Short, Wallace Mertin

Wallace Mertin Short was born in 1866 on a small farm three miles east of College Springs, Iowa.  As part of a farm family, he attended school only when he wasn’t needed for work on the farm, which was generally only four months out of the year.  When Wallace Short was twenty-one he enrolled in college in Beloit, Wisconsin.  In 1896, at age 30 Short graduated from Yale, married his fiancée May Morse, and became a Congregational Minister.  Short accepted his first pastoral calling in Evansville, Wisconsin.  He was a minister in Evansville between 1896 and 1903.  Eventually Mr. Short would accept a pastorate at the Beacon Hill Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Treglia, Mary and the Mary Treglia Community House

A devoted friend to Sioux City immigrants and their families, Mary Treglia (1897-1959) dedicated her life to helping those in need. For over 33 years, she served the immigrant population of Sioux City as director of the Community House.

Mary Treglia was born in Sioux City on October 7, 1897, the only child of Italian immigrants Rose and Anthony Treglia. Her parents left Italy in the 1880s and came to Sioux City where they opened a fruit stand at 415 Pierce. The family lived upstairs. Sadly, Mary's father died when she was just 22 months old, leaving Rose as the only provider for her little girl. Rose supported herself and her daughter with a confectionary and fruit store located at Sixth and Douglas. She sold candy, fruits, canned goods and her famous boiled ham.
 

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Thompson, William

"Indians encamped on the Missouri River Bluffs looked up in silence and made no move as they watched a white man of giant stature in his early thirties walk into their midst, rifle in hand.

He was alone and he was angry. The Indians know why, for not long before they had helped themselves to one of the white man's horses. The white man took his horse and stalked out of the camp with complete disregard and disdain for the large group of Indians who watched him closely.

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Trosper, Elzona

Elzona Trosper dedicated her life to helping improve the status of blacks and minorities in Sioux City.  A social worker, wife, mother, and community activist, Trosper was tireless in her efforts to help those in need.

Elzona Trosper was born Elzona Harris on April 27, 1898, in Gallatin, Missouri. She graduated from Western Baptist College in Kansas City, Missouri and the University of Kansas.  She completed additional graduate work at the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago.

Trosper moved with her husband Thomas to Sioux City in 1927. She quickly became involved in the community and was instrumental in the creation of the Booker T. Washington Center, a community center for blacks. She was the first president of the board of the Booker T. Washington Center.

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