Just saw this story about Le Roy, IA in the Des Moines Register.  I grew up within a few miles of Le Roy, attended elementary school in the brick schoolhouse now occupied by Steve Hitt, and Le Roy Mayor Emmett Joy was my bus driver. 

Watching the embedded video clips and reading the article makes me both sad and proud of where I came from.  Those folks who settled the midwest were tough and resilient, and boy did they know how to work hard every day to survive.  I have great respect and reverence for all of them, even the ones that turned mean!  Their names won't make it into any history books, but they are giants nonetheless.