss Nottingham, an elementary school teacher who helped care for Margean. Oscar and Margaret also owned a property in downtown Eudora called the Pella Building. It was located at 701 Main Street and housed a grocery store on the first floor and apartments on the second floor. Oscar's wife and daughters cleaned the building weekly. In addition, Oscar and Margaret owned many small rental homes in the Eudora area. At the time of their deaths, they owned: 702 Church Street, 914 Pine Street, 304 6th Street, 315 7th Street, and 709 Birch Street.
The 1950 federal census shows Oscar living near 7th and Church Streets, age 52, married, working as bulk agent for wholesale and retail gasoline company, working for 60 hours per week. Describes Margaret, wife, age 50, married, working as substitute grade school teacher, working for 10 hours per week. Lists Margean, age 11, single, attending sixth grade. Lists Roberta Nottingham, roomer, age 49, single, works as first grade teacher, working for 60 hours per week.
1950 federal census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Oscar Westerhouse household)
During the 1940s, Oscar had two to three acres of farmland. It was located on the north side of the Wakarusa River, on the west side of Main Street, and just north of Eudora. He did not have farm equipment, so he paid to have corn planted and harvested. He was not successful every year, as the farmland would flood, because of being so close to the river. In addition, Oscar and his younger brother, Allen, bought an 80-acre farm on 30 Jun 1948. The farm was located south of Eudora at 2239 North 1000 Road. It had a nice pond for fishing in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Oscar and Allen renovated the farmhouse, built a silo, improved the granary and barn. The farmhouse was rented out to a family that helped with feeding the animals. Ralph Votaw, Oscar's brother-in-law, harvested and planted wheat and corn fields. They also raised about twenty Hereford cattle, hogs, and tried unsuccessfully to raise sheep. All the animals were taken to Kansas City for slaughter and sale. Oscar always wanted to live on the farm rather than in town, but Margaret was not interested in living on the farm. Oscar's farming ventures were not well-thought-out, and many years were unsuccessful. Oscar and Allen sold the farm on 20 Sep 1960.
Oscar and Allen Westerhouse Farm – 2017
Oscar and Margaret attended the Methodist Church across the street from their home at 701 Church Street. Oscar joined the church later in life.
Methodist Episcopal Church Membership Roll for Oscar Westerhouse household
The Standard Oil Company won a contract to furnish gasoline for the pipeline south of Eudora. There were many pieces of equipment that Oscar was responsible for refilling with gasoline when empty. One worker refused to shut off his equipment while Oscar was filling it. He caught fire and workers rolled him in the dirt to extinguish the fire from his body. He was severely burned on his legs and arms. Mookie, Margean's dog, licked his burns and gave him comfort while being healed.
Oscar retired from the Standard Oil Company 31 Oct 1950 with a disability pension due to arthritis in the back. Oscar had developed arthritis in his back from thirty years of driving a Standard Oil Company gas truck on the rough country roads. Following retirement, he worked at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto, Johnson, Kansas to earn extra money. He worked in the maintenance repair department, painting and repairing the facilities on the 3 pm to 11 pm shift until he stopped working in 1962 and began collecting Social Security.
Oscar and Margaret Westerhouse - 1950
After Oscar retired from Standard Oil Company, he took Margaret and Margean on yearly vacations. They went to New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon, the Badlands, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and Chicago. They traveled by train, auto, or group tour bus.
Both Oscar and Margaret were active in the Eudora community.
Oscar with Odd Fellows Lodge #42, Minerva Rebecca Lodge. Additionally, he checked up on each of his rentals and made any repairs when needed.
CPA Picnic - Lawrence Daily Journal World - 1963
Margaret with 1900 and Now Club, the Keota Club, the Golden Age Club, the Polly Painters Club, the United Methodist Women's Club, the Eudora Extension homemakers Unit, and the Rebekah Lodge #146.
Spring Tea - Lawrence Daily Journal World - 12 Apr 1969
(L-R) Allen, Amos Jr, Oscar Westerhouse - Mar 1975
Oscar and Margaret’s granddaughter, Joy Cress, daughter of Margean Westerhouse Cress painted their mailbox with sunflowers during a fall visit.
Margaret Westerhouse - Checking the mail - 1980
Oscar Westerhouse - Checking the mail - 1980
Margaret was sick with
the flu and strep throat and was not improving, so she was admitted to Lawrence
Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, Kansas about 10 Feb 1983. While at the hospital
she had cardiac arrest, and it could not be determined what was wrong. About 15
Feb 1983, she was admitted to KU Med Center ICU in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas
for more diagnostics and treatments. She died two days later 18 Feb 1983 at
2:23 am. The family asked for an autopsy to be performed, as her death was unexpected.
It was determined she had a virus (Sepsis) that effected the heart lining and
died from acute respiratory distress syndrome, she was eighty-three years old.
Her funeral was at Eudora United Methodist Church, Eudora, Kansas on 20 Feb
1983 at 2:30PM with Reverend Wilbur Zook officiating. The Organist was Mrs.
Phyllis Zook and Casket Bearers were John Spitzli, Kenneth Lawson, Robert
Claggett, Ellis Whitesell, Mike Westerhouse, Bill Westerhouse.
Margaret Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Journal World) - 18 Feb 1983
Margaret Westerhouse funeral card – 20 Feb 1983
Oscar Westerhouse obituary
Lawrence Journal World - 19 Oct 1984
Oscar Westerhouse funeral card – 21 Oct 1984
Margaret and Oscar Westerhouse gravestone
at Eudora City Cemetery (Eudora, Kansas)
Oscar was a skilled gardener and flower grower. He often took his flowers to the First United Methodist Church to be used on the altar for services. He smoked a pipe and rolled his own cigarettes. He liked dogs, not cats, and enjoyed listening to Kansas City Royals baseball on the radio. Oscar was allergic to the sun, always wearing a wide brim hat, long sleeved shirt, long pants, and gloves. Family stories tell of him sneaking away with cousins to get something sweet like a pie or a milkshake in downtown Eudora when the meals Margaret served him followed a diet too strictly. Oscar also went by 'Os' and 'Westie' on occasion, but generally used his birth name, Oscar. He regularly attended church at the Eudora First United Methodist Church, across the street from his home, not joining until later in life. Oscar enjoyed bowling and was in a league in Lawrence Kansas from the 1950's until he was in his late 70's, when arthritis was too painful to continue. Oscar and Margaret did not bowl together in the same league.
Margaret was short, only 5' 2", and heavy set, always struggling with her weight. She enjoyed sewing and cooking, as well as textile painting on pillowcases, aprons, and tablecloths. One year, Margaret entered her stenciled pillowcases in the Douglas County Fair and won a ribbon. She enjoyed going to parades in Lawrence and attending orchestra, chorus, and theater events at Kansas University. She only tolerated dogs and cats. She enjoyed learning the latest Eudora gossip. Margaret's family nickname was Maggie, but she stopped going by it after marriage. Margaret enjoyed bowling and was in a league in Lawrence Kansas from the 1950's until she was 80 years old, when she needed knee surgery and had to stop. Oscar and Margaret did not bowl together in the same league.
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