Mason City man with historic past dies

A northern Iowa businessman with a colorful family history has died at age one hundred. Harley Ransom was the third generation of Ransoms to own a pool hall in Mason City. It was reportedly the inspiration for the pool hall featured in “The Music Man”. His grandfather opened the pool hall in 1866. Court Ransom was a Civil War veteran and had been Abe Lincoln’s bodyguard. Harley Ransom’s son, Bob, now owns the pool hall.