"FULLERTON'S FIRST 100 YEARS (1879-1979" PAGES 105-154 This full text transcription was done by Ted and Carole Miller from a copy of the original publication. Submitted to the USGenWeb Nebraska Archives, January, 1998, by Ted and Carole Miller (susieque@pacbell.net) USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *************** Fullerton's First 100 Years (1879-1979) E. L. and VIRGINIA CHRISTENSEN Elmer and Virginia Christensen moved to Fullerton, May of 1946. Elmer was born June 2, 1912 at Minden, Nebraska. Virginia Elaine Jorgensen was born November 16, 1916 in Upland, Franklin county Nebraska. They were united in marriage, April 10, 1937 at Minden, Nebraska. To this union was born three boys, Steven, now of Hilo, Hawaii, Val of Joplin, Missouri and David of Lincoln, Nebraska. L. W. HEAL Louis William Heal and Clara Jeannette Shuck Heal owned and operated Theatres in Superior, Ravenna and Fullerton, Nebraska for many years. To this union was born four children, Neal Louis, died as a baby, Joy Jeanette, now Atkins, San Jose, California, Helen Lillian, now Bake, Portland, Oregon and Mary Lou now Gdowski of Fullerton. Mary Lou married Edmund I. Gdowski, May 28, 1952, in Fullerton, Nebraska. They have four children, Nancy Jane, Patricia Eileen, Kathleen Louise, Thomas Edmund. Ed and Mary own Gdowski Ins. of Fullerton. MATHEAW GDOWSKI Matheaw Gdowski was born March 30, 1896 near Tarnov, Poland. In 1913 he came to the USA. Ana Kula (Kohler) Czarnick was born January 7, 1898 at Verdell, Knox county, Nebraska. They lived in South Dakota and in Nebraska before settling near Fullerton and farmed. To this union five children were born: Lawrence, now a farmer at Fullerton, Nebraska, Edmund, owner of Gdowski Ins. Fullerton, Nebraska, Ben, a government meat inspector at York, Nebraska. Adam a factory worker at Missouri Valley, Iowa and Angeline, married to Lloyd Hansen, a teacher in a rural school near Fullerton. T.W.DELANEY Thomas W. Delaney was born September 5, 1858 in Bureau county Illinois. He married Carolyn Schlitt on August 20, 1890. They came to this area in 1902. He was a farmer. Their children were Joseph Delaney, Estella Steckel, Florence, Sylvia Saville, Francis Delaney. S. N. SAVILLE Samual Newton Saville was born November 9, 1867 at Palmyra, Iowa. He came from Iowa to Ord, Nebraska in 1887 and to Nance county in 1900. He was a farmer. He married Tacy Gildow in 1889. Their children were Augustus G., Maude Dickenson, Mary Speicher, Lenna McKay, Jasper. Augustus "Gus" G. Saville was born April 4, 1896 in Valley county, Nebraska. He graduated from Fullerton High School. He served in the Air Force in France from July 17, 1914 to December 17, 1919. He married Sylvia Delaney on March 4. 1930 at Fullerton, Nebraska. He worked as a rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service from July 7, 1921 to November 6, 1964 when he retired. One son, William S. was born to this union on December 25, 1930. William now lives at Spalding, Nebraska. Gus was active in the American Legion, VFW, The 40 and 8, Lions Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Red Cross. He received the AkSarBen Good Neighbor Award in 1977. LOWELL KEITH FAMILY Keith Repair formerly Les Repair is owned by Lowell Keith. Lowell was a mechanic for Les for 13 years before he bought the business in April of 1975. Lowell is the son of Howard Keith and has lived all his life in Nance county. He married Nina Bruna and they have two children, Monte and Gina. They are members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. 106 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE MATTEA FAMILY Michael Mattea born in Pilsno, Poland in 1867 and Bernice (Knopik) Mattea born in Krakow, Poland in 1876. After marrying moved to a farm seven and one half miles southeast of Fullerton in 1892. To this union were born nine children. In the order of birth, they were Louis, Selma, Henry, Theodore, Stephen, Emil, Benedict, Mae and Helen. All of the sons are now deceased. The daughters are now residents of Los Angeles and neighboring communities. For many years, Louis, Stephen and Benedict were Fullerton businessmen operating a Radio and Tire Shop on north main street. Emil was the operator at the Standard Oil Gasoline Station a number of years. Louis was the first radio retailer and authorized repairman in Fullerton. Benedict, Mae and Helen were graduates of Fullerton High School. Mae being one of the first students of Polish extraction to graduate. Emil Mattea married Victoria Paproski on September 11, 1929. He was a rural mail carrier and he died in 1972. Their son James teaches in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. THE GABRIEL FAMILY Joseph P. Gabriel and Eva M. (Bull) Gabriel were born in Polk County, Nebraska and moved with their family to a farm three miles southeast of Fullerton in March 1917. The children Walter, Esther, Margaret and Richard born at Fullerton, were all graduates of Fullerton High School. Walter became a resident of Los Angeles, California in 1941 and affiliated with Southern Pacific Railroad, retiring in 1969. Esther and Margaret married Kuhnel brothers and lived in Osceola and Shelby, Nebraska respectively. Richard after service in the U.S. Air Force in World War II, returned to the family farm in 1945 and died in 1975. [Image: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gabriel, Richard, Margaret, Walter and Esther.] One rememberance (sic) of Fullerton in March 1917 after several days of rain and the frost leaving the ground, was a trip down main street with the soupy mud hub deep on a spring wagon pulled by horses. When the vehicle came to the concrete crosswalks, it elevated at least two feet in order to cross almost causing the occupants to be thrown out of the vehicle. Richard Gabriel married Alice Pelikan on May 14, 1947. Their children are Leonard, Dennis, Victoria Christensen, Mariann. Victoria is married to Dana Christensen and Dennis married Hannalea Alley. Dennis lives on the home place. RUSSELL HISTORY Wesley, Yorkshire, England is where John Russell, Sr. lived before coming to America. John and Hannah Russell had six sons: William, John, George, Walter, James and Edwin. A daughter, Mary Ann died in infancy. Mother and her family were what was called an independent family, i.e. could live without working. Having land and income enough to provide them a good living. Mother, her brother, and parents enjoyed a good life. Father was just the reverse. He was left homeless with a brother (Roger) 107 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ and a sister, (Betty) to look after, he being the eldest. He possessed nothing of this world's goods. He worked in a lead mine until the others could take care of themselves. Father came to California, around Cape Horn, during the Gold Rush days. The trip took six weeks. He worked two or three years, then returned to England, married and raised his family. Bill and John were born in Redmere, England. The others in Wensley. The boys were getting a good age and since the Lord (land owner) would not sell Father land, he decided to bring his family to America. He wanted to keep the boys together. In 1881, October 14, the Russell's with six boys, ages 10 to 25 two other boys (Storey), who lived a mile from us, a domestic (hired girl) named Sarah, and a dog, were ready to leave England. After the sale, which was of liberal extent, and after Father made eight large boxes to encase our belongings, we left for Liverpool. We stayed overnight and sailed on the Sardinia of the Cunard Line, the next day. The crossing took nine days, and it was a rough crossing, so many were sick. The sailors could endure the roughness and went about their work unconcerned. We could see whales pumping (spouting) water in the air, 10 to 12 feet. [Image: John Russell At the end of nine days, we all were happy to see terra firma, what we'd been used to, and what everyone wants if they choose to feel secure. We arrived in Quebec, Canada. Here we transferred to the Grank Truck Railway. This was a crude train and very rough riding, iron seats with no cushions. This was our first apprenticeship to pioneer life, which we later endured much of. Such a drastic endurance for Mother. At Port Huron, we rode on a Ferry that took us to United States. Here we took a train to St. Louis, Missouri. With no transportation, city life was not for us. So we left for Allison, Iowa. Father had a friend that left England and had settled in Iowa. We were sorry to find that this friend had passed away a few months before. We stayed here six weeks, all the boys finding work. John and the two Storey boys stayed two years. We moved on to Lincoln, Nebraska rented a house and stayed awhile. 108 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From here, Father and Bill left for Grand Island, where the Pawnee Indian Reservation Office was located. They inquired about buying government land. They in turn directed them to Slaughter and Lindsay, an adjunct of Grand Island. They took them to Horse Creek where they bought a section of land, paying cash for it. They had to wait a month to get government patent for it. Father and Bill came back to Lincoln for horses, harnesses, wagons and supplies. I'll quote prices of the horses we bought. A six year old cost $160, another for a team $130. This was not very good. A stud horse $156, and a mare $140. Wagons cost $50 to $60 apiece. A set of harness cost $30. Also bought a pony for $30. Mother and Sarah made canvas covers for the wagons. They bought a stove and supplies and we were ready to leave for our new home. The first day we reached Seward, the next Osceola, Clarksville, and then Fullerton. We crossed the Loup River on a ferry. The first wagon crossed safely. They second ran off so we all (boys) got a thorough soaking. Gress was the name of the man who ran the ferry. The Whitneys had the ferry that was west of town, which we used later. In Fullerton, March 28, 1882, we took rooms at the boarding house which still stands across the street, north of the Library. A man named Fawsett had charge of the rooming house. He was very kind and found dry clothing for us. Father put the horses in Jim Zibbles livery barn, where Chevrolet garage now stands. Let me say accommodations were not much in any town. There being only a few houses, no hotels to mention. If Mother and Sarah could get in, we were pleased. Anything went for the rest. There seemed to be ample livery barns for the horses. As we drove up the Valley, making our own road, Mother said, "This somewhat resembles our English Moors". We stayed with a family named Shaw's, who had a two story house. Shaws were the closest neighbors to the land we bought. We made our house of lumber, which we bought in Central City. It cost $15.00 a thousand and was a bit inferior lumber. Nearly all the houses along the Valley were made of sod, logs, or were dug outs. In the Spring more families moved into the valley. In 1884, there was a terrible murder on Horse Creek. (See separate page for the story). In 1888, about 11:00 in the morning was the worst blizzard of our lives. We drove our cattle to a shelter and never lost a one. Much has been written about this blizzard. We lived on this farm until 1892. Mother returned to England for medical care, staying several months. She endured many hardships in this Pioneer life. What a contrast to her pleasant life in England. Father and us four younger boys went to Fullerton to live. Bill and John were married and had farms of their own. We rented the home place for five years to two men, Black and Auld from Iowa. When Mother returned, Father bought the rest of the Tom Miller place. Tom ran the Post Office at this place and it was called Lone Tree Post Office. This is where Roy Russell now lives. The next place we purchased belonged to Henry Knapp. This is where I lived for several years. All the land we purchased was from $2.50 to $25.00 an acre. Most of the land is still in the Russell's possession. More settlers were coming, shutting off our herding range. So we decided to fence our land. Buying a car load of oak posts of Colonel Baker of gingham Iowa. John Reimers told us about this. Then we bought a car load of wire from Ed Kreidler (he was a cousin of Jessie Kreidler). Dudley Barnes worked for Kreidler at the time. He later left Fullerton, but came back again to run a Drug Store till his demise in 1939. In 1905. we moved to town. I bought and sold livestock for several years. 109 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1906, my wife passed away, leaving three small children. We had many, many sad experiences of which I won't relate. Father passed away February 8, 1901. He lived to be 80 years old. Mother lived to be 75 years old and passing away in 1906. Edwin Jackson Russell 1871 to 1923 Walter Russell 1867 to 1934 James Richard Russell 1865 to 1934 George Mathew Russell 1863 to 1951 Mary Ann Russell 1861 to 1862 John Henry Russell 1860 to 1936 William Thomas Russell 1858 to 1924 WILLIAM T. RUSSELL William Thomas Russell and Lillias Laird were married November 21, 1888, at the Laird home west of Fullerton, by Rev. J. C. Irwin of the Fullerton Presbyterian Church. The Laird home, known as Victoria Ranch, was located abut six miles east of Fullerton, just west of what was known as Merchiston. The Russells made their home on Mr. Russell's farm in the Loup Valley, between Fullerton and Palmer, and later moved to their farm just west of Fullerton where Arthur L. Russell lived and Richard L. Russell now lives. Mr. Russell was a farmer and stockman and a stockholder in First National Bank, where his son John T. Russell was President for more than 30 years and where his granddaughter Margaret Russell is presently employed. Mr. and Mrs. Russell had four children: John T. Russell Lillias K. Lillie Mrs. Gilbert D. Griffin William H. Arthur L. JOHN HENRY RUSSELL John Henry Russell was the second son of John and Hannah Russell. He was born in 1860 at Bolton Castle, Yorkshire County, England, and was 21 years old when he came to the United States with his parents and five brothers. He worked in Iowa for two years before joining the rest of the family in Nance county. J. (Henry) Russell was born October 2, 1892, and lived his entire life in Nance county. He attended school District #5 and Fullerton High School. On Janaury 19, 1919, he married Carrie Belle Epler, a native of Tecumseh, Nebraska. They lived on a farm southwest of Fullerton until moving to Fullerton in 1945. They had one son - John Henry Russell. Carrie died June 15, 1972 and Henry died February 8, 1975. John Henry Russell was born March 28, 1932. He attended rural schools and graduated from Fullerton High School and the University of Nebraska. He married Ethelene Watson, a native of Shelton, Nebraska, on June 23, 1963. They have two children - Kimberly, born May 27, 1964 and John Calvin, born May 14, 1966. They reside on a farm southwest of Fullerton. RUSSELL-FORBES IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF NANCE COUNTY. My mother, Sarah Kate Morrison, was born in Higginsville, Kentucky. At the age of three she moved with her parents to Shools, Indiana. In 1880 she came with her parents, four brothers and five sisters to the same community as the Russell family were now living. My maternal grandparents were Robert J. and Nancy Jane Morrison. My grandfather farmed, raised and sold horses, some of which were secured from the Indians. These pioneer families lived about three miles from an Indian camp ground. The Indians were not happy unless they could trade or steal from the new settlers. Two of my mother's sisters passed away quite young, one died of child birth and the youngest died with small-pox and pneumonia. They are buried in the valley cemetery, a small isolated plot of ground surrounded by pasture and corn fields. 110 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My mother taught school in this same community. Her school house was crudely made of logs. The winters were very severe in those days, sometimes it was hard to keep the school house warm, but the students wore heavy home made clothing, long underwear and high shoes. Some of her pupils were larger and older than she was. Sarah Kate Morrison and John H. Russell were married at the Pleasant Valley Church on April 12, 1890. My father had built a two room home on his homestead. It was built of rough lumber, was thinly plastered and was not painted, but turned out to be a very happy home for the new bride and groom. My father farmed, raised cattle and hogs and "fed out" his livestock. To this union, four children were born: Hannah Mae, (Mrs Ed Held, Mother of Anne Held Clark, Gladys Held Kuehn and Avis Jean Laddig) John H. Russell, Jr. Father of John H. Russell, 3rd. Albert E. Russell, father of Albert Russell, Jr. and Patsey Russell Hornby, who is deceased. The youngest and only one of this union living is myself, Nellie E. Forbes. In the years to come my parents added on to their home. My father built a barn, cattle shed and hog shed on his farm, out of cement blocks which he molded himself. These building are still standing and are in good shape, being so solidly built. This farm is now owned by Albert Russell, Jr. and occupied by Donn Russell and family. John Russell Sr. and his family lived on this farm until he retired. My husband was the son of Frank V. and Laura Hamilton Forbes. Four children were born to this couple. Dorothy Forbes Kilday, mother of Don P. Kilday, Gary Robt. Kilday and JaAnne Kilday Gerber, Evelyn Forbes Todd, mother of Steven and Jennifer Todd. Robert, father of Sandra Forbes Leininger, Ardythe K. Moeller and Larry Forbes. My husband Fred, fondly known as Freddie was the oldest in the family. Frank V. Forbes, was the son of John Frederick and Nancy Jane Ayers Forbes. They came from Wilton, Iowa to the Glenwood Community, which joins the Pleasant Valley Community on the west, in 1880 and lived on the land which was later known as Forbes Ranch. They lived in a dug out just south of where their home was later built. The Forbes' also were farmers and feeders. Grandpa Fred was the owner of a large herd of prized Hereford cows. He raised and sold purebred stock. The Forbes and Russells were neighbors and good friends, so I knew my husband from childhood. We were only friends, until I grew up and graduated from Fullerton High School with the class of 1928 and was in my first year of college that Freddie really knew I was around. In the meantime he graduated from Palmer High School in 1927 and had started farming on his own. One evening we double dated with another couple. The next Saturday night he asked me to go to the show with him and we started going steady. Two years later we were married on September 10, 1931 at the Methodist Church in Central City, with only the immediate families present. After our wedding, we left on a honeymoon trip to the Nebraska State Fair. That evening was spent in the honeymoon suite at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. It was just new at that time and was a very beautiful hotel. After a short time at the fair, we visited relatives at Ida Grove, Spencer and Storm Lake in Iowa. Our first night after returning home was spent with Freddie's parents and family. We were welcomed home that evening with an old time chivaree. A crowd of neighbors and friends gathered, some in cars and one kind friend brought his horse and buggy. We were loaded into the buggy and all drove to town (Palmer). We were paraded up and down the street with horns honking and tin cans rattling. Then all went back to the farm where every one was given refreshments of candy bars and apples. That evening when we went to bed, some one had taken the slats out of the bed and filled the covers full of rice The end of a 1931 chivaree! Two evenings later we were given a shower at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Weems. Friends, relatives and neighbors generally made up for all the "devilment" they had done two evenings before. Freddie and I "started up" on a farm just west of the Glenwood school and church. The farm was owned by Grandpa Fred. Our oldest daughter, Marilyn 111 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ was born here. When she was six months old we moved to the Forbes Ranch and, my husband became a partner with his grandfather in farming and raising of purebred cattle. Our second daughter, Dorothy and youngest child, Johnny were born. We lived in a large two story house with a hired man's addition built on It was a few steps from the smaller home of Grandma and Grandpa Fred. Grandma died and Grandpa lived on in his own home. As his home was so close to ours I kept up his home and he ate his meals with us. There was no staying in bed on Sunday morning, he wanted his breakfast on time 6:30. There was plenty of time to do the chores and get to church. On December 26, 1945, he passed away after being ill just a few days with pneumonia and complications. His death was a great grief to my family. To our children he was the greatest Papoo ever and that is the name they fondly called him when they learned to talk and through the years to come. He was eighty-seven when he died. He was a grand old man and it was his love for his family, especially his great grandchildren, his neighbors, God and the great out doors and his prize cattle that gave him such a long full life. This ended our happy life on Forbes Ranch, with Grandpa Fred. We moved to the Hadley Farm, just a half mile east and which we had earlier purchased. The place was very run down, and we felt very handicapped at first. We built a new home, elevator, new fences, new windmills and re-modeled the rest of the out buildings. Finally the place became home. My husband farmed, raised hogs and cattle and fed them out. Johnny grew to manhood here and the operation grows. In 1951, my husband's health began to fail, it was discovered he had a leaking Aorta Heart Valve. In March 1962 he had heart surgery in Colorado General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Swann, a world famous heart surgeon performed the rare type of surgery. On June 20, 1963 he passed away very suddenly while driving his jeep to the Loup River, which was close by and which he often did to fish. He was fifty-four years old. Our family is grown now: Marilyn married Vern Sonderup on October 29 1950. They are the parents of Thomas Lynn and Mark Vern who farm and ranch with their father and one daughter Nancy who is a student nurse in Mary Lanning Hospital, in Hastings. Dorothy married Duane Dudney on April 22, 1950. They have two children, Debra Jane in second year at Nebraska School of Medicine and Douglas Duane, a Junior at Wesleyan University at Lincoln. Johnny married Karen Tibbets of Palmer on October 6, 1960. They have three children, John Jr. who attends Hastings Tech College, Jill Lynn and Jeffery Todd at home. I lived on a farm close to Johnny and family for eight years, following my husband's death. In 1970 I moved to my present home in Fullerton. He and his family still live on the farm. He has carried on the farm operation his father had to leave . Fred was a Charter Member of Nance county 4-H Clubs. WALTER RUSSELL Walter Russell came to Nance county from England with parents, as a young man. He married Elizabeth Morrison and farmed near Fullerton. Retired and lived in Fullerton until death. Their children were Harry, Louis, Blanche and Roy R. Harry Russell married Alma Erskine and farmed near Fullerton until his death. Mrs. Russell still resides in their house. Their children are Harry W. of Honolulu, Hawaii and Marilyn Chisholm of San Diego, California. Louise married Walter Hagadone of Cozad, Nebraska and still resides there. They have one son Don also of Cozad. Blanche married Horace McKeag of Osceola, Nebraska. They lived on a farm near Osceola and raised Black Angus cattle. Both are deceased, no children. Roy R. married Virginia Held and they live on the home place in Pleasant Valley. Their children are Roberta Frazey of Omaha, Roy Jr. of Omaha, Ralph of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Rogelyn Stevens of Columbus, Nebraska and Ruth Anderson of Norfolk, Nebraska. 112 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GEORGE MATHEW RUSSELL George Mathew Russell was born in 1863. He married Kathryn Metcalf and they had three children, Avis Margaret, Florence and John, now deceased. They lived on a farm west of Fullerton, in Loup Valley. Mrs. Russell passed away in 1906 leaving three small children and Mr. Russell moved into Fullerton and bought and sold livestock for several years. Later moved to Los Angeles and lived with his daughters and son. Avis and Florence are retired teachers and make their home in Los Angeles, Laguna Hills Area. George died in 1951. JAMES RICHARD RUSSELL James Richard Russell was born in 1865. He married Elizabeth Ludington. Their children were James Lowell, now deceased, Anna Victoria Litchfield, Agnes Eleanor Cooke, now deceased and Lillian Griffin now deceased. James was president of First National Bank from 1913 to 1928. In 1922 he took over the majority stock of the United States National Bank of San Diego and became President of that Bank, but continued to serve as President of the Fullerton Bank until 1928. EDWIN JACKSON RUSSELL Edwin Jackson Russell, the youngest son of John and Hannah Russell, was born September 9, 1871 in Wensley, Yorkshire, England. He came to America with his parents and five brothers when he was nine years of age. He would tell of his life in England and going to school there. He remembered the whales on the ocean. He grew up on the farm and loved rural life. As a young man he went away to business school at Fremont, Nebraska. He was a beautiful penman and loved neat small figures in his books. Physically he was probably considered rather short, 5'8" or 9", stocky build and a beautiful head of auburn hair and a fair complexion to go with it. He wore a mustache as a young father. He was working for his oldest brother, William, when he met Kate Almira Ludington, the district schoolmarm that boarded there. They were married April 9, 1898, in Fullerton, Nebraska. Kate was the third daughter of John W. Ludington and Rebecca Newman. She was born March 25, 1874 at Lone Tree, now Central City, Merrick county, Nebraska. In about 1903 the Indian Territory of South Dakota opened up for the drawing of land. Edwin, Kate and their two children along with an older brother, James and his family, and a brother-in-law, John Ludington with his family, went up to get land. They did not get land on the first drawing but were able to purchase land from speculators that did, very cheap. James and Edwin started the Rose Bud National Bank of Herrick, South Dakota. They remained there for three or four years and returned to Fullerton. Upon returning to Nebraska, Edwin and Kate moved to a farm of 160 acres about 10 miles west of Fullerton near the original farm. He farmed, fattened cattle and hogs for market and had a generally busy and full life. There were brothers and neighbors around them for heavy work, for they helped each other when the need arose. Their family numbered five now, two boys and three girls. The Oldest, (Viola) Marie, was ready for high school so they decided to move to town. This was about 1914. Edwin worked in the bank for a time and in the Fullerton grain Elevator, but could not forget his love for the farm. About 1918 he bought 80 acres two miles west of town. They built a lovely two story home, tile barn and hog house and other buildings on it and moved their family there. He was able to keep his boys busy and each child had a pony to enjoy and care for. About 1922, Edwin semi-retired letting his oldest son, (Edwin) Clyde, do the farming. His youngest son, Kenneth Ludington died of a ruptured appendix after a short illness, August 16, 1921 at 15 years of age. Edwin J. died very suddenly December 19, 1923 at 52 years of age. He had been herding some cattle which were out of the fence, down by the river, some distance from the house. He apparently suffered a heart attack. He was able to 113 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ get into the wagon and start the team, which brought him to the house. This was a very traumatic experience to the children and especially to Kate. Kate and her two daughters Kathryn Eleanor and Edith Marion moved into Fullerton. Kate was active in 4-H work, being a leader for several years. She was on the County Fair Board and active in her Episcopal Church. She enjoyed hand work and braided many rugs, she learned to make quilts from wool. She washed, dried, carded the wool and tied the quilts. Kate spent the last nine years of her life with her daughters Kathryn in Bountiful, Utah. She died October 31, 1961 at age 87. The oldest child of Edwin Jackson Russell and Kate Ludington (Viola) Marie Russell married Willis Bell. They had two children Bette Ellen and Ronald. Bette married Donald E. Horacek and had three children. Jerilyn Marie who married Tom Dale Rieken. Ralph Edward who married Jeanne Anderson and Janis Francis who married Walter Jarecke Jr. Ronald Bell married Dea and they have no children. Marie Russell Bell died November 22, 1966. Bette Bell Horacek died May 15, 1976. (Edwin) Clyde Russell second child of Edwin and Kate was born January 31. 1902. He married (Clara) Blanche Cunningham on November 1, 1923 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Blanche Cunningham was the daughter of Charles P. Cunningham and Olive Myrtle Bergen. Their children were Ardith Doris, Lenore Evelyn, Madeline Blanche, and Kenneth Edwin. Ardith married Warren E. Granger. They had a daughter Nancy Gail and a son Thomas Eugene. Lenore married Ray Ernest Peregrine and they had three children. A daughter and son died shortly after birth. A son Donald Ray was born November 15, 1955 and they adopted a daughter Janet Kay born April 15, 1963. Madeline married Leo L. Bedke. Lenore and Madeline had a double wedding. Madeline and Leo had three daughters, Cynthia Sue and twins, Jacqueline Jo and Vicki Lea. Kenneth Edwin Russell married Marie Rose (Brase) Lockard. Kenneth is a contractor carpenter in Grand Island, Nebraska. They have three children, Ronda Elaine, Shelly Rose and Randy Edwin. Kathryn Eleanor, fourth child was born December 9, 1911. She married Paul Pickett. They had one daughter Rogelyn Diane. Paul died and she married Lester C. Bryant. and was divorced. Kathryn married (Delbert) Earl Hess at Salt Lake City, Utah. They have one daughter Linda Karen. Edith Marion was born January 1, 1914. Edith married William Ervin Clark. They had two sons William Ervin and Robert Jay. She later married Clifton Wolfe and lives in California. WILLIAM HUGH RUSSELL William Hugh Russell was born in 1896 at the farm home some thirteen miles southwest of Fullerton in Nance county. His parents were William Thomas and Lilias Kerr Russell. Four children were born to this union: John Thomas Lilias Kerr, William Hugh and Arthur Laird. The family resided at the Loup River home about ten years. They moved to the farm on Pillsbury Hill after living in Fullerton a few months. Mr. Russell thought the farm would be a better place to raise his family. William (known as Bill) graduated from Fullerton High in 1915 - and then attended Lincoln School of Commerce. He entered the Army at Leavenworth Kansas in 1918 and was honorably discharged a few months later when the Armistice was signed on November 11th. In 1925 Bill opened an International Harvester Machinery shop which he managed for nineteen years in Fullerton. Bill and Hanna Ramsey were married in the Presbyterian church in Grand Island, Nebraska by Rev. Irvin Askine on January 2,1929. To this union two sons were born - William Lee on October 30, 1929 and Robert Ramsey June 11, 1932. William Lee died September 4th, 1969 - 39 years old. Robert has a computer business in Phoenix, Arizona. He is married to Mary Lou Rosenquist. A daughter Jackie Lee was born October 12, 1960. A son Craig, by adoption was born September 12, 1968 and came to Bob and Mary, December 23, 1968 - a wonderful Christmas present. 114 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bill was also engaged in farming - the home place on the Loup river and a North Star farm. He was born in Nance county lived his entire life here and died here, October 4, 1968 at age 71. He loved Nance county and spent many happy hours fishing and hunting along the Loup and Cedar rivers. Hanna Ramsey Russell was born February 2nd, 1902 at Streaton, Illinois to Lee William and Bertha G. McAllister Ramsey. The family moved to Kenesaw, Nebraska in 1904. She graduated from Kenesaw High School. (drove a horse and buggy all four years!) She then attended Hastings College and Colorado University at Boulder. She taught in country schools in Adams county for three years, then 5th and 6th grades in Kenesaw two years and two years in Fullerton (departmental in 5th and 6th, 7th and 8th.) ARTHUR LAIRD RUSSELL Arthur Laird Russell was born October 7, 1898 to William Thomas and Lillias Laird Russell in Nance County, Nebraska. He attended Fullerton Schools from 1st to 12th grade and then attended Lincoln Business College in Lincoln, Nebraska. On October 6, 1926 he was united in matrimony to Grace Gladys Milby at Grand Island, Nebraska. Grace was born April 20, 1907 at Fullerton, Nebraska. To this union was born two sons: Richard Laird, September 3, 1930 at Grand Island, Nebraska and Rodney D. on March 19, 1935 at Grand Island, Nebraska. Arthur (Pete), as he is called, is a livestock breeder and a farmer. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, is secretary of the Twin Loups Irrigation Project and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank and Trust of Fullerton, Nebraska. Richard Laird Russell was born September 3, 1930 at Grand Island, Nebraska. He attended Fullerton Public Schools and graduated from high school He attended the University of Nebraska and received a B.S. in Agriculture. He married Wilma Marie Kindhart on July 10, 1953 at Oakland, Iowa. Wilma was born February 21, 1933 at Oakland, Iowa. Richard served in the Army from 1953 to 1955 as a Master Sergeant and as Personnel Director at two hospitals at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and Fort Riley, Kansas. He served in the Army reserve for 12 years. Richard and Wilma have four children, Scott Richard, born October 18, 1955 at Fullerton, Nebraska. Scott is married to Jacque Prososki and has two children. Kirk Thomas was born September 30, 1957 at Fullerton. Laura Ann was born July 23, 1960 at Fullerton and is now attending the University of Nebraska. Jean Marie was born December 22, 1961 at Grand Island, Nebraska and is a senior at Fullerton High School. Richard served as a member of the Fullerton School Board for 12 years, and as President of the Nance county 4-H Council 4 years. Served on an Advisory Board at the University of Nebraska four years. He is a life member of the American Legion at Fullerton, is a Fraternal Order of Eagles member and Richard and Wilma were awarded the Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor Award in 1974. Richard and his family are the third generation to live on the family farm. Rodney Dewood Russell was born March 19, 1935. He married Patsy Louise Swartz. Patsy was born October 26. 1941 at Osceola, Nebraska to Carl Robert and Viola Helen Bridgland Swartz. Rodney and Patsy have three children Diane Marie born April 8, 1963 and Mark Timothy born October 18, 1965 and Nancy Sue born April 13, 1967. LILLIAS (Lillie) K. RUSSELL Lillie Russell was born in Fullerton, Nebraska on March 20, 1895. She married Gilbert Dean Griffin at Fullerton, Nebraska on June 1, 1916. They owned and operated Griffin Cafe in Fullerton. When they retired, they moved to Santa Barbara, California. Mr. Griffin passed away in 1954. Mrs. Griffin stills resides in Santa Barbara, California. Their children are: 115 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Barbara Jean (Mrs: William E. Hayes) Santa Barbara Jessie Ruth (Mrs. J. T. Rankin) Santa Barbara Russell Gilbert, Camarillo, California Thomas Laird, Thousand Oaks, California JOHN T. RUSSELL John Thomas Russell was born near Fullerton on September 3, 1890, the eldest child of William Thomas and Lillias Laird Russell, pioneer residents of Nance county. He grew up on a farm in the Loup Valley west of Fullerton, attended rural school, high school in Fullerton and Stuart, Nebraska and Lincoln Business College. In 1910, he was employed by the Fullerton National Bank, and in 1913 the Russell family became stockholders of the First National Bank. James R. Russell became president, and John T. became bookkeeper and assistant cashier. In 1915, he became cashier and was active in managing the bank, and in 1928, he was elected President and remained in this position until his death November 25, 1960. On May 26, 1915 he was married to Jessie Whitney of Fullerton and three children were born to them: Margaret, Jean, and John W. (Jack). J. T. had a strong interest in community welfare and its advancement. He was interested in fields of business, farming and livestock. He was member and Elder of The Presbyterian Church, a charter member of the Lions Club, served on the Volunteer Fire Department and City Council, and was Treasurer of American Red Cross many years and through World War I and II. He served the Bank as its President for 32 years. Margaret Russell was born in Fullerton, educated in Fullerton Public Schools and graduated from Fullerton High School. She attended Rockford College, Rockford Illinois, University of Nebraska, and graduated from Lincoln School of Commerce. She is employed at First National Bank and Trust and is currently Vice President. Jean L. Russell Young was born in Fullerton, educated in Fullerton Public Schools and graduated from Fullerton High School. She graduated from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri and the University of Nebraska and received her masters from Colorado State University, Greeley, Colorado. She taught school in Oakland and Pender, Nebraska and has been in the Voc. Ed. Department of Highland Park, Illinois High School, teaching in both food and fabrics. John W. (Jack) Russell was born to John T. and Jessie Whitney Russell February 20, 1924 in Fullerton. He was educated in Fullerton City schools and graduated in 1942. He attended the University of Nebraska one semester and enlisted in the armed services in February, 1942. He served overseas and was discharged a 1st Lt. in August 1946. He returned to the University of Nebraska where he graduated with a BA and BS degree in Pharmacy. He married Dorothy J. Davis, August 14, 1949 and has owned and operated Russell Drug Store in Fullerton for more than 25 years. Their children are John Davis Russell born August 4, 1954, graduated from Fullerton High School in 1972 and Hastings College in 1976 with a BA in Business. Timothy William was born May 8th, 1957, graduated Fullerton High School in 1975 and Hastings College in 1979 with a BA in Business. ELIZAH JAMES BLOYD Elizah James and Zilpha P. (Bell) Bloyd came to Nance county from Green county, Kentucky in February 1920 and farmed in Nance county Nebraska until Mr. Bloyd's retirement in 1947. Their children were William J. Bloyd deceased, Alice Putnam, Denver, Colorado, Elizabeth Davis, of Fullerton, Emmett deceased, John Marvin of Fullerton, Laura Reardon, deceased and Raymond Bloyd deceased. John William Davis and Elizabeth Bloyd were married in 1928. John was engaged in the trucking business and later owned and operated the Davis 116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amusement and Carnival for more than 20 years, touring Fairs in Nebraska and Iowa. They had one daughter Dorothy J. who graduated from the Fullerton schools and received her BS in Education from the University of Nebraska in 1951. She taught kindergarten in the Fullerton schools and was married to Jack Russell August 14, 1949. E. A. GRIFFIN Emmet A. and Nancey Tilton Griffin came to Fullerton about 1912 from Bancroft, Nebraska. Mr. Griffin was a jeweler. They had 4 sons: Fay A. Griffin, a pharmacist. He and his wife Vera Cooper Griffin of Des Moines, Iowa owned and operated Griffin Drug Store in Fullerton many years. Their son William J. Griffin now lives in Santa Barbara, California. Hugh Griffin who with Gilbert started Griffin Cafe and then he later moved to Oregon. His wife was the former Alta Ely. Guy Griffin owned and operated a theater at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Gilbert D. owner of Griffin Cafe. JOHN LAIRD John Laird was born in Scotland in 1821. He married Lillias Kerr in 1854 and after her death came with his three children John, Lillias, and Margaret, to the United States in 1884. Mr. Laird and his son, John. farmed east of Fullerton and their ranch was known as "Victoria Ranch", located near Merchiston. The Laird's brought beautiful Clydsdale horses from Scotland to Nebraska and raised Hereford Cattle. John Laird and his sister Margaret moved to Stuart, Nebraska, where John was a rancher and stockman. Lillias Laird married William T. Russell and resided at Fullerton until her death in 1946. Margaret Laird returned to Fullerton, after the death of her brother John in 1930, and lived with her sister, Mrs. W. T. Russell. Miss Laird passed away in 1950. JOHN WILLIAM WHITNEY John William Whitney and Louise Georgianna Riehl were married at Cedar Falls, Iowa, December 1875. In the spring of 1876, they came to Omaha and bought a team of horses and a wagon and drove to Central City, where they took a homestead claim on 1/4 section of land in Merrick county, about 10 miles north of Central City (Prairie Creek area). Later they sold the Homestead claim and bought land near what was then Pawnee Reservation. In January 1879, when the land in what had been Pawnee Reservation was put up for sale, John W. (Jack) Whitney bought 93 acres at $3.00 per acre, ($1.00 down and two years time on the rest). They moved to this location on the Loup river which became their home until their deaths, John W. in September 1916 and Louise G. April 1938. In 1879, they bought the ferry known as the "Black Mariah". This ferry had been launched in the Loup river south and east of what is now Fullerton but because of unfavorable river conditions was moved up river seven miles to the site near the Whitney home. This was the only crossing of the Loup between Genoa and St. Paul, Nebraska, at that time. "Captain Jack", as he was called operated the ferry for about ten years until a bridge was built south of Fullerton. Many travelers who reached the ferry in the evening were given food and lodging in the Whitney home, which was a small sod house. One memorable event was ferrying a small circus across the river. The caged animals in wagons were loaded on the ferry, but the elephant was too large so it was made to swim across the river. When the elephant got about mid stream, it decided to stop and play in the cool water, shooting water in the air with its trunk. It took considerable persuasion to move the elephant across the river. During the time the ferry was in operation, the home of Jack and Louise was known as the "Ferry Ranch" and later was called "Whitney Ranch". 117 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Not only was Jack a farmer, rancher, and ferry boat operator, but also he was one of three temporary commissioners appointed by Nebraska Governor Albinus Nance, for whom Nance county was named. He served in the organization of Nance county and in the location of the county seat and later served one term as Nance county Treasurer. He helped organize the Farmers State Bank of Fullerton, and served as Bank President about 1914-1915. Jack and Louise had a family of eleven children, nine of whom grew to adulthood, married and with exception of two (Alice Peggy) who lived in California and (Mary Dade), who lives in Sutherland, Nebraska, made their homes in the immediate vicinity of the Whitney Ranch. The children of these families were educated in Nance county schools and with few exceptions graduated from Fullerton High School. The Whitney's also provided a foster home for 6 year old twin girls: Cleo and Leo Bohannen who were brought to Fullerton on the so called Orphan train about 1906. Cleo and Leo came from Lincoln, Nebraska, under supervision of Miss Bogardus, representative of a Lincoln orphanage. The twins lived in the Whitney home until their marriages. Cleo married Allan Shively of Central City, Nebraska. They raised a family of ten children, lived in Sutherland, Nebraska. Leo married George Smith also of Central City, Nebraska. They had one daughter and lived in Omaha, Nebraska. Members of the J. W. Whitney family still living in Nance County are Jessie Russell and her daughter Margaret Russell, and son John W. (Jack) Russell, his wife Dorothy Davis Russell and their sons, John and Timothy. Fred Whitney and wife Helen Forney Whitney, their daughter Linda and husband Dale Lesiak and their chidren (sic) Chris, Jennifer and Nicholas. MARY ELIZABETH (Dade) deceased married William A. Hossack deceased John William Hossack Mary Louise Jessie Isabel, deceased James Jacob, deceased Nellie Katherine JOHN NICHOLAS (Barlow) deceased Lena Price, deceased John Franklin Evelyn Louise, deceased Ardene Elizabeth, deceased Barlo Nicholas Riel L. William C. (A)LICE LOUISE (Peggy) deceased Arthur G. Buckner James Whitney Buckner, deceased GEORGE WILLIAM BENJAMIN, deceased Nettie Ann Wingerd Florence Ruth Helen Georgiana Josephine Charlotte, deceased Mark Wingert Madge Wiolet Mary Grace Paul WINNIFRED ADELLA, deceased age 7 months SAM CHARLES, deceased Lessie Myrtle Crow, deceased Gladys Beck Milton, deceased John Francis Eleanor Sam Merton Georgeanne Milton (step daughter) 118 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JACOB PHILIP, deceased Mary Spliechal, deceased Joseph William, Dec. Leslie Philip Fredric Raymond Mary Emma Teressa, deceased age 2 years LUCY SELMA James B. Drury, deceased Jessie Edna Alice Louise James Leonard ROBERT FRANCIS, deceased Goldie Lee Trotter, deceased No family JESSIE ELLA John T. Russell, deceased Jessie Margaret Jean Louis John William (Jack) WM. A. HAMILTON and FRANK FORBES FAMILIES The Wm. Albert Hamilton family moved from Greeley county, Nebraska to Fullerton in 1900. He was born in Indiana in 1854. He married Sarah Ellen Thompson at Keekuck Iowa in 1859. He had a twin brother and twelve other brothers and sisters. His father was a pioneer Lawyer in Indiana, served as an officer in the Cavalry in the War of 1812. He was quite prominent in politics served as Lt. Gov., a Judge, and in both houses of the Legislature of Indiana., in all he served continuously for 40 years. His wife's maiden name was Albertson and her father had served in Congress from New Albany, Indiana. The Hamilton's had 5 children - William, who married Lydia Medbery Shull, Laura, who married Frank Forbes, Estella, who married William J. Murray - Dora Mae, who never married, and Joseph Arbor, who was killed in World War I in France. Of these, Lydia Medbery Jackson is the only one still living. She lives at Fullerton. When the Hamilton's lived in Greeley county he taught rural school. He was teaching when the blizzard of 1888 struck. Rather than endanger the lives of the pupils by trying to get them to safety he left them at the school house with strict orders to remain while he went to the nearest farm house for food and warmer clothing. He brought the supplies back through the blinding blizzard and not a child was endangered. He did not gain the publicity, the lady did who tied her pupils together and led them to safety of a warm house, through the blizzard, but he was considered hero by his family to his dying day. The older Hamilton children were teen-agers when they moved to Fullerton. Laura and Estella both became rural school teachers. Estella taught several years, married Wm. J. Murray, and was postmistress at Belgrade for a number of years. Laura taught several years, taught in Santin School (west of District 55), Mt. Zion, and Glenwood. It was at Glenwood that she met Frank Forbes whom she married on Valentine's Day in 1906. They were married at Fullerton, then went by horse and buggy to the Glenwood Community. She was the only member of the Hamilton Family to have any children. She and Frank had 4 - Fred L., Robert, Dorothy and Evalyn. Frank Forbes was the son of John Fred Forbes and his wife, the former Nancy Jane Ayers. They had come to the Glenwood Community from Wilton Junction, Iowa in the late 1800's. They lived in a dugout until they could get a house built. There were no trees in the valley then but there were still Indians in the area. On a clear day one could see for a long ways. The father would have to go to Fullerton for supplies; there was no river bridge at Palmer at that time. There was a place on the trail near where Zimmer's now live that was the highest spot between Fullerton and the farm at Glenwood. When he would get to that 119 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ spot he could see a sheet on the clothesline at home and that was the way he was to learn if all was well at home. They lost three children to childhood diseases for which there were no serum to prevent at that time. Frank and his sister Justa were the only ones to survive. Justa Forbes married Clifford Lamberson and they lived around Palmer all their married life. They had six children - Leta (Mrs. Harvey Brown), Otis (married Clarice Hoback), Guy (married Pauline Drury), - Lois (married Oscar Hadley) - Maxine, (married Jack Brown), Fay, (married Lois Fisher). Otis and Lois Hadley and Jack Brown are deceased. Frank's children all married - Fred (married Nellie Russell), Robert (married Wynona Hadfield), Dorothy (married Donald E. Kilday), and Evalyn (married Ernest Todd). Fred is deceased, his children all live in Nebraska - Marilyn (Mrs. Vern Sonderup) at Fullerton, Dorothy (Mrs. Duane Dudney) at Hastings, and John of the Glenwood Community. Bob's children - Ardythe (Mrs. Wayne Moeller), Sandra (Mrs Steve Leininger) of Grand Island, and Larry of Glenwood. Dorothy's children are scattered - Donald P. Kilday lives at Glenwood, Gary (married Eileen Santin) lives at Cincinnati, Ohio, and JoAnne (married Richard Gerber) and lives at Winston Salem, N. C. Evalyn (Mrs. Ernest Todd) lives in San Diego, as do her children, Steve, who is married, and Jennifer who is single. MOGENSEN Mads Mogensen was born June 12, 1858 at Kastbjerg pr. Grenna, Denmark. He came from Denmark to McPherson, Kansas in 1881. November 2, 1887, he was married to Mary Gertrude Hansen at McPherson, Kansas. Mary Hansen was born August 2, 1861 at Eskildstrup on the island of Fyn, Denmark. Mary Hansen came from Denmark to McPherson, Kansas in 1882. To them were born three children, the eldest dying in infancy. February 14th 1889 the family moved to Gothenburg, Nebraska and then to Fullerton in March 1902. Two daughters Mabel S., on October 27, 1890 and Annie July 4, 1892 were born in Gothenburg. Mads Mogensen was a blacksmith and learned the trade in Denmark. He won many first prizes on his exhibits at the state blacksmith convention. Some of his exhibits that received first prize were a flower stand, hall tree, bolt chipper and a pair of pinchers. They were all fashioned by him and he took great pride in his work. Mads Mogensen had a half brother Marius and five nephews who live in Lindsborg, Kansas. In 1930 Mary returned to Denmark for a visit with her two sisters. Her sisters died at the ages of 92 and 96 shortly before she died at the age of 85. On November 2, 1937 Mads and Mary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mads died May 30, 1942 and Mary February 15, 1948. Their daughter Mabel married Ray Arthur Peregrine. They both graduated from Fullerton High School in 1909 and Mabel taught school until she married on November 24, 1915. Annie Mogensen, the youngest daughter of Mads and Mary graduated from Fullerton High School, and the University of Nebraska, received her master's degree at the University of Nebraska. She also did graduate work at Cornell University, University of Wisconsin, University of Iowa, University of Colorado and the University of Southern California. She taught for a time at Hastings High School where she wrote the course in botany for study in normal training schools of the state and was often associated with University professors in their biological science research work making many of the drawings and illustrations for their books. Annie taught bacteriology, botony (sic), and biology at Kansas City Junior College at Kansas City, Missouri for 28 years. She provided inspiration and guidance for many students who later became doctors, research workers and technicians. She made several trips to Europe and visited Danish ancestors. Besides English she knew German, Latin, French and Greek. Annie died November 3, 1954. PEREGRINE George Reuben Peregrine was born January 12, 1853, a twin, in Jasper 120 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ county, Indiana to Joseph and Catherine Robertson Peregrine. His twin Frank died in infancy. In 1854 he moved with his parents to Adams county, Iowa. He married Eliza Alvira Delay, January 16, 1872. Eliza Delay was born April 1, 1854. They had ten children, two dying in infancy. The family moved to Nance county, Nebraska four miles south and two miles west of Fullerton on a farm in 1879. Ella, Estella (Stella), Joseph (Jacob), Ernest, Ray Arthur, and Bertha were born on this farm. Eliza Depay Peregrine died June 22, 1918. George Peregrine married Mary E. Vaughn Dec. 8, 1922. Mary E. Shore was born October 5, 1861. George Reuben died February 13, 1926. George and Eliza are buried in Riverside cemetery south of Fullerton. Mary died October 9, 1938. George Peregrine's brother Charles had the C. S. Peregrine Music Store in Fullerton for a while and taught band in the high school. Ray Arthur Peregrine was born December 16, 1889. He was next to the youngest child of George and Eliza. He graduated from high school in 1909 and married Mabel S. Mogensen on November 24, 1915. Mabel S. Mogensen was born October 27, 1890. Ray A. and Mabel had two children Maxine Evelyn and Ray Ernest. Maxine married Robert B. Hammond and has three children Evelyn Robert and Carolyn. They live in California. Ray married Lenore Evelyn Russell. Mabel Peregrine died December 19, 1959 and Ray A. died April 8, 1965. Ray Ernest Peregrine was born August 25, 1923. He attended Liberty Knoll School and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1940. On August 8, 1948 he married Lenore Russell. They both attended the University of Nebraska. Ray farms and raises cattle. They live on the original Peregrine farm which has been in the family over one hundred years. They have two children Donald Ray born November 15, 1955 and Janet Kay Peregrine born April 14, 1963. From his Peregrine ancestors Ray inherited the talent of a beautiful singing voice. Donald Ray Peregrine graduated from Fullerton High School in 1974. He received a State Farmer degree in the Future Farmers of America and attended the College of Agriculture at Curtis. He farms with his father and does cattle feeding. Janet is attending Fullerton High School. THE CUNNINGHAM GENEOLOGY (sic) John Cunningham, and Gertrude, his wife, were both born in Canada. They eventually came to Syracuse, New York. They had twin children Philander Bruce and Phileura, born July 4, 1820 at Canton, New York. Have no history on Phileura. John Cunningham fell from a roof of a barn at a barn raising and was killed when the twins were three or four years old, either 1823 or 1824 in New York state. After his father's death, Philander was raised by his aunt Rachel and uncle Norman Curtis. SECOND GENERATION Philander Bruce Cunningham was born July 4, 1820 near Syracuse, New York. Julia A. Cunningham was born January 8, 1821 at East Waverly, New York. They were married May 1, 1844, and celebrated their Golden Wedding May 1, 1894. They had ten children. 1. Myron A. born September 25, 1846 and died September 7, 1918. 2. Phileura G. born January 27, 1848 and died December 29, 1849. 3. James Elmer born August 19, 1850. Married Mary Agnes Kelley. Mary Kelley was born February 15, 1860. James Elmer died May 30, 1900. Mary (Kelley) Cunningham died February 18, 1931. 4. Frank Edgar Cunningham was born Aug. 21, 1852 and died September 18, 1967. 5. Mary Elizabeth Cunningham, born February 25, 1854, died March 1, 1918. Married Hugo Vogel on February 15, 1876 and came to Fullerton, Nebraska in 1880. 6. Alexander was born May 2, 1855 and died April 7, 1882. 7. Ann Eliza was born Apirl (sic) 5, 1857 and died August 7, 1880. 121 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Charles P. was born July 19, 1861 (at Geneva, Illinois). Married Belle M. Divelbiss January 1, 1885. Belle (Divelbiss) Cunningham died August 26, 1895. They came to Nebraska in the winter of 1889 and had five children. After Belle's death, Clara L. Cunningham took care of her brother's children for seven years. On December 10, 1902, Charles P. Cunningham married Olive Myrtle Bergen. Olive Bergen was born January 18, 1877. They had nine children. Charles Cunningham died April 28, 1944. Olive (Bergen) Cunningham died May 4, 1953. 9. Clara Louise, born August 27, 1863 (never married). Died June 27, 1948. 10. Rachel Gertrude, born April 11, 1866 (never married). Died October 17, 1954. THIRD GENERATION James Elmer Cunningham and Mary Agnes Kelley (Cunningham) had 6 children. 1. May Cunningham married Arthur E. Johns seven children. Clarence, Thelma married Ace Shermer, Wilma married Bernard Clark, Evelyn married Arthur Tierney, Gerald married Margaret , Marvin married Ann , Shirley married D. Agastino. 2. Elmer Bruce Cunningham married Mabel H. Sherman on October 31, 1905. 3 daughters. Elmer died in April, 1972, Mabel died Mar. 14, 1978. Beulah married Peral Lawrence, Bernice married a Brown, and Bethel married a Smith. 3. (Benjamin) Ralph Cunningham married Martha Matilda Held on December 25, 1912. Martha Held was born May 8, 1892. Martha (Held) Cunningham died March 5, 1962; Ralph Cunningham died October 28, 1968. 8 children. 1. Lemoyne R. Cunningham was born February 7, 1914. Married Lucille Brockman in June, 1946. 2. Alva Cunningham was born March 31, 1915. Married Grace Weeks in May of 1944. 3. Ruth Cunningham was born January 30, 1917. Married Venoy Mullens in 1938. 4. Norman E. Cunningham was born May 6, 1919. Married Ruth Miller in 1944. 5. Esther Cunningham (twin) born December 23, 1922. Married Bryce Erickson in June, 1946. 6. Chester Allen Cunningham (twin) born December 23, 1922. Married Bertha Vogel on January 17, 1946. Bertha Elizabeth Vogel was born December 1, 1922. 7. Ivan Cunningham born February 9, 1924. Married Shirley McCray in June, 1948. 8. Arlene Cunningham born March 8, 1929. Married Alden F. Louden May, 1949. 4. Warren Cunningham was born December 25, 1887. Married Leta America Weeks on December 20. 1911. Leta Weeks was born May 2, 1893. 5. Clarence Cunningham 6. Grace Cunningham (widow, no family) Charles P. Cunningham and Belle M. (Divelbiss) Cunningham had 5 children. 1. Merton Louis Cunningham, born January 15, 1886, died in May, 1944. Married Mary Irvine in 1908. Mary Irvine was born in 1894. Merton Cunningham died in May of 1944. Mary (Irvine) Cunningham died in November 1949. They had 4 children. a. Margaret Louise Cunningham born April 12. 1909. Married Franklin C. Williams August 9, 1938. Franklin Williams was born Apirl (sic) 5, 1911. b. Charles William Cunningham born July 2, 1912. Married Elizabeth Flynn in 1935. 122 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ c. Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Cunningham born March 1914. Married Daniel W. Roche in May of 1937. d. Margaret Cunningham married Franklin C. Williams. They had three children: Faith Suzanne, Alison Day, and Marshall Ward. 2. Charles, born June 30, 1888, died August 29, 1889. 3. Lester Vogel Cunningham born June 30, 1889. Married Eva E. Downing May 26, 1915. Eva (Downing) Cunningham died March 26, 1918 had 1 child. Married Nina Elsie Anderson June 26, 1919. Lester Cunningham died June 21, 1968. 4. Gladys Merle Cunningham born July 18, 1892 (nurse) died August 16, 1933. 5. (John) Bruce Cunningham born July 4, 1895. Bruce Cunningham married Edna Lewis. Pvt. 149 Aero. Sq. Died May 25, 1925. They had 4 children. Charles P. Cunningham and Olive Myrtle (Bergen) Cunningham had 9 children. 1. (Elsie) Marguerite Cunningham, born April 7, 1904. Married T. Westley Dobson November 22, 1922. They had three children. Westley died July 9, 1957. 2. (Clara) Blanche Cunningham, born September, 8, 1905. Married (Edwin) Clyde Russell. 4 children. Clyde Russell was born January 1902. Clyde Russell died February 22, 1971. Blanche (Cunningham) Russell died September 25, 1976. 3. Alice Louise Cunningham was born August 9, 1907. Married George Theodore Holmstedt December 5, 1928. They had 2 children. 4. Dorothy Evelyn Cunningham born April 15, 1909. Married Leo Peterson August 22, 1931. The (sic) had 3 children. Leo Peterson died September 21, 1952. Leo Peterson born February 16, 1910. Dorothy (Cunningham) Peterson married Floyd Sims on April 16, 1955. Floyd Sims was born April 3, 1909. 5. Myron Edgar Cunningham (born in Haines City, Fla) born on February 17, 1912. Married Opal Myers. They had 1 son. Divorced. Married Velma Sherman Kruger November 30, 1940. They had 3 children. Myron Cunningham died . 6. Ruth Leona Cunningham born March 19, 1914. Married John Greer April 16, 1935. They had 2 sons. Ruth (Cunningham) Greer died February 16, 1968. 7. Olive Berniece Cunningham was born January 22, 1916. Married Chester Vernon Frederick December 10, 1935. They had 2 daughters. Olive (Cunningham) Frederick died May 22, 1940. Chester Frederick married Beulah Nicklasson October 7, 1941. 8. Julia Rachel Cunningham was born July 6, 1918. Married W. Newman July 2, 1942. Five daughters. 9. Harold Charles Cunningham was born January 10, 1920. (Fighter Pilot in World War II.) Lieutenant. Married Mona Lani (McGuire) Forst. Adopted her two daughters. FOURTH GENERATION Merton Louis Cunningham and Mary (Irvine) Cunningham had 5 children. 1. Margaret Louise Cunningham was born April 12, 1909. Married Franklin C. Williams August 9, 1938. Franklin Williams was born April 5, 1911. They had 3 children. a. Faith Suzanne Williams was born April 4, 1940. Married Ronald Everett Van Putte July 16, 1960. b. Alison Day Williams born April 5, 1942. Married Douglas Andrew Van Putte July 21, 1962. c. Marshall Ward Williams III. was born October 2, 1945. Married Claudia Kesler August 12, 1967. 2. Charles William Cunningham was born July 2, 1912. Married Elizabeth Flynn in 1935. Married Hazel . 123 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Cunningham born March 1914. Married Daniel W. Roche May, 1937. 4. Lester Vogel Cunningham and Eva E. Downing a. Kenneth Eugene Cunningham born March 26, 1918. Married Grayce Francis Wildman September 11, 1938. Grayce (Wildman) Cunningham was born July 21, 1915. They had 2 children. 4. Lester Vogel Cunningham and Nina (Anderson) Cunningham b. Donald LaVerne Cunningham born October 25, 1922. Married Bethel Lorraine Kellogg March 3, 1944. Bethel (Kellogg) Cunningham born November 23, 1923. They had 6 children. c. Barbara Jean Cunningham born September 13, 1926. Barbara Jean died April 22, 1953. d. Robert Lester Cunningham born July 6, 1929. Married Fern Elizabeth Kentopp June 8, 1958. Fern Kentopp was born February 12, 1937. They had one son. Fern (Kentopp) Cunningham died January 13, 1962. Funeral January 16, 1962. Bob Cunningham married Maxene Vivian Harlan Wilkins on October 24, 1964. Maxene Vivian Harlan was born March 7, 1927. They had one boy. Maxene had two boys from previous marriage. 5. Bruce Cunningham and Edna (Lewis) Cunningham a. Maribelle Cunningham born August 14, 1918. Married Henry William Morrissey on September 12, 1939. Henry Morrissey was born January 30, 1916. b. Edith Marie Cunningham born May 23, 1921. Married H. Krill. c. Robert Raymond Cunningham born October 3, 19 . d. Helen Lucille Cunningham born September 16, 1924. Married Jay Garrett. Henry and Maribelle (Cunningham) Morrissey had 3 children. 1. Arlene Jeanette Morrissey was born August 27, 1940. Married Claude Edward Hosten on November 25, 1961. (no information) 2. William Edward Morrissey born March 30, 1949. (no information) 3. Michael Gene Morrissey born April 8, 1953. (no information) Charles P. Cunningham and Olive (Bergen) Cunningham 1. (Elise) Marguerite (Cunningham) Dobson and Wesley Dobson a. Clell Leroy Dobson was born February 25, 1924. Married Margaret Hall April 10, 1954. b. Naomi Evelyn Dobson was born November 12, 1927. Married William Edward Bib January 11, 1947. William E. Bibb was born April 4, 1925. William E. Bibb died . They had one child Janalyn Gail born April 17, 1956. c. Wayne Theodore Dobson born August 26, 1934. Married Edith Wright October 9, 1952. 2. (Clara) Blanche (Cunningham) and (Edwin) Clyde Russell a. Ardith Doris Russell was born June 10, 1925. Married Warren Granger November 2, 1946. Warren Emerson Granger was born August 10, 1923. b. Lenore Evelyn Russell was born December 9, 1926. Married Ray Ernest Peregrine August 8, 1948. Ray Ernest Peregrine was born August 25, 1923. c. Madeline Blanche Russell born July 18, 1928. Married Leo LaVern Bedke August 8, 1948. Leo LaVern Bedke was born August 4, 1923. Madeline (Russell) Bedke died August 11, 1962. They had three girls (1 set of twins). Leo married Marlene VanderVoost Richardson on January 9, 1965. Marlene VanderVoost was born May 5, 19 . They had two children. d. Kenneth Edwin Russell was born June 7, 1930. Married Marie Rose (Mary) (Brase) Lockard July 12, 1955. Marie Rose (Mary) Brase was born October 17, 1936. They had 3 children. 3. Alice (Cunningham) Holmstedt and George T. Holmstedt a. Judith Louis Holmstedt was born October 7, 1929. Married Darrell 124 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Perry Willoughby November 4, 1948. Darrell Perry Willoughby was born June 11, 1924. b. Donald Theodore Holmstedt born August 24, 1932. Married Dorothy Reif on August 3, 1958. Dorothy Reif was born April 17, 1940. Dorothy (Reif) Holmstedt died October 13, 1969. Married Bonnie (Holm) Royle on August 3, 1970. Bonnie Holm was born May 2, 19 . 4. Dorothy (Cunningham) Peterson and Leo F. Peterson a. Leonard Charles Peterson was born July 1, 1932. Married . b. Beverley Yvonne Peterson was born February 26, 1936. Married Daniel (Miller) Wiseman. They had 3 children. Beverley (Peterson) Wiseman and Daniel C. Wiseman were divorced in December 1979. c. Nancy Diane Peterson was born September 11, 1938. Married Hillerman. 5. Myron Cunningham and Opal (Myers) Cunningham a. Allen Edger Cunningham was born March 23, 1938. Married . Myron Cunningham and Velma (Kruger) Cunningham b. Velma Louise Cunningham was born May 3, 1945. Velma Louise Cunningham died c. Myrna Joy Cunningham born August 5, 1946. Married Jack Berryhill. d. Charles Joseph was born January 27, 1949. Married . 6. Ruth (Cunningham) Greer and John J. Greer a. (John) Gordon Greer was born May 15, 1936. Married Marlene Ann Santin on October 17, 1958. Marlene Ann Santin was born November 18, 1936. b. Roger Douglas Greer was born June 21, 1941. Married Virginia Schmidt. 7. Olive (Cunningham) Frederick and Chester Frederick a. Linda Lea Frederick was born November 1, 1936. Married Rich Everett Adamson on February 4, 1956. Richard Everett Adamson was born March 1, 1935. b. Deanna Gail Frederick was born July 25, 1939. Married Kenneth Eugene Hardin September 8, 1963. Kenneth Eugene Hardin was born March 12, 1938. 8. Julia (Cunningham) Newman and Charles W. Newman a. Karen Patricia Newman was born October 17, 1941. Married J. Wilton Smith January 24, 1960. J. Wilton Smith was born October 21, 1940. b. Julia R. (Jackie) Newman was born July 10, 1943. Married George R. Emery May 1, 1960. George R. Emery born May 17, 1939. George R. Emery died January 29, 1977. c. Merry Jo Newman born July 3, 1946. Married Frank Earl Etheredge February 20, 1968. Frank Earl Etheredge, Jr. was born January 28, 19 . d. Sandra Kay Newman born April 18, 1950. Sandra Kay Newman died June 18, 1952. e. Flora Olive Newman was born January 21, 1954. Married Bobby Mathews December 21, 1974. Bobby Mathews was born February 2, 1953. 9. Harold Cunningham and Mona (McGuire Fost) Cunningham Step daughters adopted. a. Laurie Jean (Forst) Cunningham was born December 22, 19 . Married Peter Gevers, Jr on . Peter Gevers Jr was born June 21, 1941. b. Livia Gay Forst was born May 19, 1949. Livia Gay (Forst) Cunningham married Kevin Stanley Rosentreter May 9, 1969. Kevin Stanley Rosentreter was born in 1942. They were divorced in 1978. 125 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIFTH GENERATION Grandparents - Kenneth and Grayce (Wildman) Cunningham 1. Eugene and Della (Carlson) Cunningham. Jill Ann Cunningham was born January 3, 1967. Scott Eugene Cunningham was born March 15, 1970. 2. Nancy Cunningham (not married) Grandparents - Donald and Bethel (Kellogg) Cunningham Parents - 1. Larry and Jackie (Underwood) Cunningham Sixth Generation - Debra Jo Cunningham born September 28, 1967. Chris Allen Cunningham born January 23, 1970. Parents - 2. Michael and Bonnie (Cunningham) Grabowski. Sixth Generation - Robert Michael Grabowski born July 15, 1976. Rebecca Lynn Grabowski born September 3, 1973. Parents - 3. Ronald and Beverly (Cunningham) Dwinell, no children. Parents - 4. David and Dora (Lepant) Cunningham, no children. Not married 5. Jo Anne Cunningham Grandparents - Robert and 1. Fern (Kentopp) Cunningham 2. Maxine (Harlan Wilkins) Cunningham. Mark Robert Cunningham born October 17, 1959. Timmy Scott Cunningham born March 7, 1966. Stepsons - Billy Wilkins born May 12, 1945. Drew Wilkins born November 24, 1955. Grandparents - Clyde and Blanche (Cunningham) Russell Parents - Warren and Ardith (Russell) Granger Nancy Gail Granger was born Setepmber (sic) 28, 1948. Married Theodore Joseph Appelhanz, Jr. August 17, 1968. Ted Appelhanz born February 28, 1947. Sixth Generation - Kimberly Kay Applehanz born February 28, 1972. Tonya Lynn Applehanz born August 16, 1974. Mathew Joseph Applehanz born February 28, 1977. Thomas Eugene Granger was born August 9, 1951. Parents - Ray and Lenore (Russell) Peregrine Linda Lee Peregrine was born and died March 23, 1949. Robert Eugene Peregrine was born and died May 21, 1950. Donald Ray Reregrine was born November 15, 1955. Janet Kay Peregrine was adopted and born on April 15, 1963. Parents - Leo and 1 Madeline (Russell) Bedke 2. Marlene (VanderVoost) (Richardson) Bedke Cynthia Sue Bedke was born September 18, 1951. Married Robert P. Menz August 4, 1972. One child, Neal. Born . Divorced 1977. Jacqueline Jo Bedke (twin) was born November 26, 1954. Married Byron Russell Yung August 31, 1974. Byron Yung was born June 13, 1952. One child, Rachel Lynn. Born June 19, 1978. Vicki Lea Bedke (twin) was born November 26, 1954. Married Charles Schilling April 2, 1977. From 2nd marriage Michael LaVern Bedke was born January 4, 1972. Darcie Ann Bedke was born February 2, 1974. Parents - Kenneth and Mary (Brase Lockard) Russell Rhonda Elaine Russell was born January 19, 1957. Married Keith Allen DeBraal October 5, 1975. Susie Jo DeBraal born June 7, 1976. Christal Renee born November 13, 1979. Shelly Rose Russell was born January 24, 1958. Married Jerry Fredrick Frentz June 5, 1976. Jerry Frentz was born March 9, 1955. Timothy Jon Frentz born August 8, 1977. Randy Edwin Russell was born May 12, 1963. Grandparents - George and Alice (Cunningham) Holmstedt Parents - Darrell and Judith (Holmstedt) Willoughby David Lee Willoughby born October 22, 1952. Douglas Allan Willoughby born October 13, 1954. Married Nancy Margaret Smith August 11, 1978. Parents - Donald and 1 Dorothy (Reif) Holmstedt 2. Bonnie (Holm) (Royle) Holmstedt Jane Ellen Holmsted born September 24, 1959. Danny Michael Holmstedt 126 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ born May 8, 1961. Laurie Sue Holmstedt born January, 29, 1963. Carrie Ann Holmstedt born April 22, 1965. From the 2nd marriage Robert Dean Holmstedt born November 14, 1972. Stepsons - Larry Michael Royle born August 7, 1968. Greg Royle born November 5, 1969. Grandparents - Leo and Dorothy (Cunningham) Peterson Parents - Leonard and Peterson Dennis Peterson born in 1954. Larry Peterson born in 1957. Craig Peterson born in 1961. Janel Peterson born in 1963. Matt Peterson born in 1966. Parents - Daniel and Beverly (Peterson) Wiseman Diane (Miller) Wiseman Steven (Miller) Wiseman Kelly Wiseman Parents - and Nancy (Peterson) Hillerman Deborah Lynn Hillerman born June 4, 1956. Catherine Louise Hillerman born August 28, 1959. Grandparents - John and Ruth (Cunningham) Greer Parents - (John) Gordon and Marlene (Santin) Greer Diane Marie Greer was born December 28, 1960. Sharon Lynn Greer was born July 17, 1962. Parents - Roger and Virginia (Schmidt) Greer Sally Greer was born . Grandparents - Chester and 1. Olive (Cunningham) Frederick 2. Beulah (Nichlasson) Frederick Parents - Richard and Linda (Frederick) Adamson Cynthia Marie Adamson born September 18, 1958. Charles (Chuck) David Adamson born February 7, 1961. Parents - Kenneth and Deanna (Frederick) Hardin Jeffrey Scott Hardin born October 1, 1970 adopted. Grandparents - Charles and Julia (Cunningham) Newman Parents - J. Wilton and Karen (Newman) Smith Amanda Jo Smith (twin) born December 20. 1961. Andy Williams Smith (twin) born December 20, 1961. James Wilton Smith, Jr. born January 25, 1963. Ted Benjamin Smith born March 30, 1965. Patricia Ann Smith born February 9, 1973. Parents - George and Jackie (Newman) Emery Julia Ann Emery born January 4, 1961. Sherry Elise Emery born September 19, 1962. Donna Sue Emery born July 31, 1964. Parents - Frank and Merry Jo (Newman) Etheredge Frank Earl Etheredge, Jr. born January 28, 1969. (Patricia) Rachel Etheredge born January 9, 1971. Nadine Merry Etheredge born July 16, 1973. Charles David Etheredge born February 16, 1976. Parents - Bobby and Flora (Newman) Mathew Grandparents - Harold and Mona (McGuire Forst) Cunningham Parents - Peter and Laurie (Forst Cunningham) Gevers, Jr. Steven Thomas Gevers born May 28, 1973. Bruce John Gevers born July 23, 1974. (Laurie) Dorothy Gevers born August 11, 1978. Parents - Kevin and Livia (Forst Cunningham) Rosentreter no children - divorced in 1978. ARNA A. PETERSON Arna Agnew Peterson was born April 23, 1915 to Charles Edward and Edith Eleanor Agnew Peterson. His father Charles was Nance county Sheriff so Arna was born in the old Nance county Court House as was his two sisters and a brother. Charles also served two terms as a member of the Fullerton City Council and was mayor when the local city park was established. During World War I, he was chairman of the Nance County Draft Board. Smith Grimes Agnew moved to Fullerton in 1902 from Pottawattomie County, Iowa. The reason he decided to move here was that he had two brothers William and John, living near Fullerton. He bought two farms in the Loup river 127 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ valley and a whole block in the southern part of town. He sold the east part for homes, but Arna resides in the original house on the west side of the block, which he remodeled - adding an upper story and two colonial type porches. Myrtle, Gertrude and Laura, daughters of Smith Agnew graduated from Fullerton High School and Kearney State College and were school teachers. Arna married Helen Laura Heidenreich on June, 18, 1946 at Oshkosh, Nebraska. To this union was born Arna Carl Peterson January 6, 1949 at Genoa, Nebraska and Edward Warren December 14, 1953 at Genoa. THADDEUS ELLIOT WEEKS Thaddeus Elliot Weeks was born February 11, 1855 in Illinois. His parents were James Elliot Weeks and Cornelia (Pratt) Weeks. His early boyhood was spent in Illinois. But when he was 11 the family moved from Illinois to Iowa. Reportedly he drove a wagon through from Illinois, accompanied by his brothers Frank and Will. In 1868 his Mother died. Later that year his father remarried to a lady who also had sons. Friction developed, and as a result my Grandfather left home. He would have been about 14. It is my belief he went to live with his grandfather, George Washington Weeks, who also migrated from Illinois to Iowa and lived in that same area. During his young manhood days he liked to ride past a certain house and pretend he was drunk. The owner of the house was a stiff-backed old Englishman. He took Grandfather's actions as genuine. And decreed none of his children were to associate with that "wild Weeks boy". But either his warning came too late, or went unheeded, because his eldest daughter Lucy Louisa met, fell in love with, and married Thad Weeks. I am sure she was aided and abetted by her dearest girlhood chum, Isadora (Dora) Imes. . . a first cousin of Thad (and may have been raised by her grandparents too. At any rate there was a life-long attachment between Dora and Thad). Thad married his Lucy on February 19, 1877. . . the eve of his twenty-second birthday. Lucy (Larris) Weeks would have been 19. Their little girl was stillborn, and unnamed. On May 8, 1879 Lucy gave birth to a son. And died soon after. The son was named Lewis Irvin. He was raised by his grandparents, James and Sarah (Berry) Harris. For five years following Lucy's death, Thad also lived with his in-laws. About 1883 Thad Weeks left Iowa and came to Nebraska working on a road gang. The gang headquartered at David City. There he met, and later married, Miss Katherine McKee. And shortly thereafter moved on to the Fullerton area. (His second marriage took place in 1884). On July 1, 1885, a son was born to them named Harvey James. The family lived on a farm North of Fullerton. (In 1968 the house was still standing. but may not be now.) When Harvey was 12 there was a baby sister born named Cara. She died in childhood and is buried in the Main Cemetary (sic) in Belgrade. At a late date, unknown to me, Thad moved his family into Fullerton. Here he worked in a Jewelery (sic) store which burned down. His later years were spent in gardening and beautification of his home. He lived where Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Boatman do today. And there was a picture of him standing beside a flowering bush with a well-kept lawn around him. I am sure his last year was made happier by the fact that his oldest son, L. I. Weeks, moved his family from Iowa into the North Star area. The younger son, Harvey, lived in the Ericson area. So that both sons were not too far away. In February of 1924 he had seven teeth pulled at once. Then walked home in a cold drizzle. He became ill, and it ran into pneumonia. He died in May of that year. He is buried by his daughter at the Main Cemetary (sic) in Belgrade. He had two brothers who also lived in the Fullerton area. Frank Weeks came to Fullerton at a date unknown to me. He married Miss Lydia Riggins in Iowa and began housekeeping with Thad and Lucy in a little one-roomed house. (Which I have seen. ) Frank Weeks is the father of Mrs. Garnet (Weeks) Spackman, Mrs. Leta (Weeks) Cunningham of Friend, Mrs. Cornelia Reynolds of Hastings, and the late Mrs. Bula Hagman and Charles Weeks. He also had an 128 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ older son, L. D. Weeks in Iowa. Also a daughter, Mrs. Ace Killion of that state. Frank Weeks is buried in Iowa. It is my contention that when Thad left Iowa he brought his youngest brother along to Nebraska with him. At any rate, Will Weeks came. He later married, Miss Abbie Miller, and lived his entire married life in the Palmer area. They had one son Clarence. He married Miss Bessie Rice of the Mount Zion neighborhood. Clarence had two children. Lucile who married Ted Heck, and William. All of them live in California now. Current addresses unknown to me. Thaddus E. Weeks is the grandfather of Mrs. Vivian McNeff, Mrs. Ray Milby, Mrs. Milford Swanson all of the North Star area, Mrs. Al Cunningham of Fullerton, and Gerald M. Weeks of Tucson, Arizona. These are the children of L. I. Weeks. Harvey J. Weeks had one daughter, now Mrs. John Bilstein of Columbus. He had three grandchildren. HISTORY OF AUGUST HENKE AND FAMILY August Henke was born December 23,1862, in Oldenburg, Germany, and at the age of fifteen he came to America with his parents and resided in Wisconsin. In his early manhood the family moved to Colfax County, Nebraska. At the age of fifteen he helped haul lumber to build the St. John Lutheran Church at Shell Creek, a country church about ten miles northeast of Columbus. He married Gertrude Lenz on March 3, 1887. The Lenz family also came to America from Darnstadt, Germany, and also located in Wisconsin. Later some of the children moved to Colfax County. While living there Gertrude Lenz and August Henke met and were married. Shortly after their marriage they moved to a homestead near Chadron, Nebraska. While living there they became the parents of two daughters, Emma and Minnie. The Indian trouble of the eighties caused them to be dissatisfied. Many times when Mother was alone the Indinas (sic) passing through the yard would look through the windows and this frightened her. Due to this situation Mother and the two children took the train to Schuyler, Nebraska and stayed with Father's brother, John, until Father could make arrangements for someone to take the homestead. As soon as he did, he left and the family moved to a farm south of Leigh, Nebraska. In 1893 when Emma was five years old the dreadful disease of diptheria (sic) raged through the community. Mother, Emma and Minnie had it and Emma did not survive. Anna, Lydia and Otto were added to the family while they lived in that community. We lived six miles from a country church, the St. Paul Lutheran. There were no automobiles at that time. Can you feature going to church in a spring wagon, as it was called? It was similar to a wagon box with two seats and no cover over the top. Our parents sat on the front seat and in the winter time the back seat was removed and straw was placed on the floor and covered with a blanket. We children sat on the blanket and used a quilt for a laprobe to keep us warm. This was a German Community and all the church services were in German. Christmas Eve was always a highlight for the children who always took part in the program. Under the large Christmas tree were the children's treats&emdash;a package containing candy, nuts and an apple. I especially remember one Christmas Eve when the children spoke pieces and those who were third, fourth and fifth graders sang in German, "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum," which was "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree" in English. The parents had taught the children their pieces and songs at home and we sang that song that evening. We had no practice together, and when we finished we felt so proud, thinking we had done a wonderful job, but I can imagine it was very entertaining! We didn't mind driving that distance in the snow, nor the cold, nor coming home late to a cool house. We had only a coal heater and an old-time cookstove to keep the house warm. While living in the Liegh (sic) commuinty (sic), I saw the first automobile in that 129 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ part of the country. We lived by the highway and it passed our place. It was quite a novelty. Topless and horseless it had two seats and the wheels were similar to wagon wheels. I do not recall as to rubber tires. I do know it did not travel the speed of present-day automobiles. I recall that Father went to Leigh that day, and coming home he saw the car coming and got out of the wagon and held the horses by the reins. He said he had a hard time holding them they were so frightened. The spring of 1906 we moved back to a farm near Shell Creek and lived there two years until father bought a farm about nine miles southwest of Fullerton. We moved there in the spring of 1908 and Fullerton has been our hometown since. During that time we have had many sad memories and many sweet memories that we cherish. In regard to my grandparents, I don't recall seeing Grandfather Henke. According to a record I found he passed away in March 1897 at the age of 72. I recall Grandmother Henke making her home with Uncle John Henke and staying part time with us. When she stayed with us, she always brought her spinning wheel and a sack full of wool. She would card the wool then spin it into yarn and knit mittens and stockings. She passed away in February 1916 at the age of I never saw Grandfather or Grandmother Lenz. They were in Wisconsin. I do not remember when Grandmother passed away but Grandfather passed away in 1900. District 11 was our home country school where we children finished our lower grade schooling. I was fortunate to attend Fullerton High School and graduated in 1914. I took Normal Training, so after high school graduation I taught in rural schools of Nance county. Miss Chloe Baldridge was rural School Superintendent during my teaching career. Mother passed away at the close of my junior year in high school in May 1913; Minnie left us in September of 1920; my brother, Otto passed away in August 1935 and Father in May of 1944. I married David T. Galloway in May of 1920 and we lived on farms after our marriage. We had three children, Leo A., Mildred Jean, and Betty Pearle. Leo Aldis and his wife Ruth received their Ph. D. degree at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and have been teaching at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph Missouri. Leo retired this year but Ruth is still teaching English there. Mildred became a registered nurse and married Wayne Hilder of Central City. They are parents of three boys and two girls. Betty married a dentist, Walter A. Bennett Omaha and they have two daughters, a son and grandson. Betty is also a registered nurse. Due to a long illness, my husband was in a Veteran's Hospital for years and passed away in January 1966. My sister, Lydia, married Ralph Morrison and they had two boys. Norris and his wife live in Houston, Texas where they both teach school. They have one son and one daughter. Robert and his wife live in Tallahassee, Florida and have three daughters. Both Lydia and Ralph have passed away. I still recall my early school days, teachers and playmates. My first grade teacher was a man named Carl Cushman. This is a small world. In the twenties when we lived in the North Star community, Mr. Cushman, my former first grade teacher at Leigh, was teaching in the North Star school west of Fullerton. Last summer my daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hilder took me to the places we used to live around Shell Creek and Leigh. The country has changed. The two churches are still there, but Sunday School rooms and basements have been added. The furniture is still the same and the interiors are beautiful. The first rural school I attended was still there but closed. The others have been moved away. The homes where we lived were still there but remodeled, what an interesting trip! While living in Fullerton I became well acquainted with Mrs. Donald (Margaret) Leininger and I discovered that her father was a Lutheran minister who served the St. Paul Lutheran Church near Leigh, the one we used to attend. We had interesting visits about people we both knew and through her I located 130 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ one of my classmates in Leigh when we toured the countryside last year. What a surprise and such an interesting afternoon! During my life I have spent 30 years in educational work, first as teacher and then as high school librarian, then in the office of the superintendent Mr. J. Bitner and Mr. Wayne Nicholls. It was a pleasure to work with them. I also enjoyed the years working in the City Library and also the days I helped the County Superintendent, Miss Jessie Kreidler. W. P. HATTEN My father and mother moved to Nance county from the state of Missouri. My mother was very ill and they thought the climate here might be better for her health. They traveled from Missouri in a covered wagon and camped in the yard of the S. H. McClure farm for a while until the house was built. I was born in 1890 on a farm three miles north of Fullerton. My mother died in November of that year and I was sent to live with my paternal grandmother at Hamburg, Iowa. My father stayed in Nance County and in 1900 was elected Nance County Treasurer. In a few years he was working in the Fullerton National Bank and served in different positions at different times. He, W. P. Hatten ( ) married again to the Belle Hatten that people of Fullerton remember. They had four children: Dean who married Lillian Blaufield, Fred who married a Cedar Rapids girl, Leta King, Richard who was married to a Denver girl. He had gone there to college and played on the basketball team. My half-sister, Louise, was killed in a car accident when returning from state meeting of Osteopaths. She was an osteopath and was serving as treasurer of the state group. I came back to Nebraska and lived with them. My father wanted me to go to college but I was a little backward about going away from home. I took a post-graduate course in high school in the normal training department. In November of 1910 Lucretia Connor who was our County Superintendent came to me and asked if I would finish teaching the Irish School near Belgrade. The teacher was getting married so I finished that school year and was rehired for the coming term but before I signed the contract for $45 a month, Mr. Diers who was in the Diers clothing store here in Fullerton came to me and asked if I would be the cashier and bookkeeper at his store. This interested me more so I didn't sign the school contract but went into the Diers store where I was cashier for about three years before I married Carl Hess, in 1915. He and his brother has the Hess Shoe Store here in Fullerton. His brother had married Amy Blaufield. They took the shoe store and we went up the street and were in the Hess Cash Store. This store was called the Adams Racket Store which was more or less a dime store but after a while we added dry good and groceries and ran that store for nine years. I shared my father's interest in the Fullerton Chautauqua. It was one of the largest in the state at that time. It usually ran a week or ten days. The longest one included three Sundays which they found was too long, people couldn't leave their homes and camp out for such long periods. My father was an officer for years and some of the other men of the community who were interested and active in helping with the Chautauqua were J. E. Kreidler, W. H. Orton, J. W. Tanner, Henry Kellogg, J. H. Kemp, Albert Thompson and others. Albert Thompson built a home against the bluff and had a storm cellar in the back of the bluff where they would go if we had extreme storms. The grounds were beautiful with natural oak trees, good grass in some spots but not everywhere. A large dining hall was built and the Secretary's house was built with natural logs that had been cut in the park. A few years later they had cabins built in different locations on the grounds. Many of the farm families didn't have the tents or cabins but who could 131 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ came each day and brought their families. At chore time the ones who did the chores went home and came back for the evening performances. Sundays saw the largest attendance and some Sundays saw as many as 10,000 on the grounds. The railroad ran special trains on Sunday to Fullerton from both Columbus and Spalding. There were lots of tables where people could eat their picnic lunches and people came for 30 or 40 miles around. The churches has special services. They had Sunday School and Church each Sunday morning and one of the local ministers would take charge. We also had Billy Sunday and he drew a great crowd. We had concessions on the grounds. People from the store in town would have let's say an ice cream tent and a grocery store. The dining hall was quite large and served meals for about three hours in midday. WILBUR RENO AND ALICE HAZEL (HELMS) KELLOGG Wilbur's father was Sheridan Romaine Kellogg who was born on September 14, 1845 in Bureau county, Illinois. He was one of the twelve children born to Arial and Persis Kellogg. He grew up in Illinois served in the Civil War, married Irene Wetherell in 1869 and came to Nebraska in 1861. His brother, John Newton, had come to Nebraska to claim a land grant near Clarks and six months later Sheridan and his wife followed and settled on an adjoining grant. In 1887 the family moved from the farm into Clarks where Wilbur was born in 1893. The following year they moved to Central City and lived there until coming to Fullerton. They had six sons and two daughters. Sheridan was a maker and seller of brooms. In 1907 he became ill and died - buried at Fullerton. Wilbur's mother, Irene, was the daughter of Ralph and Clara (Meech) Wetherell who were married in Connecticut and moved in 1846 to Illinois. During the Civil War he fought under "Old Glory". They came from Illinois to Clarks, Nebraska where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. Clara died in 1879 and is buried at Clarks. After leaving Clarks Mr. Wetherell went to Fullerton and from there to the Soldier's Home at Grand Island where he died in 1915 - buried at Clarks. Alice was born to Levi Valentine and Anna Marie (Prante) Helms on August 1, 1893. Levi was one of twelve children born to Alfred and Louisa (Jones) Helms in Dearborn County, Indiana. Alfred moved to Indiana from Lincoln County, North Carolina. Levi was a teacher/farmer as were others of his family. On December 17, 1904 he was kicked by a horse and died a few hours later leaving his widow and four children: Francis, Edith, Samuel (died 1909) and Alice. Alice lived with her mother until grown and then held jobs as a milliner in North Bend, Syracuse and Belgrade, Nebraska. Anna Prante was the daughter of Ernist Henry Prante born in 1826 who came from the Alsace-Lorraine district of France and Mary Charlotte (Rahe) who was born in Hanover, Germany in 1829. At the age of sixteen she sailed from Hamburg to New Orleans and took passage on a boat up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinatti (sic). The couple were married there on March 23, 1854 and moved to a farm near Friendship, Indiana. Ernist died in 1872 leaving Mary with ten children aged seventeen down. In 1879 she sold the farm and bought land at Peru, Nebraska. The family moved there. Anna married Levi at Peru on April 5, 1882. Wilbur and Alice were married June 28, 1916 at Central City, Nebraska. He worked in printing shops at Broken Bow, Mason City and at Canon City, Colorado. In November of 1918 they came back to Nebraska and moved to a farm in the Timber Creek area. In 1934 he was elected to serve as Nance County Clerk. The family moved to Fullerton and he remained as clerk until his retirement at the end of 1966. He died in February 1968 survived by his widow, two sons and four daughters. BADJE Fred Henry Badje was born November 12, 1874 son of Hans and Maria Badje, in Brunsbuttel, Germany. He came to the United States at the age of 15, 132 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ coming first to Omaha, then to Burt county and on to Nance county to a farm in the Timber Creek area in 1917. He married Anna, daughter of John and Sofia Oltmanns who was born in Germany on March 5, 1882. Mr. Badje was a leader in church, farm organizations and served on the school board of District #7. There were six children: Fred Badje who married Eva Bennett, John Badje who married Annabel Main, Ann Badje, Peter Badje who married Cecile Crotcher, Marie, married to Herman Hellbusch and Freda Sofia born October 21, 1905 who married Werner Alvin Hellbusch, birthdate July 25, 1905. They had three sons. Twins, Robert Carrol and Richard Darrol, January 14, 1935 and Roger Ray January 2, 1942. Robert graduated from Midland College, Fremont, Nebraska served in the Army three years, married Alice Linquist and is now with Commercial National Bank and Trust Company in Grand Island. They have a son Darren and a daughter, Lisa. Richard married Donna Lou Steinwart and lives on a Timber Creek area farm. They had four daughters, Barbara, Mrs. Emil Zimmer, Dianna, Mrs. Mark Jackson, Debra, deceased and Laura. Roger served in the Navy three years. He married Janet Evers and they have five sons. Todd, Troy, Tom, Tim and Thad. They live on a farm in Timber Creek Township. GEORGE BOWMAN FAMILY HISTORY George R. Bowman was born to Algetha Browder Bowman and Clinton R. Bowman on January 3, 1893 at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He was the youngest of three children. George was a baby when the family moved to Albion, Nebraska. He attended school there and completed the eighth grade. He worked for several years for W. B. Martin in a grocery store. In 1915 he bought the store from Mr. Martin and it became "Bowman's Grocery". In 1917 he married Lillie Marie Hutchison on May 22nd in Albion. Lillie was the fifth child of Carlisle and Mary Lawson Hutchinson, born on February 26th 1897 in Albion, Nebraska. Her father, Carlisle Hutchinson was born in County Armangh, Ireland and came to this country when he was sixteen years of age. Her mother was brought to the USA from Sweden by her uncle who was a sailor. She arrived in New Jersey when she was sixteen years old and made her home with the Hoffman family who later moved to Albion, Nebraska. There she met and married Carlisle Hutchinson and raised a family of ten children on a farm in Boone County, Nebraska. Lillie attended and graduated from Albion high school in 1915. She taught country school for two years until she married George Bowman in 1917. George sold his store to enlist in the army in 1917 and was sent home with a heart irregularity. He and his bride moved to Fullerton, Nebraska where George took employment with E. B. Penney & Sons general store where he managed the grocery department for several years. Lillie worked part-time in the store also. In 1922 (?) George and Everett Black formed a partnership and bought out the Bailey Grocery store in Fullerton. In 1924 George bought out his partner and assumed full ownership of "Bowman's Grocery." Later George bought a small farm and started a dairy herd. He operated a dairy and his grocery store until 1950 at which time he sold out his dairy business. George was a charter member of the Fullerton Lions Club, the Tatters Club, he helped promote 4-H Calf Club and was active in many civic affairs. He was an elder and trustee of the Presbyterian Church. Lillie helped keep the books at the store and dairy as well as raise their only son, Robert. George Robert Bowman (known as "Bob" or Robert) was born on January 3, 1923 in Fullerton, Nebraska. He attended high school in Fullerton and graduated in 1940. He attended Hastings College. In February 1943, he enlisted in the Army. In November 1943 he married Margaret Pauley in Hastings. He attended O.C.S. in Columbus, Georgia (Ft. Benning) and graduated a 2nd Lt. in the Infantry. He served in the medical corp the air corp and the infantry and after spending a year in Japan, was discharged a 1st Lt. in 1946. He was in partnership with his father in the Bowman Grocery Store until 133 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ his father's death in 1961. He sold the store to Leonard Shotkoski. He became a franchise dealer for Westland Homes Corp, of Hastings, Nebraska until his death on December 28th, 1979. Surviving are his wife, Margaret, a son Charles of Hastings, two daughters, Barbara Hein of Atlanta, Georgia, Jayne Pickrel of Fullerton, his mother, Mrs. Lillie Bowman and four grandsons. DODDS Harold LeRoy Dodds, July 1, 1921 was born in Nance county. His parents were Elmer Wesley and Edith Emma Shoening Dodds. He attended Nance County rural schools and Cedar Rapids High School. He served in the U.S. Army from September 1942 to November 1945. On June 3, 1947 he married Wilma Ellen Schweitz, born March 12, 1927, daughter of Herman Rudolf and Martha Hellbusch Schweitz. Harold has a sister, Irene Dodds Schlemmer, Omaha, Nebraska and a brother Orville Dodds of Stromsburg. Wilma has a sister Edna Gallo of Kansas City, Missouri, brothers, Ernest Schweitz of Oakland, Nebraska and Theo. Schweitz of Fullerton. One brother Raymond Schweitz, died in the service of his country on May 23,1951 in Korea. Harold and Wilma live on a farm in Timber Creek Township. They have 3 sons. Larry Dean Dodds, April 30, 1948 married Linda Carol Herr. They have three sons, Luke, Ben and Mark. They are farmers in Timber Creek Township. Randy Lee Dodds, March 21, 1952 married Colleen Trofolz. They have a son William and live on a farm in Timber Creek Township. Carroll Ray Dodds, April 19, 1955 married Debra Fitzgerald. They have a daughter, Shannon and live near Brewster, Nebraska. HOFFMAN Fredrick August Hoffman was born in Breinstein, Germany, April 25, 1875 and came to the United States settling in Butler county. He married Marie Elise SauerMann, who was born in Oltenfliesh, Germany July 7, 1881. They lived in Butler county until coming to Nance county to live on a farm in Timber Creek Township until they retired and moved to Belgrade. There were three children: Olga Elise Hoffman born March 26, 1907 Karl Oscar Hoffman born February 18,1909 Ella Mae Hoffman born May 17, 1923 Olga married Theodore Hellbusch. They lived on a farm in the Timber Creek Area. There were five children Bette, Donna, Karl, Marion, and Dan. She died in 1977. Karl married Hermina Helen Hellbusch on January 24, 1940 and lived on a farm in Timber Creek Township until retiring and moving to Belgrade in 1978. The had two children Leah and Leonard. Leah married Galen Malander and has three children. Leonard died in 1964. Ella Mae married The Rev. John Ackermann who was a pastor at Peace Lutheran Church. She is now a widow living in West Branch, Iowa. BALDRIDGE FAMILY William Baldridge, the ancestor of the American branch of this family, was born in the Province of Ulster, Ireland, in the year 1689. On the 16th of June, 1714, in the Parish of St. Andrews, in the county of Tyron, Ireland he was married by James Ancar, Vicar of the Established Church of England, to Jannette Holmes, who was baptized in the Parish of St. Giles, Ireland, County Down, by Alfred Mooney, Vicar, July 9, 1694. She was the daughter of James Holmes, who married Margaret Jennings and through them the Baldridges in America claim a portion of the "celebrated" Jennings estate. James Holmes died in 1727, and in his will duly proven in the Register's office in Belfast Third Division Court, on June 14, 1727, wherein he devised to 134 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jeanette Baldridge, his daughter, the sum of two hundred thousand pounds, from the funds in trust for her and her heirs, and also all dividends in the South Sea Company and her mother's legacy in full without deduction. William Baldridge and Janette and family came to America in the ship Queen Margaret about the year 1745 and landed in Philadelphia. Their family consisted of three sons and three daughters some of whom were married and had families. At that time Little Brittain and adjoining townships, in Lancaster county, were settled almost entirely by Scotch Irish Presbyterians, and it is quite probable among the number were some relatives or neighbors at the home they left in Ireland. William Baldridge and his family settled in Little Brittain township where he took up several hundred acres of land near the center of the township, on which he resided until his death in the year 17 . Janette died a few years before her husband. The oldest son John Baldridge married Rebecca, daughter of Clark, in Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland, before they came to America. In 1749 he purchased several hundred acres of land in Bart, now Eden township. At that time he was living upon a farm in Martick township, now Providence, which he purchased a year or two before his other purchase. He died in Martick township in July, 1766 leaving a widow Rebecca and several children. Rebecca married again to Aaron Boggs and they removed to Rutherford county, North Carolina. All but two of her children went with them. A son John Baldridge married Jane M. Janes, September 30, 1834 in Burke county, North Carolina. She was born December 7, 1818 in Rutherford county, North Carolina. Rebecca died at the remarkable age of 110. During the winter of 1834 John and Jane emigrated westward and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Jefferson county, Illinois, locating on Walnut Hill Prairie where they remained until March 11, 1847 when they moved to a farm on Section 18, Grand Prairie Township. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs Baldridge. A daughter Rebecca J. married David P. McCullough, a wealthy farmer residing near Irvington, Illinois, on March 27, 1856. She passed away July 22, 1910 and he died November 3, 1910. To this union were born 8 children, two of whom died in infancy. The others was Ada, Mary Alice, S. A., T. E., O. J. and Minnie Jane. Minnie Jane was born January 13, 1862 at Irvington, Washington county, Illinois, and died August 20, 1947 at Wolbach, Nebraska. She married John Wesley Jackson, November 17, 1881 in Centralia, Illinois. John Wesley was born November 17, 1855 in Centralia and died March 3, 1941 in Wolbach Nebraska. To this union were born 9 children, Eula Pearl, September 4, 1882, David Cleveland January 4, 1885, Robert Benson January 11, 1887, Drew Leftridge October 1, 1889, Infant son February 13, 1892, Fred Sterling July 8, 1893, Harrie July 29, 1895, Alice January 15, 1897 and Carrie Rebecca April 20, 1904. John Wesley Jackson married Minnie Jane McCullough November 17, 1881 at Irvington, Illinois. Three children, Bula Pearl, D. Cleve and Robert were born at Irvington, The family migrated to Nebraska in 1887 where six more children were born. They were Drew, Erela, Fred, Harrie Alice and Carrie. They first settled in Prairie Creek township near Fullerton where they experienced the great blizzard in March of 1888. The family was fortunate in all being near home when the storm struck. During the three days of the storm John stretched binder twine to the barn so he would not get lost feeding his small amount of livestock. The family later moved to Howard county then returned to Nance county. At one time they lived a short while in a sod house about 6 miles east of Wolbach and Indians were frequently seen. About 1908 John and Minnie purchased their own farm in the Olive district of South Branch township in northwest Nance county. John died March 3, 1941 and Minnie died August 29, 1947. They are buried in the Fullerton cemetery. Two daughters are still living. Mrs. Ivan (Alice) Bierly lives at Junction City, Oregon. She has seven children located in Texas, 135 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Florida, California and Oregon. Mrs. John (Carrie) Caudle lives in Los Angeles, California and they have a son Howard who lives at El Toro, California. A daughter of Drew, Mrs. Lee (Dorothy) Morris lives at Anaheim, California. Robert had two daughters, Mrs. Maurice (Elva) Cantral and her husband live on a farm near Palmer. Mrs. Melvin (Elma) Nesbitt and her husband live in Fullerton. The son of D. Cleve, Darwyn Jackson, and his wife live in Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Elma (Melvin) Nesbitt has three children. Janet, Mrs. Alvin Wemhoff lives on the family farm at Belgrade, Nebraska. Has 2 sons. Roger married to Deborah Shotkoski lives in Grand Island. Karyn, Mrs. Kenneth Wetovick lives on a farm near Fullerton, Nebraska. Marilyn, daughter of Elva (Mrs. Maurice Cantral) is married to Lowell Foland and lives on a farm near Belgrade, Nebraska. Has three children. The Baldridges and the Barbers arrived on the Nebraska scene not too long after Fullerton became an official town. It was the fall of 1885 when Willis and his parents and sisters came from Centralia, Illinois, to make a home in the hills west of Fullerton. Pearle Barber and her father, and her brother Nelson came a year or two later. Grandpa William Barber had moved to a farm east of Fullerton, and not too long afterwards his son William and family arrived in a covered wagon from Kansas. Land promotion in Illinois for the newly opened former Indian reservation must have been very good, for there was a fairly large group of settlers, including several Baldridges - brothers and cousins - plus Copples, Beals and others, who migrated to Nance county. Letters from Grandmother Baldridge to her parents back home tell what it was like to be a pioneer in Nebraska in the mid-80's. "I think this is too fine a country to leave, but I don't know yet whether it will hold us more than a year or not. I would be willing to stay. The rest would if the diptheria (sic) don't prove to be a regular visitor here. But if it comes here every winter, I don't think I would like to stay and risk it. It is at St. Paul, about 40 miles up the Loup so bad that they had to stop the schools. I believe the scarlet fever goes with it. We keep a safidity around the kid's necks all the time." Another excerpt says, "The boys are all husking corn but Joe (Grandfather Baldridge) had to go out to Jim's farm to take care of his thrashed oats. Chas. (Copple, probably) is huskin for 2 1/2 cents per bu." On January 10, 1886, she writes, "It was pretty cool, 26 degrees below zero. We don't have much frost on the walls. A little in the kitchen. I think them that sits by the cook stove is the ones that have to sweep frost down off the walls. It is caused by the tea kettle steaming all the time." Willis and his family didn't stay very long on the farm, moving to town where his father had a general store in the building which currently houses the Kansas Nebraska Natural Gas Company. Meanwhile the Barbers had added two sons, Morris and Allen. "Ole Doc Barber" was a well-known figure in the community attending the sick and injured at any time of day or night. The old barn behind the house (now there is a high school parking lot where the house once stood) had a team of horses and a buggy ready to go at a moment's notice. Pearle graduated with the class of 1900, but Willis left high school when he was fifteen and along with several other local youths, joined the army to go fight the Spanish in the Philippines. Nelson Barber was one of the "boys" as well as Lewis Kremer, Loren Taylor, and the Storches. This hitch in the army furnished Willis with tales of adventures the rest of his life. When he returned from the wars, he was "taken" by the black-haired Pearle and even tried to court her on Sunday evening after church. "If you can't take me to church, you can't take me home," Pearle said. Apparently the challenge was met, for in 1901 these two 18-year-olds were married, and a long happy married life followed. Nearly everyone who remembers them associated Willis and Pearle with two things: the bakery and music making. As for the former, the good whole wheat bread, 10-cents a dozen doughnuts, three for a quarter (dozen, that is) fruit cookies were in a class by themselves. But all that stopped in 1944 when 136 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ the scarcity of sugar and other important baking ingredients became discouraging, and the bakery was closed for good. Musically, Willis and Pearle sang together and separately in many of the local singing groups. As a duet they furnished comfort to many bereaved families with their singing of "In the Garden," and other old hymns at services of church and at home. Margaret and Joe arrived in due time, and when they were old enough to hold their horns, the four Baldridges became a family band. Band practice was a regular nightly event in those days, but when a good radio program came on at 8:30, it was time to put up the instruments and gather around the old Atwater Kent and listen to Jack Benny, The Lux Theater or the Railroad Hour. Programs printed around that decade of the 30's will find the "Baldridge Ensemble" playing for all kinds of Banquets, church services, and celebrations whereever some background music was needed. After Joe and Margaret graduated from high school, they both attended Hastings College where Margaret prepared to become a teacher and Joe studied chemistry. Joe graduated from college and soon joined the Navy where he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant J. G. Mararget graduated and started out her teaching career at Sargent, Nebraska at the annual salary of $845. In 1940 she moved to Auburn, Nebraska, where she taught for the next seven years. Joe married a young lady from Minden, Nebraska, whom he had met at Hastings College. Her name was Mary West, and eventually they became the parents of Jim, Kathleen, Peggy, Jeannie, and Nancy. Joe had taught school in Minnesota for one year, but decided a career in education wasn't for him. Therefore he went back to college (Kansas University) earned his Masters degree in chemistry, and shortly moved to Mentor, Ohio, where he joined a large chemical company, Diamond Alkaki, based in Cleveland. Joe and his family have lived in Ohio since then. He retired in 1978 and now spends his time on any one of many different hobbies. However, antique cars take most of his leisure. It will surprise no one who remembers the early Baldridge cars to learn that a 1929 Essex and a 1951 Hudson as two of the models that take up a lot of his time. Margaret earned her Masters just before going to Omaha to teach. For twenty-four years she taught at Technical High School where Anna McClelland was her department chairman for some of that time. Margaret began her thirty-second year in Omaha in the fall of 1979. She teaches at Burke High School which is at 120 Street and Dodge. Anyone entering Omaha from the west will go by there. Margaret spends her weekends and summers in Fullerton where she still lives in the old family home where the Baldridges have lived since 1921. When she retires from teaching, she will come back to Fullerton to enjoy good rural living once again. In all probabilities, Margaret will continue growing roses and other flowers in her yard in the summers, and in the winters she will sit by the fire and say a prayer of thanks that she isn't having to negotiate the hills of Omaha to drive to school on icy winter mornings. THE J. P. WHITNEY FAMILY HISTORY Jacob Philip Whitney was born in a sod house on the Whitney ranch near Fullerton, son of John W. and Louisa G. Whitney, 10 April 1886. He spent his early years on the ranch and attended country school and graduated from Fullerton High School. He married Mary Splichal 5 June 1912 in Fullerton, Nebraska and shortly after made his home approximately l/2 mile south of the Whitney ranch. Mary Splichal was born on a farm near Clarkson, Nebraska and came to Fullerton to clerk in Diers merchandise store prior to her marriage. She was born 20 July 1885, daughter of Frank Splichal and Katherine (Kominek) Splichal of Clarkson, Nebraska. She died 27 June 1971. Buried in Fullerton cemetery. "Jake", as he was known, spent a couple of years in the oil fields of Texas prior to his marriage. His years on the farm were spent in raising livestock and crops and establishing a sizeable dairy herd. During his time on the farm he served on the school board, and served as a fieldman for the Agriculture Adjustment Administration. He was active in starting the Fullerton Cooperative 137 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Image: Frederic, Joseph, Leslie, Jake, Mary and Mary Whitney.] Creamery and Oil Station. He retired from farming in 1946 and moved to Fullerton where he took an active part in church and community activities. For a time he was water commissioner of Fullerton, and served on the Nance County Selective Service Board. Mary Whitney was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Ladies' Home Circle and the E-Z Club. Born to Jake and Mary were three sons and one daughter - Joesph William, Leslie Philip, Frederic Raymond and Mary Emma. Joseph William Whitney was born 25 March 1913 in Nance county and died 17 December 1971 in Aurora, Nebraska. Burial in Fullerton cemetery. He married Margaret Kathryn Tonning 9 January 1937 at Fullerton. Nebraska. She was born 21 May 1912 in Newman Grove, Nebraska and died 28 October 1968 in Fullerton, Nebraska. Buried in Fullerton cemetery. She was a daughter of Andrew Tonning and Ran Dena Alletha (Strand) Tonning. Margaret loved to sing, and sang in the United Methodist Church choir for years. Joe married Eda Gilson after the death of his first wife. He spent most of his adult life in the Farm Management business in Central City, Nebraska. Joe and Margaret had two daughters and one son - Mrs. Bruce (Diana Jo) Neujahr of Moraga, California, Mrs. Glade (Carolyn Sue) Snoberger of Aurora, Nebraska and William James of Topeka, Kansas. Bruce and Diana Neujahr have a son Michael Bruce, and a daughter Kathryn Elizabeth. Glade and Carolyn Snoberger's children are two daughters, Pamela Jo and Ann Lynn, and a son Matthew Clark. Children of William Whitney are Karen Eileen and Zed Aaron. Leslie Philip Whitney was born 8 May 1914 in Nance county, Nebraska. He married Jean Marjorie Smith 22 October 1939 in Nance county Nebraska. She was born 12 March 1915 at Riverton, Iowa, a daughter of Ross Curtis Smith and Mary Dell (Throne) Smith. Leslie and Jean live in Grandview, Missouri. Les was a Personnel Officer for the government. They have two sons - Ross Phillip of Raytown, Missouri married to Barbara Ann Brown, and Dennis LeRoy of Grandview, Missouri. Ross and Barbara Whitney have two children - a daughter Dana Lynn and a son Stephen Philip. Frederic Raymond Whitney was born 28 June 1918 in Nance county, Nebraska. He attended the same rural school that his father attended, the Fullerton High School, and the University of Nebraska. He taught Vocational Agriculture in Rushville, Nebraska where he met Helen Irene Forney. Helen was born 22 July, 1922 in Alliance, Nebraska, a daughter of Hubert Harvey Forney and Ruth Augusta (Orr) Forney. Fred and Helen were married 16 June 1941 in 138 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fullerton, Nebraska. Fred served in the U.S. Naval Air Force during World War II. Following the war they moved to the family farm in West Newman Township, Nance County, Nebraska Fred is engaged in crop and livestock production. He is a member of the United Methodist Church, has served on the local school board, the co-op board and the 4-H Council. Fred and Helen have three daughters - Mrs. Jerrold (Janice Irene) Hibbs of Smithfield, Nebraska Mrs. Terry (Marilyn Kay) Grotelueschen of Longmont, Colorado, and Mrs. Dale (Linda Marie) Lesiak of Fullerton, Nebraska. Jerrold and Janice Hibbs have 3 sons - Bradley Arnold, Bryan James and Patrick Jacob. Terry and Marilyn Grotelueschen have three daughters - Robin Michele, Renae Sue, and Renell Lea, and a son Jason Paul. Dale and Linda Lesiak have children Christopher James, Jennifer Sue, and Nicholas John. They live on a farm about seven miles southwest of Fullerton in Nance county. Dale was born 5 September 1951 in Central City, Nebraska to Louis Lesiak and Bernice (Jaswick) Lesiak. He attended rural school, Fullerton High School and Central Technical Community College at Hastings, Nebraska. On 20 November 1970 he married Linda Marie Whitney, who was born in Fullerton, Nebraska 20 February 1952. She attended rural school, Fullerton High School and University of Nebraska. In March, 1972 they moved to their present farm home. They are members of St. Peter's Catholic Church, and Dale is a member of the local school board. Mary Emma Whitney was born 29 November 1920 in Nance county Nebraska and married Edmund Henry (Bill) Wynne 10 November 1941 at Blair Nebraska. He was born 15 July 1920 in Schuyler, Nebraska, son of Edmund Henry Wynne and Helen Elizabeth (Adkisson) Wynne. He is retired from the U.S. Navy. They live near Reinholds, Pennsylvania and have two children - David Cowgill of Chula Vista, California married to Georgine Patricia Antolick and Mrs. John (Mary Helen) Cuper of Williamsburg, Virginia. David and Georgine Wynne have two children - Patricia Jane and Michael David. Mary Helen and John Cuper have a son Jonathan Wynne. FRANK AND GERTRUDE EUSE Frank and Gertrude Schneider Euse moved from Scribner, Nebraska to Fullerton, Nebraska in 1907. They purchased the farm 3 1/2 miles Southeast of Fullerton, and raised 7 children: Leo (Martha Pelster) Broadwater, Nebraska Hermine (Jay Laughrey), Chadron, Nebraska Colleen, Karen, Diane, Penney Dr. Vincent (Cheryl), Carson City, Nebraska Jenny, Jay, Clinton Peggy (Deceased 1958) Francis (Charles Bingell) (Francis, deceased 1974, buried Standwood, WA.) Rebecca (Alfred Marti) Stanwood, Washington Christopher, Joseph Ted (Nancy) Stanwood, Washington Rene and Amy Judy (Ronald Kessler) Marysville, Washington 2 children Edwin (Loretta Stachura, deceased) (Eva Scow) Shelby, Nebraska Marilyn (Keith Houdershedt) Shelby, Nebraska Roger, Cristine, Roy Norman (Karen Smith) Silver Creek, Nebraska Bryan, Angela, Troy, Thad, Cori Edna (Ed Starostka) Seattle, Washington Harold - San Francisco, California David (Joy) Seattle Washington Richard, Roberta, Michael, Susan Timothy - (Donna) Seattle, Washington Thomas, Paul, Jon Jacqueline - (Sean Corr) Fairbanks, Alaska Hilary and Andrew Raymond (deceased 1969, buried Seattle, Washington) Bette Seattle, Washington Cathy (William Brady) Seattle, Washington Peter Mary (Chris Druro) Seattle, Washington Franklin (Evelyn) live in Seattle, Washington Gary Seattle, Washington Zachary and Benjamin Carol - Fairbanks. Alaska 139 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Diane - Seattle, Washington Helen (Fred Wolfe, deceased) (Bob Clark, deceased) Seattle, Washington Dick (Helen) Bothell, Washington Frederic and Oliver Annette (John) Sumner, Washington John and Carolyn Celeste - Seattle, Washington Frank Euse arrived in America from Germany 1888 and worked in the steel mills in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, moved West, worked for the railroad and helped to install the track to the Black Hills. He farmed in Dodge county, Nebraska and then settled in Fullerton to later retire in Seattle, Washington. He sold his farm to Joe Lesiak about 1943. He is buried in Seattle, Washington. Gertrude Euse came to America in 1890, lived near Scribner, Nebraska moved to Omaha, worked in the Smith Overall factory; married Frank and moved to Fullerton, Nebraska. She died in 1931 and is buried in Fullerton, Nebraska. ARLINEUS BROWER (1811-1895) Arlineus, the patriarch of the Browers that were to live in Nance county, traveled with his son, Martin Irenius, in 1880 from Pontiac, Illinois to view and purchase 28 quarters of the Pawnee lands offered for sale by the federal government. Arlineus and his wife Mary moved permanently to Fullerton to make their home in 1884, following by two years the move of son Martin and daughter Annie and her husband Joseph Wright McClelland. At the age of 73 Arlineus started a real estate business, buying, improving and selling farm land. He died in 1895 at the age of 84 from injuries sustained from a fall from a horse he was breaking. Mary died in 1892. Arlineus, son of Abram Brower and Phylothia Webster, was born in Herkimer County, New York, 1811. He moved at age 20, in 1831 to Ashtabula county, Ohio where he owned land and a number of businesses. He married Sally Turner in 1835 with children Imogene, Sylvester, Sarah and Abel K. and, upon her death, married in 1845 Mary Marther (b 1826) with children Martin and Annie. The latter three children lived in Nance county. In 1862 following a fire that burned all his businesses to the ground, Arlineus moved his family to a farm near Pontiac, Illinois where he farmed until the winter of 1875. He then moved to town for nine years of retirement before starting business anew in Nebraska in 1884. [Image: Arlineus Brower 1811-1895] 140 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARTIN IRENIUS BROWER (1847-1920) Martin I, youngest child of Arlineus and Mary Marther Brower, settled in Fullerton in 1882 two years after his initial trip to Nance county to purchase Pawnee lands. He lived with his sister Annie M. and her husband Joseph Wright McClelland until his marriage in 1885 to Ella Lucretia Clark in Owego, New York. She was a telegrapher for the Erie Railroad in Union and Western Union in Owego and the youngest of ten children of Ezeckial Hyde and Nancy Williams Clark. Martin and Ella had three children: Mary Letitia (1886), Julian Martin (1887) and Robert Clark (1896), all born in Fullerton. Martin was born in 1847 in Brower's Corner, Ashtabula county, Ohio; grew to manhood in Pontiac, Illinois; was graduated from Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois in 1871 after which he "read Law" with Judge Payson of Ottawa, Illinois. He was appointed Master of Chancery in Illinois and was admitted to the practice of law in the Nance County Bar in 1884. In Fullerton he had a law practice and was an abstractor but his main interest and source of income was that of a loan agent for New York and Illinois friends at 2 1/2% commission. He was elected to one term as Nance county judge for the Populist party. Although the top votegetter on the Prohibitionist party's slate of candidates, he twice was defeated as the party's candidate for Nebraska Attorney General in 1880 and 1892. In 1900 the Fullerton National Bank was organized with Martin Brower installed as its president, mainly because of his large clientele of private loan customers. Eventually acquiring majority control of the Bank, he continued as president until his death in 1920, when his son Julian succeeded as president and son Robert, vice president of the Fullerton National. Also living with the Browers were Ella's two maiden sisters, Frances and Lucy Clark. They did the housekeeping and cooking, enabling Ella to devote her time to the causes of the WCTU and the Prohibitionist party. Frances and Luch died in and 1934 while Ella lived until 1942. [Image: Martin Irenius Brower 1847-1920] ROBERT CLARK BROWER (1896- Robert Clark Brower was born in 1896 in the family home in Fullerton, the youngest of the three children of Martin I. and Ella Clark Brower. He was graduated from Fullerton High School in 1914, attended the University of Nebraska and was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1919 with a law degree. After being admitted to the Nebraska Bar, he joined the law firm of Noffsinger and Walchle in Kalispell, Montana. Here he met a dental hygienist and Denver University graduate, Lenore Sussanah Heyrock, who was born in Cavalier, North Dakota in 1899, the daughter of John K, and Sussanah Schluchter Heyrock. Robert and Lenore married in 1923 in Billings, Montana, 141 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ later becoming the parents of three children: John Martin (1924), Helen Jane (1925) and Thomas Dale (1928). Robert returned to Fullerton a year prior to his marriage to become the partner of J. H. Kemp in the law firm of Kemp and Brower, an association that continued for 28 years. Also in 1922, Robert was elected vice president of the Fullerton National Bank, a position he held until the bank was sold by the Brower family in 1956. In 1951 with his son John, Robert founded the law firm of Brower and Brower (known today as Brower, Treadway, and Bird). [Image: Robert Clark Brower] Robert was appointed to a two year term in the Nebraska legislature in 1953 and was re-elected in 1955. In 1960 he was appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court in Lincoln by Governor Frank Morrison, and served in this position until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 1967. Judge and Mrs. Brower made their home in Lincoln for two more years before retiring to the milder climate of Sun City, Arizona. He served the city of Fullerton as city attorney for twenty-five years and the county as county attorney one term. He was a charter member of the Lions Club. Robert's sister, Mary Letitia Brower, was a career teacher and taught in Fullerton and Bloomington. After obtaining her Master's at UN-L in 1917 she taught history in Hastings High School until retirement at the age of 65. She died in 1968. JOHN MARTIN BROWER (1924- ) John Martin Brower, attorney and lifelong resident of Fullerton, was born in 1924 in Grand Island, son of Robert C. and Lenore H. Brower. After graduation from Fullerton High School and a semester at Doane College, he served three years as a Navy radioman in World War II from 1942-45. He then attended the University of Nebraska, receiving his law degree in 1951. In 1949 John and Margaurite Emily Leonard were married in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Born in 1926 in Boise, Idaho, the daughter of W. V. and Dorothy Leonard, she was a graduate of the University of Colorado and a registered nurse at the Lincoln Veterans' Hospital in Lincoln at the time of the marriage. The couple moved permanently in 1951 to Fullerton where John joined his father in the law firm of Brower & Brower, serving sixteen years as city attorney and twelve as school board member. The law firm has expanded in recent years to St. Edward and Albion with the addition of partners D. T. Treadway in 1962 and Larry Bird in 1972. Born to this couple were four children, the fifth generation of Browers to reside in Nance County: Sam Robert (1951), 4th generation attorney, and partner in the Omaha firm of Swarr, May, Smith and Anderson and married to Deborah Coe in 1979; Carol Ann (1953), a nurse clincial (sic) specialist with the San Diego Veterans' Hospital; Janet Lenore (1955), a health environmentalist with 142 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ the Boulder, Colorado health department; all graduates of University of Nebraska and Joseph Paul (1962) in high school. Siblings of Robert Brower are Helen Jane who married Lincoln architect and UN-L professor James G. Porter, and has five children Marsha, Linda, Julia, Clark and Stacia: and Thomas Dale, Scottsbluff attorney who married Jean Wooden of Winnetka, Illinois and are parents of Beth, Mike and Mark. FRENZEN Hans Frenzen was born in Schlieswig-Holstein, Germany, on September 3, 1853. He came to America in 1879 at the age of 26 years. He was married in 1880 in Manilla, Iowa to Celia Grage. They came to Nebraska and settled on a farm north of Central City, Nebraska, where they lived for 13 years. Then Mr. Frenzen brought his family to Nance County, Nebraska in 1901. They settled on a farm 5 1/2 miles northwest of Fullerton, Nebraska onto a beautiful farm nestled under the Bluffs to the west of it, and with the lazy Cedar River winding on its way along the east side. There were 497 acres of land in this farm with part of it in pasture and the rest in good rich farm land. It was irrigated out of the Cedar river. To this union were born eight children: Louis, Henry, Frank, Edward, Anna, Emma, Lavida and Arthur. Mrs. Hans Frenzen died in 1906. She was born March 4, 1862 and died on February 25, 1906. Mr. Frenzen had two sisters: Mrs. Henry Kuhl, Hamburg, Germany, Mrs. Bonnie Jensen, Iowa. Mrs. Kuhl had two daughters, Emma Huhl Hahn, Hamburg Germany; Minnie Kuhl Hamburg, Germany. Mrs. Frenzen died at the age of 44 years, but the father with the help of the children kept the family together - put them all thru school except Anna who had to take care of the home, and did the best he could until he passed away on January 17, 1932. Louis died in early childhood. Henry was born in 1882 and died in 1927 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Frank Frenzen was born on August 14, 1886 and died on May 21, 1970 at his home in Fullerton. Edward Frenzen was born on November 27,1889 and died on May 20, 1964 at his farm home at Fullerton. Anna Matthieson was born on April 6, 1893 and died on August 25, 1969 at her home in Grand Island, Nebraska. Emma Hadfield was born on February 4, 1896. Lavida Mason was born on July 25,1899. Arthur was born on July 4, 1902. After the death of the father Edward stayed on at the farm and farmed it in partnership with Robert Mason (Lavida's husband.) But at Edward's death in 1964, the estate had to be settled, and so the family home of 63 years, The Frenzen Farm was sold. The Survivors of the orignial (sic) family are Emma Hadfield, and Lavida Mason both of Fullerton, and Arthur of Lincoln, Nebraska. Robert (Red) and Lavida Mason had four children: Robert William - who died at the age of 5 years December 19, 1931 to June 5,1936. Twin sons Larry Edward Mason born February 17, 1938. Wife Joyce Stetz born October 4,1943 and child Shelly Marie born October 15, 1965. Garry Edwin Mason born February 17, 1938, wife Mary Lou Mason born June 15, 1937, child Kelly Suzanne born September 3, 1958 who is married to Dennis Michael Zarek born October 6, 1951. Donna Rose Mason born September 10, 1925. Donna was married to Nelson Crull Weller born, September 13, 1923. Their children are Jack Ray Weller born December 16, 1947, married to Cindy Nesbitt, born August 22, 1950. Their child is Scott Allen Weller born September 15,1969. Randy Lee Weller July 5, 1949, wife Lisa Marie Vulpetti March 18, 1949. Child Pia Marie Weller, born March 18,1975. Teri Linn Garcia January 28, 1954, husband Frank Garcia June 11, 1947, children Stephani Shawn July 31, 1976, Christopher Michael December 23, 1978. Shawn Rene Weller born April 9,1957. Larry Edward Mason and Garry Edwin Mason and their families are living at Fullerton. Donna Rose Weller is living at Genoa Nebraska. Jack Weller and family are living in Longmont Colorado, Randy Weller and family live in Baltimore, Maryland. Teri Linn Garcia and family live in Clarksville, Tennessee. Shawn Rene Weller is a Senior Airman stationed in South Carolina. 143 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SWANSON Swen Peter Swenson, (changed to Swanson), was born in Sweden on December 7, 1843, and died December 11, 1911, in Nance county, Nebraska. He was about three years old when he came to the United States with his parents. They lived near Knoxville, Illinois. In 1862, he joined the North Army in the Civil War. He was mustered out in 1865, at Nashville, Indiana. Following the war, he married Ellen Olson on March 16, 1867. She was born on November 7, 1843, in the Province of Shone, Sweden and died in Nance county on May 6, 1904. She came to the United States in 1866. The couple lived near Knoxville, Illinois, until 1871, when they moved to Iowa. In 1891, they came by covered wagon to the North Star area in Nebraska where they established a farm home. They were the parents of eleven children. Fred, who married Martha Thomason. They had one daughter, Irene. Albert, who married Ella Kennedy. They had ten children: Ruby (Mrs. A. J. Larson), Bernice (Mrs Grant Olson), Ina (Mrs. Gerald Malander), Floyd Gladys (Mrs. Gordon McNary), Ailene (Mrs. D. E. Bright), Alberta (Mrs. Donald Arrasmith), Alan, Max, and Wayne. George, who married Amelia Nelson. They had two children: Virgil and Lois. Charles, who married Bertha Kemp. They had three children: Eldo, Carl and Vera. Edwin died in 1899. Stella, who married Gus Erickson. Three children were born, Hazel, Helen and Frances. Anthony, married Mayble Lader. They had three children: Vivian, Lucille and Evelyn. Esther married F. L. Rumsey. They had two children: Dayle and Thayne. Milton who married Minnie Lohr. They had two children: Milford and Robert. Joseph who is not married. Rueben who married Nellie Anderson. They had two children: Mildred and Ruth. His second marriage was to Lela Allington, in which two children were born: Donald and Leland. The Swen Swanson family and some of their descendants lived in the North Star area from 1891 until 1973. Albert, George, Milton, Rueben and sister Esther Rumsey lived on farms near the North Star church and store. Fred and Joseph operated the North Star store from 1914 until 1941. THE FRANK L. RUMSEY FAMILY Frank Leslie Rumsey was born in Ohio August 14, 1843. His boyhood was spent in Ohio, Minnesota and Union County Iowa. In August 1862 he enlisted as a Soldier in the Civil War, he served for three years in Co "H" 29th Iowa regiment. After the war he resided in Iowa and Kansas until 1877, when he moved back to Iowa Garfield Township, where he resided for 30 years, except for a short time in Red Oak, Iowa. He was married May 4, 1869 to Sophia Hinton near Albie, Iowa. They moved to Kansas in 1870, returning to Monroe county, Iowa in 1876, then in 1877 to the present home in Garfield Township. His first wife passed away and in 1903 he married Lille V. Manning. He was successful in farming and stock raising and was an extensive land owner Six children, five sons and one daughter were born to Frank and his first wife Sophia. They are in order of age as follows: Edward and wife Lillie, residing in Wheatland, Wyoming at the time of his death, they raised four children, Harold, Hazel, Pearl and Frank. Fred and wife Bertha, residing in Elliott, Iowa at the time of his death, they raised three children, Edith, Doris and Opal. Samuel and wife Nell, residing in Los Angeles, California at the time of his death, they had no children. 144 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elva and husband Lou Crum, residing in Hawthorne, California at the time of her death, they raised four children, Evelyn, Frank, Bernice and Marcella Frank (Les) and wife Esther, residing in Fullerton, Nebraska at the time of his death, they raised two children Dayle and Thayne. Charles R. and wife Bonnie, residing in Long Beach, California at the time of his death, they raised three children, William, Ruth and Maxine. Dayle and wife Rosa, live in Fullerton, Nebraska at this writing. They have one daughter, Dixie Zabka and two granddaughters, Melissa and Monica, a son-in-law, Greg Zabka, who is a Funeral Director and they live in Seward Nebraska. Thayne and wife Helen, live in Bountiful, Utah. They have four children, Fred, Marie, Thayne Jr. and Sylvia. F. L. (Les) Rumsey was born January 9, 1879 at Red Oak, Iowa and died June 10, 1959 at Fullerton, Nebraska. His boyhood was spent in Iowa. In 1899 he came to Nebraska settling in Nance County. He lived in Nance county all but 14 years when he and his wife Esther lived in Ainsworth, Nebraska. The early part of his residence in Nance county was spent as a farmer in the North Star area, where he was active in community affairs. He served on the Nance County Board of Supervisors, also was a member of the Nance County Fair Association and the Farmers Co-op Oil Association. Before retiring in Fullerton, Nebraska he spent 30 active years representing the State Farm Insurance Companies in and around Fullerton and Ainsworth, Nebraska Les Rumsey's son Dayle and wife Rose reside in Fullerton and Dayle, like his father represented the State Farm Insurance Companies for 30 years before retiring in 1974. P. R. COPPLE Plenna R. Copple was born July 29, 1876, son of Charles and Lucy Melvina Copple, at Centralia, Illinois. In September of 1885 the family of which he was a member arrived in Nance county, Nebraska. One year later they moved to the farm known as the Copple Homestead west of Fullerton. It was in this community that Dr. Copple was graduated from the Fullerton High School and grew to manhood. He taught school in this county one year. In 1898 he went to Anderson, Indiana, where he attended Anderson Normal University for a year. In 1899 he entered Northwestern University in Chicago, and received the degree of Doctor of Dentistry in 1902. In this same year he was united in marriage to Miss Goldie Grace Tranbarger whom he met while attending Anderson University. To this union was born a son, Kenneth Eugene, who died on January 5, 1911. Following his graduation, Dr. Copple engaged in the practice of dentistry at Greeley, Nebraska, Gas City, Kansas and Central City, Nebraska. In 1906 he located in Fullerton, where he practiced his profession for 39 years. During his many years as a citizen of this community, he was a leader in all community activities, both secular and religious. For twenty years he had been a member of the Fullerton Lions Club, being charter member and serving as the club's first secretary. He was an active member of the Community Club, and served as its president. He was a past Worshipful Master of the Cedar River masonic lodge, and a member of Eastern Star Chapter 191. HERMAN SCHWEITZ Herman Rudolf Schweitz was born to Anna and Rudolf Schweitz in Waterruch, Germany on August 14, 1893. On March 22, 1909 he arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, bound for Chicago. He had been hired in Germany to work for the Armour Meat Packing Company. When Mr. Schweitz arrived in this country, he was only sixteen and could not speak any English. In 1911, he moved to Platte County, Nebraska to farm and in 1916, settled in Nance County. On February 18, 1917, he married Martha Hellbusch 145 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ and they farmed in the Timber Creek area until 1970, when they retired and moved to Fullerton. They are the parents of five children: Ernest Herman married to Doris Elaine Blaser, lives on a farm at Oakland, Nebraska. They have four sons: Ronald Ernest, Terry Paul, Arlan David and Kenneth Dale. Edna Helen Gallo lives in Kansas City, Missouri has three children Connie Jean, Robert and Michael. Theodore Rudolph married to Norma Marie Wagner lives at Fullerton. Theodore owns and operates Schweitz Equipment Company, Inc. They have five children Judith Lynn, David Theodore, Susan Marie, Dallas Herman and Kristine Ann. Wilma Ellen married to Harold Leroy Dodds lives on a farm near Belgrade, Nebraska. They have three sons, Larry Dean, Randy Lee and Carroll Ray. Raymond Karl killed May 23, 1951 in the Korean War. THEODORE SCHWEITZ Theodore Rudolph Schweitz son of Herman Rudolph and Martha Hellbusch Schweitz was born February 10, 1923, at Belgrade, Nebraska. On April 30, 1945 he married Norma Marie Wagner, daughter of Frank Trougott and Elsie Anna Klein Wagner, at Peace Lutheran Church Timber Creek Belgrade, Nebraska. Mr. Schweitz completed his tour of duty with the United States Army in December 1946. He then returned to Timber Creek to farm. His farm consisted of 160 acres and he also rented an additional 160 acres. In October of 1954, he became a representative of an artificial insemination company, and serviced Nance county and part of Boone. Mr. Schweitz had already included other aspects of the dairy business when in 1953, after completing a training course in Chicago, Illinois he became a certified Surge Dealer. He continued to operate from his farm, with just one truck and only part-time help until 1962. At that time, he moved his business to its present location in Fullerton. They are the parents of five children: Judith Lynn Schweitz was born at St. Paul, Nebraska, December 15, 1947. She graduated from Fullerton High School May 1966. She graduated from Dana College, Blair, Nebraska with a Degree in Elementary Education, graduated in Omaha with a BS in Education. She taught five years in the Millard Elementary School. She is presently employed as a Medical assistant for a surgeon at Austin, Texas. David Theodore was born at St. Paul, Nebraska, December 7, 1948. Graduated from Fullerton High School May 1967. He graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln June 1971, with a B.S. Degree in Economics. January 1972 he enlisted in the United States Army O.C.S. September 8, 1972 he married Janice Lynn Schuki at Lincoln, Nebraska. He completed his army duty November 1975, as 1st Lt. Spent three years with 1st National Bank Lincoln, Nebraska with trust and correspondent banking. They are now living at Broken Bow where David is President of Security State Bank. Susan Marie was born May 28, 1952, at Fullerton, Nebraska. She graduated from Fullerton High School May 1970. She attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated December 1974 with a Bachelor Degree in Textiles. She is presently employed as accountant for Woung Travel Agency, Dallas, Texas. Dallas Herman was born July 18, 1955 at Fullerton, Nebraska. Graduated from Fullerton High School May 1973. He graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln May 1978 with a B.S. Degree in Agriculture. The same day he was commissioned into the Army as 2nd Lt. May 20, 1978 he married Deborah Dawn Roeske at Lincoln, Nebraska. June 1, 1980, he will have completed his tour of Army duty. At that time he plans to move back to Fullerton, Nebraska, and be associated with Schweitz Equipment Company, Inc. Kristine Anne was born April 4, 1962 at Fullerton, Nebraska. She will 146 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ graduate from Fullerton High School May 1980. In the fall she will enter University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in pre-law. DONALD R. AND GRETCHEN A. TREADWAY Donald R. and Gretchen A. Treadway, with their eighteen month old daughter, Ann Catherine, born January 3, 1961, moved to Fullerton on June 24, 1962, following Don's graduation from the University of Nebraska School of Law, to be associated in law practice with John M. Brower. A home built by Mel Fox at 617 Carl Street was purchased and the family lived there until January 3, 1970, at which time they purchased the Gene Beaman residence at 106 North Johnson - a home originally built by the Critchfield family in the late 1890's. While living on Carl Street, two sons were born - Thomas Lecron on Janaruy (sic) 30, 1963, and Steven Paul on July 1, 1964. Over the years, the family has been involved in many civic, church and governmental activities. In 1968, Don was elected to serve as Nance county Attorney, which position he held until his resignation in 1979. He has also served as president of the Lions Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce, has served as City Attorney and is active in golf and tennis activities. At the present time, he is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, the University of Nebraska President's Advisory Council, the Board of Counselors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Hospital and Nebraska Psychiatric Institute. Don graduated from Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska in 1951, after which he attended Kearney State College where he was a member of the Antelope's Basketball team. In June of 1953, he served in the U.S. Army in Korea. After his discharge in 1955, he enrolled in the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Business in May of 1957. On September 15th of that year, Don and Gretchen A. Lecron were married in Kearney, Nebraska and then made their home in Lincoln, Nebraska where Don took a position as Sales Representative with Continental Oil Company and Gretchen worked as a medical secretary. In September of 1959, Don entered the College of Law and graduated in June of 1962 with a Doctorate in Law Degree. Gretchen has been an active member of the United Methodist Church in Fullerton, serving in a number of capacities. In 1964, she assumed the responsibility of director of the adult choir and maintains that posititon (sic) at this writing. As a member of Fullerton Chapter No. 191 of the Order of the Eastern Star, she served as Worthy Matron in 1971 and was appointed Grand Page in 1972, Grand Esther in 1973 and served as Grand Representative of Wyoming in Nebraska from 1974 to 1976. At present, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, Nebraska. In 1964, she was instrumental in organizing a Community Choral Group which has performed off and on over the years for special occasions and was involved in the formation of the Mobile Meals Committee and the Fullerton Good Neighbors. She is also Past President of Chapter AG, P.E.O. Gretchen graduated from Kearney High School in 1955 and that fall began working toward a BS Degree in Nursing at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. McINTYRE Thomas Oliver McIntyre and his wife (nee Catherine Amanda Dean) were both born in 1825, near Cooperstown, Otsego county, New York. They moved with their family to Jones County, Iowa, at the end of the Civil War (1866); thence, in the 1870's, to northwest Nance county, Nebraska. They lived in a sod house briefly until they completed a "modern" structure (which was destroyed by fire prior to World War II). In the latter part of the 19th century, a postoffice and small store was located in the McIntyre home, about 25 miles northwest of Fullerton. This place was identified on early Nance county and Nebraska maps as Olive (a corruption of the middle name of Thomas Oliver). The Olive school (district 13) still bears this identification, and is still in operation, although it was moved from its 147 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ original location a few years ago. Thomas Oliver McIntyre died in 1902; and his wife, in 1907. Both are buried in the Sunset Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Two branches of the family, headed by sons of Thomas Oliver and Catherine Amanda, located in this part of Nebraska One branch located in Wolbach, and was in the furniture, hardware and undertaking business for years. Several descendants still live in or near Wolbach. A second family branch, headed by C. Morris McIntyre, moved from the family farm ("Olive") to Fullerton in 1918, and lived until 1923 in a rambling house of mildewed elegance known as "Peyton Heights," on a hill in the west end of Fullerton. In 1923, they moved to a farm on the "point" about a mile east of the city limits. They retired from farming in the 1930's and moved into Fullerton. C. M. McIntyre died in 1955; and his wife (Anna Elizabeth) died in 1970. Both are buried in the Fullerton Cemetery. Descendants of C. M. and Elsie McIntyre now live in California, Texas, Washington and Idaho. McCORMICK Frank McCormick and Mary Ellen (Stewart) McCormick moved from Iowa to Nance county in 1899. They settled near the Mount Pleasant School. They farmed in the area until about 1916, at which time they moved into Belgrade where they spent their remaining years. Their oldest son, Francis McCormick, who is now 95 years old, was a member of the Nebraska Legislature in the early 1930's. He represented the Greeley county area, as he owned a department store in Wolbach at that time. O. D. BARR Orland D. Barr and his brothers Lev and Charles of Mahaska County, Iowa were hired by a friend to come to Fullerton, Nebraska approximately in 1883 to break prairie. After breaking prairie in Nance and nearby counties, Lev Barr worked in a brick kiln and helped lay bricks in building the Knapp Hotel in Fullerton. Lev located in Enid, Oklahoma and established a cement block business. Charles went west and disappeared. Their father, Jehu Barr lived in Fullerton for several years and built the hospital, Mount Jehu, which burned down about 1922. Orland (also known as O. D. or Ollie) went to work for Ed Gould and worked on Merchant, Plum Creek, Bert and Kent and Woodline Ranches. Woodline Ranch was located on the old fairground. O. D. trained some of the world record race horses. He purchased Elkhorn Farm, east of the old fairground from Mr. Gould and his sons Orland Wesley and Harold Jehr Barr still farm it. After working on the ranches for 19 years, O. D. rented Elkhorn Farm and managed the Hord Grain Elevator at Wolbach, Nebraska for several years. He married Clara Grace Morris, October 5, 1910. When the Dr. told him he would have to get away from the dust in the elevator, the family moved to Elkhorn farm, March 1916, and he farmed it until his death May 24, 1943. Another son, Leonard, is retired Personnel Director of United Grocery Ltd., Richmond, California and now lives at Fremont, California. His daughter Margaret, a retired Civil Service employee, lives in Kansas City, Missouri. OWEN W. L. Owen was born at Memphis, Nebraska, March 10, 1880. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Levi Owen, farmers. They moved to Missouri, when he was a young boy. Then they moved back to Saunders County. He married Hulda Gustafson on February 22, 1905. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gustafson who were born in Sweden and came to the United States to Omaha, Nebraska as young adults. They lived at Memphis Nebraska, engaged in farming until 1910, when they moved to Garfield county for four years, after which they moved to Genoa. 148 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1919, they moved to a farm northeast of Fullerton. They lived on several farms north of Fullerton until 1947, when they moved into Fullerton. They had three sons: Virgil, Leland and Archie, and one daughter Ruth. W. L. Owen died at the Fullerton Nursing Home, July 27, 1969. Hulda Owen is 96 years of age and has lived at the Nursing Home the past 6 years. J. W. PENRY John William Penry was born to James Monroe Penry on May 5, 1866 at Red Oak, Iowa He came to Nebraska in 1885 by covered wagon to break prairie and settled on Horse Creek, about 12 miles west of Fullerton, where he built a house. In the big blizzard of 1888 he got to Valley, Nebraska where he put his horses up and stayed until the storm was over. He made the trip back several times and in 1890 he married Minnie Peters, born July 1, 1875 at Red Oak, Iowa, and brought her to the place he had built. Their wedding date was February 28, 1890. To this union six children were born. Esther Amelia, December 15, 1890 at Red Oak, Iowa, Daisy Pearle, April 7, 1892 at Fullerton, John William, May 30, 1893 at Fullerton, Nettie Ruth, November 17, 1895 at Fullerton, Nebraska, Ada May, April 9, 1897 at Belgrade, Nebraska and Richard Earl, June 10, 1912 at Belgrade. After living there for seven years they moved near Belgrade. In 1908 they bought a farm 2 1/2 miles from town and in 1917 they built a fine new house, which is owned by their youngest son Doctor Richard Penry of Hebron, Nebraska. [Image: Mr. and Mrs. John William Penry] The oldest daughter, Esther Walker lives at Arnold, Nebraska, she is 89. Pearle Woods lives at Desert Hot Springs, California. John passed away in 1970. Nellie McBride lives at St. Helens, Oregon. Ada Becker lives at Sacramento, California. Dr. Richard Penry lives at Hebron, Nebraska. Mr. J. W. Penry lived to be 94 years old and Minnie Penry lived to be 59 years old. HENRY BEECHER WARD Henry Beecher Ward was born May 21, 1857 in Randolph county Indiana. He moved to Nance county in 1880. In 1882 he married Adena R. Pierce of St. Anthony, Iowa. Adenia R. Pierce was born June 22, 1863 in Marshall county Iowa. 149 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To this union were born five children, Pierce - deceased, Ray E. deceased, Dwight E, deceased, Fred October 8, 1888 - died January 12, 1959. Gladys, Mrs. Bert Hunt of Bellflower, California. Fred married Nettie Ruby on May 12, 1815. Their two children are Ruby, married to LeRoy Copple and lives in Gothenburg, Nebraska and Genevieve married Don W. Steffen and lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Nettie is at home at 311 Germand in Fullerton. JAMES ROBERT RUBY James Robert Ruby was born on April 7, 1863 at Harmony, Pennsylvania. In 1884 he homesteaded in Sheridan County, Nebraska. In 1887 he married Sarah Mary Graham at Gordon, Nebraska. She had been born July 29, 1861 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1895 they moved to Nance county where they lived the rest of their lives on the same farm. They had three children, Ethel, who married Phil Drury, Nettie was born on June 4, 1893 at Gordon, Nebraska. She married Fred Ward. Harry G. Ruby, who married Pearl Campbell. James Ruby died July 7, 1949 on the farm near Fullerton and Sarah died July 19, 1954 on the farm near Fullerton. B. F. SEELY B. F. Seely (Frank or Jack) came to Nebraska from Alton, Illinois. He married Mary Ann Feeney in Schuyler, Nebraska in November 1883. They moved to Fullerton and purchased a square block of land in the northern part of town from Randall Fuller. He was a brick mason and built a number of business buildings in Fullerton and surrounding towns including the buildings now occupied by Whited Implement, Russells Drug, and Gonsior Floral. A residence he built in the south-west part of town for Ed Watts is now owned by Walter Dubas at 7th and Johnson streets. Frank and Mary Ann had eleven children, a baby girl, Mrs. Ernest (Dilla) Shull, Mrs. Authur (Nellie) Finch, Mrs. John (Anna) Meacham Morrell, Fulton Francis, Leo Austin, Frank Waldon, Hugh, Walter, Mrs. Charles (Pauline Elaine) Owens, and Mrs. L. B. (Margaret) Whitaker. Frank and all his sons were called "Jack." The youngest daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Bert, bought a parcel of land from her father in 1926 and moved into a cabin from the Chautauqua park as their first home. This building has been added to and remodeled several times throughout the years. It sits on the site of the home of the Jack Sodders family which was destoryed (sic) by a cyclone in August 1907. L. BERT WHITAKER Frank Marshall Whitaker was born in Illinois. He homesteaded in South Dakota in 1906 and purchased a farm in Cottonwood township, Nance county, Nebraska in 1920, now owned by Art Webb. Frank married Emma Krug in December 1899. They raised eight children; Mrs. Oscar (Voilet) Larson, Leonard Bert, Mrs. Elmer (Carolyn Kate) Meth, Worthy Lee, Mrs. Musadora (Peggy) Hullinger, Busse Stewart, Mrs. Melvin (Hazel) Kruze Richmond, Colin Bruce and William Howard. L. Bert is the only one still living in Fullerton and is the semi-retired owner and operator of the Fullerton Planing Mill. 150 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JAMES H. KEMP James H. Kemp, a native of Virginia, where he attended William & Mary College at Williamsburg, came to Nebraska as a young man and received a law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1898. That same year he began the practice of law in Fullerton and later became associated with Robert C. Brower in the legal firm of Kemp & Brower. In 1909, he married Elinor Orton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Orton, a pioneer Nance county family. Mrs. Kemp died in 1959. During his residence in Fullerton, he served as city and county attorney, was a member of the board of education, served as a director since 1915 and in 1919 was named vice-president of the First National Bank here. He was the first president of the Fullerton Lions Club. As a member of the Nebraska Legislature, he was presiding officer of the senate in 1913. He was a candidate for governor of Nebraska and also was a candidate for U.S. Senator. He was a member of state and national bar associations. Mr. Kemp was one of the organizers of the local golf club, which was later named Kemp Country Club in his honor, and he was the donor of the annually-presented Kemp Trophy. Mr. Kemp donated the tract of land which is today's golf course south of town. At the time of his death, on February 19, 1962, at the age of 90 years, he had extensive land holdings in Nance county. ROBINSON McCRAY Robinson McCray, son of Philander McCray and Margaret Jane Simpkins, was born June 12, 1855 in Van Buren County, Iowa and came to Nebraska in the early 1870's. Frances Amelia Shrader, daughter of Soloman Shrader and Catherine Catherman was born December 3, 1860 near Lanark, Illinois, moving to Butler County, Nebraska in 1874 with her parents. Robinson and Frances (nicknamed Rob and Annie) were married at Osceola on February 7, 1882. They began their domestic life on a farm in the Rising City/Surprise area and prior to moving back to Osceola in 1903, became the parents of the following children with birth date of each as noted: Edith Alberta December 1, 1882; Myrtle February 18, 1884; Hubert Marcus September 2, 1887; Ralph C. June 24, 1890; Fred Lester December 20, 1894; and Neil Herndon Janaruy (sic) 16, 1897. This family moved to the "west end" hills of Nance County in the spring of 1905. They left a farm located six miles northwest of Osceola because the area had been deluged with heavy rains for a couple of years and Mr. McCray became disgusted trying to grow crops on "swampland". The move made via emigrant train was a tremendous task, as all farm implements had to be disassembled before loading, household furnishings packed and cattle driven to the railway station. Robinson, with sons Hubert and Lester, rode in the cattle car to care for the animals enroute. On arrival at Wolbach, the three McCrays stayed at the hotel and it took nearly a week, with many new neighbors helping to get everything moved from the rail station to the farm. Since the weather was unusually cold, the cookstove was the first item moved into the house. A new neighbor, the Peterson family, invited Robinson and his sons to stay with them until Mrs. McCray with daughter, Edith, and youngest son, Neil, arrived a few days later. Their son, Ralph, remained in Butler county with his Grandfather Sharder. Their second daughter, Myrtle, continued her teaching position in the Osceola area. When the McCrays moved to Nance county, a great deal of the land was still prairie grass and this sod had to be broken before the first seed crops would be planted. Several families in the Palmer area were still living in sod houses. Prairie fires were a constant threat. In later years, Robinson preferred to forget that he accidentally started a small fire while trying to burn worms out of some wild plum bushes. 151 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Image: Back row: Hubert, Myrtle, Neil, Edith and Hubert. Front: Grandma McCray, (Mrs. Rob McCray ).] Rob and Annie did most of their shopping in Wolbach as the trip could be made with a team and wagon in 2 1/2 to 3 hours one way; however, traveling time was increased if a load of grain was hauled to market. A trip to Palmer involved crossing the Loup river over an old bridge which had plank flooring with a space of several inches between each plank. The horses could see the water below and many were reluctant to make the crossing without blinders and some had to be blindfolded and lead by the driver. "Runaways" with horses were a common occurrence and the McCray boys had a big laugh when their sister, Myrtle, related her "runaway" experience on the way to school. She had failed to completely wrap the silverware in her lunch box and ruts in the road caused the buggy to rattle the metal and scare her horse, Topsy. Fortunately, she managed to hold onto the reins and regain control after a very wild ride. Sister Edith also had quite a wild buggy ride. She and her mother started for town with a couple of crates of eggs to sell. Edith chose the most spirited horse to pull the buggy. While enroute, another traveler coming up behind them desired to pass. Mrs. McCray told Edith to "let him go" .... meaning around them .... Edith thought her mother meant to "let the horse go" .... which the animal did and away they went. Needless to say, when they got to town, they found no market for broken and smashed eggs. Lester and Neil's first horseless carriage ride was in the summer of 1906, when Mr. Orton of Fullerton took them for a spin in his new red "Brush" automobile. In the spring of 1916, the McCray family moved to a farm 4 miles west of Fullerton, now known as the "Walsh Farm". The eldest son, Hubert, remained on the farm near Wolbach. Robinson lost his life in a corn sheller accident in January 1924, at his farm. Annie and daughter, Edith, remained on the farm until 1942. They moved into Fullerton, where they lived until Mrs. McCray's death in June 1947. Ancestors of Robinson McCray have been traced to the 13th century in the Highlands of Scotland and include several members of nobility. His English/Irish ancestors emigrated to America in 1657-1687 and his Scottish ancestor, Samuel McCray I, followed in 1730. Mrs. McCray's ancestor, David Katterman, emigrated from Germany to America via the Ship SS. Andrew on September 23, 1752. A "Catherman" family reunion has been held at Mifflinburgh, Pennsylvania annually since 1890. Many McCray ancestors have distinguished themselves by answering the call of their country in times of war by serving in the American Revoluntionary (sic) War, Civil War and World Wars I and II. WILLIAM McNEFF FAMILY In this centennial year of Nance county when this history is being written the eight children of William McNeff family are all living. Muriel born in 1900, Mrs. Earl Barnica lives in Julesburg, Colorado. Fern, 1901, Mrs. Neil McCray in Fullerton, Nebraska. George, 1902, of LaJolla California, Vivian, 1905, of Fullerton, Nebraska, Marjorie, 1906, Mrs. Bruce Bennett at Oshkosh, Nebraska, 152 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lee Roy, 1907, at Brule, Nebraska. Helen 1909, Mrs. William Grapes at Boone, Nebraska. Raymond McNeff, 1911 in Fullerton, Nebraska. Those living in Nance County are Fern who married Neil McCray at Council Bluffs, Iowa on December 26, 1923. They started farming in the spring of 1924 on the Dolson farm west of Fullerton in the "L" School District area, where their six children were born. Clifford in 1926, now living five miles west of Fullerton on Ridge farms and has five children, one deceased. Shirley, 1927, Mrs. Ivan Cunningham, on the farm in the valley west of Fullerton has seven children. Wilma, 1929, Mrs. Richard Greer, lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and has 3 sons. Mrs. Roberta, 1930, Flaherty lives in Vallejo, California and has eight children. Melvin, 1932, works in Grand Island, and lives in Alda, has two children. Bethene, 1934, Mrs. Baxter Turner, in Salisbury, North Carolina and has three children. The Neil McCray family lived on this farm almost 15 years until the fall of 1937 when they moved to the Douthit farm four miles west of Fullerton on the Ridge which they bought in 1934. All the children were married while they lived here and in 1960 they built a new home in Fullerton and retired from the farm. Vivian McNeff married Veva Weeks and they started farming on the first farm of William McNeff, which he bought in 1902, south of North Star on Horse Creek in 1932. Their seven children are Bill McNeff of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ronald McNeff, Palmer, Nebraska, Ray McNeff, Palmer Nebraska, Marvin McNeff, of St. Paul, Minnesota, Robert McNeff, Palmer, Nebraska, Kathy (Mrs. John Jensen,) Columbia, Missouri, Madalyn (Mrs. Wade Harwood,) Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Raymond McNeff married Lillian Otlewske in 1936 and they lived on the home place until 1959 when they built a new home in Fullerton, Nebraska and live there but still run the farm. They have one daughter, Sherry (Mrs. Less Garris) whose home is in Lakewood, Colorado. MR. AND MRS. HARVEY WHITED Harvey Ray Whited and Ethel Mae Trotter were married March 10, 1915 at the Belgrade Methodist Parsonage. Mae was born near Belgrade to Thomas Arthur and Susie (McGee) Trotter on March 5, 1894. Susie McGee was born at Oakland, Iowa in 1870 and died at Belgrade, Nebraska August 27, 1937. She was raised in Iowa. They came to Nebraska in a covered wagon and raised a family of seven, four boys and three girls. Harvey Whited was born on February 22, 1895 six miles southwest of St. Edward, Nebraska to Wllm and Lena (Rusch) Whited. Lena was Wllm's second wife and three children were born to this union: Harvey Ray Whited and Pearl (Whited) Deaman and Harry. There were two boys and one girl from the first marriage, Ben, Ralph and Grace. When Harvey was nine years old the family moved to a farm six miles northeast of Belgrade. He attended school in Boone county at District 15 and went to the Pinnacle Hill School. After they were married Harvey and Mae farmed the home place for one year. But this was sold and they moved to her mother's farm two miles northeast of Belgrade. In 1926 they bought a farm west of Fullerton for $17,600 and paid down the $5,000. The company foreclosed and resold the farm for $3,200. There were seven bad years and the resulting depression left memories of some very bad times. Fifty head of cattle brought only $750 and sixty head of hogs brought $250 with trucking and freight to be taken out of that. In 1932 corn brought ten cents a bushel. Some families ground their own corn and wheat to use for corn meal and flour. One man walked 4 1/2 miles to a store to buy groceries and potatoes. The potatoes were frozen by the time he reached home again. That year the neighborhood was snowed in for three weeks. One bill collector came to a neighbor's home and took everything he could find that could be sold. The man was down with a broken leg at the time. 153 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1934 and 35 Harvey acted as County Road Boss and hired local men as crews to scoop the roads clear. There were some men with frozen hands and faces. Their lunches were frozen by lunchtime but eaten anyway by men resting on snowbanks. Wages were $2.00 a day. Belgrade lost both of its banks to the Depression and Fullerton lost one. In 1937 the Whited family bought into the John Deere agency and moved from the farm to Fullerton. In 1964 Harvey sold his share of the business to his sons, Leonard and Richard. He still goes almost daily to the store. He especially enjoyed the men's card club that flourished during the sixties. About thirty-five men used an empty building on Fullerton's Main Street as a meeting place. Mae walks uptown when the weather permits, attends Social Hour club meetings and visits with her friends on the telephone. The Whiteds have two sons, Leonard and Richard, and two daughters Dorothy and Helen. Leonard Whited married Verda Peterson of Central City. Their children are Robert Whited married to Margie Berlin of Genoa, children: Shawn, Michael, Shannon, Christopher and Jennifer. Roger Whited married Sharon Lockhart. Children Rachelle, Steven, Susan and Scott. Gaylen Whited of Lincoln, Connie Whited of Lincoln. Helen Whited married Eugene Foland and now lives in Newman Grove. Their children: Linda Married Dal Draper of Norfolk. Nila married Marvin Nelson. Children: Jamie, Adam and Amanda. Dale and Pam live in Grand Island. Darrell and Sandy live in Lincoln. David lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. Richard Whited married Grace Travers. Children Belinda Kevin and Cara at home. Dorothy Whited married Sam King. Their children Jennifer married Gary Beran and they live in Kearney; Donald, Kenneth and Bobby. W. V. DENTON Willis (Bill) Varner Denton was born June 7, 1902 at Sullivan, Texas to William Campbell Denton and Lily Alice-Olivine White Denton. Wilma Bowman was born December 21, 1901, at Abingdon, Virginia to Andrew Haskeel Bowman and Clara Josephine Blivins Bowman. Willis and Wilma were married on December 24 1921 at Harr, Tennessee. To this union six children were born. Lilian Roselie, 1923, deceased 1960, Lois Jean, 1926, William Joseph 1928, Mary Kathleen, 1930, Richard Lynn, 1933, Gloria Ann, 1937. The couple moved to Fullerton in 1929 from Bristol, Tennessee. They belong to the Methodist church. Willis has farmed, drove a truck and painted for a livelihood. He has also worked as a police officer. Wilma is a member of the Women's Club, Eastern Star, Social Hour Club and Church Circle Ruth. T. A. SHIVELY T. A. Shively came out from Iowa in year of 1872 and homesteaded a 80 acres 1/2 mile south of the Nance county line. For his home he made a dugout in side of a hill. He traded and hunted with the Indians and then he went back to Iowa and brought his folks to Clarks, Nebraska. When the train stopped in Clarks his mother had passed away and she was the second person buried at Pierce Chapel grave yard. He and his father loaded the things from the train to a wagon. With a team of oxen hitched to it and headed to the dugout to live. They batched for several years when T. A. Shively got married to Indiana Violet Richard, another homestead family in 1877 at Central City. They made the trip to Central City by wagon and team of oxen. They made their home in the dugout for several years then they moved into Fullerton in early 80's where Mr. Shively carried mail from Fullerton to Genoa by team of oxen and wagon. Later years he moved back to the dugout and started to plow sod for a sod house. He used a wooden plow and his team of oxen. Their house had several rooms. They had 7 children then they built the house that is still standing. There has been 5 generations lived on the farm in the 107 years and 3 generations still living there. There has been 6 generations visiting the farm. 154 ------------------------------------------------------------------------