James H. and Mary (Robirds) Mayes, 10 North 52 West
MARY'S FAMILY
In 1880 Hamburg, Fremont County, Iowa,
William "Roberts" is 37 Sarah J. 33, Isaac 11, Mary 10, and William 8.
In 1900 Otoe County, Nebraska, William is 58, Sarah J. 54, Mary 30, and John 16.
Mary A. (Robirds) Mayes claimed a tract in section 11, 11N 52W and section 5, 10 N 52W in 1917.
In 1920 Shenandoah, Iowa, John J. Robirds is 37, Jestie 26, John 9, Ruby 7, and Clyde 5.
JAMES' FAMILY
James H. Mayes, son of Thomas Mayes, was in Kentucky in 1860.
George Thomas Mayes' first wife, Narcissa McCarter 1822-1857 is buried in Crittenden County, Kentucky.
In 1870 Lucas County, Iowa, "Gerry" T. Mayes is 54, Mariah 44, George W. 19, Sarah J. 17, Narcissa 13, and James H. 10.
In 1880 Lucas County, Iowa, James is 20, with George T. 64 and Mariah 55. George W. is 28, Sarah J. 25.
James had three fingers mangled in Lucas County in 1888.
James was moving to Kansas in February of 1893 from Lucas County.
In January 1898 J. H. Mayes advertised a sale.
Maria (Taylor) Mayes 1825-1885 is buried in
Lucas County # 41187793 "second wife of George Thomas Mayes"
George moved back to Kentucky,
and is buried in Crittenden County 1815-1906, with Naracissa (McCarter) Mayes 1822-1857.
FindaGrave # 55508789 says "G.T. Mayes, an old and highly respected citizen of the Mattoon vicinity died Tuesday and the remains were brought here that night and taken to the residence of G.U. Dollar, Mrs. Dollar being his niece. The funeral was preached at one o'clock at the Presbyterian Church and the interment took place in the old cemetery beside the remains of his wife.
George Thomas Mayes was born Oct. 18, 1815, and was therefore in his ninety-second year. He was born in the county two miles south of Marion, but nearly thirty years before Marion was settled.
He was married three times. His first wife was Miss Narcissa McCarter, of Livingston County. She died in 1857, leaving three children, William and Sarah, of the county and Alice of Washington. His second wife was Miss Maria Stinson. She died about 25 years ago at a railroad crossing near G.W. Howerton's residence northeast of the city. His second wife bore him one son, James, who is now living in Iowa."
James H. Mayes and Arminta Holliday, 19, married in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa on October 8, 1884.
She was born in Illinois to J. T. Holliday and Ruth Gresell.
James P. Holliday 1815-1909 died in Marion County,
Iowa # 41187173.
Ruth Holliday 1826-1909 is buried with him
in Lucas County # 41187231.
In 1900 James is in Lucas County, Iowa,
married to Arminta, 35, with Walter 14, Floyd 12, Raymond 10 and Luie 8.
In 1910 in Laramie County, Wyoming, James H. Mayes farming, is 50, born in Kentucky, divorced, with Arminta's name crossed out.
In Omaha in August 1911,
George A. STREET, 52, married Mrs. Arminta MAYES 47.
In 1920 Cedar County, Nebraska, George A. Street is 59,
Anita R. Street born in Illinois 55, Earl C. Street 33,
Orin M. Street 18, and Vera C. Street 15.
Arminta Mayes is in Cedar Falls Iowa
in 1925, 61, with Vera 20.
RAYMOND
The Newbern items of July 28, 1910 said that Raymond Mayes died in a railroad accident in North Dakota.
LUIE
Luie is in Eckley, Colorado in 1920, 28, with Charles S. 31. Glenn is 9, Marie 6, Irvin 3 and Fern newborn.
She's buried in Eckley 1892-1947 # 53151269 "Luie Fern Mayes wife of Charles Samuel Rawson. Daughter of James H. Mayes and Armeta Holliday"
WALTER
Walter registered for WWI in Beaverhead County, Montana, born Feb 22, 1886, a laborer for Isaac Ripe, with J. H. Mayes of Winston, Colorado as his reference.
Walter registered for WWII in Natrona, Wyoming, born Feb 2, 1886 in Chariton, Iowa.
1950 " Federal Judge T. Blake Kennedy has
referred the case of Walter Mayes, 64, of Lander to
a probation officer. Mayes pleaded guilty to a charge
of selling liquor to Indians on the Wind River agency. "
He's buried in Riverton, Wyoming 1886-1966 # 26025672.
FLOYD
Floyd Ivan Mayes applied for a birth certificate in 1935, saying he was born June 2, 1887 in Charito, Iowa to Jim H. Mayes and Arminta R. Holliday.
Floyd I. Mayes is divorced in 1940, living in the VA facility in St. Louis.
He died in Arlington, Texas on March 1, 1961, born June 2, 1887 in Iowa.
He's buried in Fort Sam Houston National # 962489. "Navy, WWI"
ORAN
Oran Claire Mayes was born February 7, 1901 in Chariton Iowa to James Mayes of Crittenden County, Kentucky and Arminta "holladay" of Fulton County, Illinois.
In 1910 Marion County, Iowa Rebecca R. Mayes is a telephone operator,
45, born in Illinois, divorced, with Orin 9 and Vera 5, both born in Iowa.
September 1910 Chariton "Cella Riggs visited her little friend, Vera Mayes, Sunday."
He married Lois F. Champliln on June 14, 1924 in Sioux City, Iowa.
In 1930 Sioux City, Iowa, he's a deliveryman, 29, with Lois 28 and Wilda 4.
Lois' mother Hattie Champlin 84, widowed, is with them.
Lois' niece Mona Champlin 8 born in Nebraska is also with them.
He's buried in Whittier, California, dying in 1983 # 110133035.
Lois Fern Mayes, born Feb 23, 1902 in Nebraska to father Champlina nd mothr Derby, died May 19, 1981 in Los Angeles County.
She's buried in Whittier # 110132973 "Lois was the daughter of Jay Jerome Champlin & Harriet Leona Derby."
VERA
Arminta Mayes is in Cedar Falls Iowa
in 1925, 61, with Vera 20.
Vera is a bookkeeper for a car agency in 1930 San Diego County, 25, married to Harvey W. King 28.
Vera Cleota Mayes King applied for a
birth certificate, living in 1942 at 4183 Marine
View in San Diggo, born June 20, 1904 in Shenandoah, Iowa.
Vera died on April 14, 1999, last residence El Cajon, California.
MARY AND JAMES
"Marry" Robirds and Jas. H. Mayes married
in Logan County, Colorado on August 23, 1916.
Mary A. (Robirds) Mayes claimed a tract in section 11, 11N 52W and section 5, 10 N 52W in 1917.
In 1930 Logan County, Mary Mayes is 60, married to
James Mayes 70. A nephew, John Robirds, 19 is living with them.
Mary (Roberts) Mayes 1869-1951 is buried in Sterling # 56902074, with James H. 1859-1938.
In 1917 William owned 120 acres in section 6, next to John Robirds with 40 acres and Mary A. Robirds with 120 acres.
John Robirds claimed a tract in section 31, 10N 52W in 1917.
John J. Robirds 1882-1965 is buried in Sterling 3 57038145, wtih Justa Marie (Cobstock) Robirds 1893-1964 - married in 1910, and second spouse thelma Viola (Talbot) robirds 1897-1975.
"On Thursday, April 5, 2018 Carol Robirds, wife, mother, daughter and sister, passed away at the age of 77 after a long illness. Carol will be forever remembered by her daughter, Elaine Robirds and two sons, Craig Robirds and Rick (Lisa) Robirds, her grandchildren Kayla (Jerett) Lazor, Bethany Robirds and Jacob Robirds and great grandson, Blake Lazor. Also survived by her sisters Grace Robirds and Wanda Acosta, brother in-laws James Robirds, Tim (Barbara) Robirds, and Dennis Robirds. Preceding Carol in death was her loving husband of 56 years, Donald (Don) Robirds, her mother Jessie Lucero, sister in-law Marliyn Golden, and brother in-law Robert Robirds, and in-laws William and Marjorie Robirds. Carol grew up and graduated from High School in Crook, Colorado. Carol and Don raised their family in Sterling Colorado and Carol worked in retail sales for many years helping support her family. Don and Carol owned Cedar Creek Service and Repair North of Sterling, Colorado for 25+ years. She was active in the community including Our Ladies of Guadalupe at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. She loved to cook and celebrated many holidays with family and friends. Her hobbies included needlepoint and sewing. Memorial Services to be planned for a later date in Sterling, Colorado. "
"In 1975, Ron Robirds and his wife Dodie saw an opportunity and went for it going from employee to employer and from "punching the clock" to setting the clock.
In early October, the Robirds closed the book on a little more than 38 years of covering feet in northeast Colorado.
In the early 1970s, a Fort Collins man opened a lease department shoe store in Watkins clothing store in downtown Sterling. The venture became more commitment than he wanted to pursue and the business suffered.
"After several years, the bank shut him off, foreclosed," Ron Robirds recalled.
Robirds saw the man's loss as opportunity and approached the bank about purchasing the business.
That was the start of the family's 38-plus year adventure in selling shoes in Sterling, but Robirds moved his last box of shoes early in October.
The store was sold to Brown's Shoe Fit, a company with a history of more than 100 years throughout the Midwest of the United States. The company opened its first store in 1911 and has expanded to 80 locations in 12 states.
Maybe not on such a grand basis, but the Shoe Tree is no newcomer to expansion, having started out in Watkins directly across fom the Logan County Courthouse, to their current location which was also expanded a few years ago.
Referring to the original lease department store they owned, Robirds said, "At some point, it became impractical."
A lease department, he explained, involves selling from a space in a store, turning in all the receipts to the store and profit is based on a percentage after the space lease is paid.
So the Robirds began the transition from the lease business to an independent store at it's current location while Ron was managing Sterling Country Club (from 1978-1983) and Dodie managed the shoe store.
"In order to do that, we had to remodel the whole store," his wife Dodie said.
The store had a 1950s-style ceiling, shag carpet and colors that didn't belong with the appearance they were seeking. They contracted with an Idaho company that specializes in shoe store designs. In March 1980, they opened the store to the public.
"It was two weeks to remodel, get our inventory in," Ron said.
"As fast as they were putting fixtures out, I was putting shoes up," Dodie said.
In 1995, the owner offered to sell the building to the Robirds, and in 2010, the Robirds expanded the Shoe Tree into the east side of the corner in what is now the store.
Robirds said the "big trick" to succeeding in business is capitalization. He said some of the agreements he was able to make when entering business probably wouldn't happen today.
"I think today you couldn't get that done," Ron said.
Quality customer service and the right employees also help, he added.
One of the key people in the Shoe Tree operation was Donna Artzer, they say. She was employed at least 25 years for the Shoe Tree. They also had many part-time and student employees over the years.
Looking back at more than 38 years owning a shoe store, more than that in the shoe business, Robirds recalls the long hours, few days off and difficulty in scheduling family time. He said even with the 24/7 commitment, it was an enjoyable experience owning The Shoe Tree.
He said the new owners, Brown's Shoe Fit, will offer the Sterling community more options in product line and service because of their history and ability to transfer merchandise among their network of stores.
"These folks have resources," he said.
He said with 83 stores, Brown's Shoe Fit can transfer merchandise instead of returning it or being overstocked through a season.
"They (customers) come in with an idea, we get them to the right idea," said Ron and the new store manager for Brown's Shoe Fit, Josh Linhardt.
Sale of the business closed on Oct. 8 but Robirds is retaining ownership of the building. Petra Schreiner will also remain with the store.
Now with both Robirds done with their responsibility to a time clock, they are looking forward to more time with family, maybe traveling to places they haven't seen yet.
Linhardt said the store will continue most of the product lines The Shoe Tree is known for, and add others that Brown's promotes and can special order shoes for customers as well.
Because of this level of service, Linhardt said the change is being received well.
"I've seen a lot of excitement in the community," he said."