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Title: Elmer H. Yonaka
Dates: 1907-1950
Collection Number: 00553
Quantity: 24 items
Abstract: Black and white images of E. H. Yonaka, his work, and travels as head of W. H. Brown Land Company and Mott (ND).
Provenance: The State Historical Society acquired this collection from Mrs. E. H. Yonaka in January 1954.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U. S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all bibliographic references.
Related Collections:
MSS 10055 W. H. Brown Land Company
00090 W. H. Brown Land Company
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
From the Bismarck Tribune, Wednesday May 12, 1954
Elmer H. Yonaka, 69, 822 Third St., died in a Bismarck hospital at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday following a lengthy illness.
A well-known Mott realtor, Mr. Yonaka was owner of the William H. Brown Real Estate Co. there. He had been hospitalized here since May 25, 1952.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Yonaka was born March 6, 1885 at West Salem, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Yonaka. He grew up and attended school at Olney, Ill., and worked in St. Louis, Mo., and Chicago before coming to North Dakota in 1908.
At that time, Mr. Yonaka settled at Haynes, but in 1910, moved to Mott. He married Leona Higgins at Olney in 1911. She died in 1927.
Mr. Yonaka became employed by the William H. Brown Land Co. later becoming manager of the firm. In 1943 he purchased the company. He resided in Mott until 1947, at which time he moved to Webster Groves, Mo. He lived there until coming to Bismarck in 1951 and had made his home here since.
He married Elsie Brandt at Carrington in 1930. She survives him. Mr. Yonaka was a member of the original board which went to Washington, D.C. to set up the program for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration in the State of North Dakota. He also served as chairman of the Hettinger County AAA board.
Mr. Yonaka was one of the organizers of the North Dakota Taxpayers Assn., a member of the Mott Masonic Lodge, the Christian Church and served as president of the Mott School Board for many years.
In addition to his widow, he leaves one son, Howard H. Yonaka, Algonac, Mich.; one daughter, Mrs. E. A. Morris, Olympia, Wash.; three brothers, Edward Yonaka, Portland, Ore,; Louis Yonaka, Minot, and Harry Yonaka, Grand Forks; one sister, Mrs. Walter Nuding, Olney, Ill., and four grandchildren. His parents, first wife, and one brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel of the Boelter Funeral Home. The rev. Russell E. Boatman, president of the Minnesota Bible College at Minneapolis, will officiate. Pallbearers will include Oscar Forde, Harold Bowers, Carl Tullberg, G. J. Steinert, Ray Conklin, and Norman Roop. All members of the Mott Masonic Lodge and business associates and friends will be honorary pallbearers.
PHOTOGRAPHS INVENTORY
00553-01 Atoms At Work mobile van visiting schools from United State Atomic Energy Commission, Mott (ND) ca. 1950-1960
00553-02 Flood, Mott (ND) 1950
00553-03 Flooded streets of Mott (ND) 1950
00553-04 Plowing with two Flour City engines owned by Wakefield Brothers near Mott (ND) 1910
00553-05 Tractor with plows, Mott (ND) ca. 1910-1920
00553-06 – 07 Car with signs commemorating Wm. H. Brown founder of Mott (ND) at 30 year celebration, Mott (ND) 1903
00553-08 M. Irish, Blaine Little, E. H. Yonaka standing in front of Mott Pioneer Press Building ca. 1910-1911
00553-09 Brown Hotel built by W. H. Brown Company, Mott (ND) ca. 1910-1911
00553-10 First jury trial in Hettinger Courthouse, Mott (ND) December 16, 1907
00053-11 – 14 E. H. Yonaka holding wheat plant on land he owned, Hettinger County, 1942
00553-15 E. H. Yonaka and 1930 Commander Studebaker car in wheatfield near Regent (ND) 1939
00553-16 E. H. Yonaka and Pepper Dog looking at wheat field near Regent (ND) 1939
00553-17 Stenographer Loretta Phillipe Voelz in wheatfield near Regent (ND) 1939
00553-19 E. H. Yonaka standing in snow in front of steps of house, Mott (ND) 1035
00553-20 Charles Geiger and E. H. Yonaka standing at corner of house, Mott (ND) 1930
00553-21 E. H. Yonaka home in Mott (ND) ca. 1930-1940
00553-22 Ice floes on streets of Mott (ND) 1950
00553-23 E. H. Yonaka and unknown man in car in Haynes (ND) 1908
00553-24 Rudolph Berg, pulling tree planting machine, Driscoll (ND) May 16, 1958
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