IAOBRIEN-L Archives

From: "Nancy Wilson" <>
Subject: Primghar
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 11:53:53 -0800

re: the naming of Primghar:

In the 1897 History, Perkins writes:

"The name Primghar was coined from the first letter of the surname of
several parties interested in the early starting of the town. The names
will be seen from the following which was published at the time:

Pumphrey, the treasurer drives the first nail,
Roberts the donor is quick on the trail;
Inman dips slyly the first letter in,
McCormack add M which makes the full Prim,
Green, thinking of groceries, gives them the G,
Hayes drops them an H without asking a fee,
Albright the joker with his jokes all at par,
Rerick brings up the rear and crowns all Primghar."

J.R. Pumphrey - early settler, county treasurer
Roberts - no clue here: J.W.Roberts? D.B.Roberts? James Roberts? anybody
know?
Inman - probably Chester W. Inman -
B.F.McCormack - early newspaper publisher, county supervisor
W.C. "Clark" Green - merchant.
Hayes - I agree that DeWitt C. is the likely answer here - especially given
that he was a lawyer and hence the reference to "a fee"!
Charles F. Albright built the first building in town, a hotel; town's first
mayor.
Rerick: possibly early settler Isaac L, but more likely Henry Rerick,
Primghar's second Treasurer.

Anyone else have any information or speculation?

Nancy

This thread:

• Primghar by "Nancy Wilson" <>