Country Facts and Folklore
By Andy Reddick

HOMEMAKER FROM HILLSBORO

Virginia M. Converse was the daughter of Nettie Runyon and Dr. D. V. Converse, born in Hillsboro, Henry County, on September 24, 1874. She began her schooling in Hillsboro, but graduated from Plain City High School in Ohio in 1892, then attended Van Buren, Henry, and Lee County Normal Schools.

On September 27, 1906 Virginia married Simon Teter in Cantril. They apparently had no children.

Mrs. Teter was a school teacher from 1893 to 1903 in Hillsboro, Salem, and Cantril. Then she entered a new career, and became the first lady editor in Van Buren County. From 1903 to 1905, she owned and operated the Cantril Leader. In 1905-1906, she was editor and business manager of the Mt. Pleasant Free Press.

After that, she assumed various jobs and offices. As the only woman mayor in Van Buren County, she was elected Cantril’s mayor 3 times. In 1907 she taught in Cantril; in 1908 she was a bookkeeper at the lumber yard, and in 1909 she was assistant cashier at the Cantril Savings Bank.

Mrs. Teter managed the Cantril Drug Store from 1935-1937. As a member of the Baptist Church, she was county president of the WCTU 1923-1933, and was a delegate to state conventions. Her husband died in 1937. She remained in Cantril as a resident and homemaker.

(Source: Who's Who in Iowa, Iowa Press Association, 1940)

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Contributed to the Van Buren Co. IAGenWeb Project by Andy Reddick
http://iagenweb.org/vanburen/