Ernest & Florence Brown, page 135-136
Ernest Brown was born Nov. 19, 1895, at Marysville, KS, and was adopted in 1897 by William Richard and Mary Emma (Baird) Brown. He attended grade school and the 9th grade in Gandy schools. He helped his mother and brothers, Charlie and George on the family ranch 13 miles north of Gandy in Logan Co. NE.
On Sept. 19, 1917, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWI, where he was a Wagoner in the 45th Infantry, and served in Germany. He was discharged Nov. 15, 1918.
Ernest Brown and Florence Lenora Cassel were united in marriage June 23, 1920, at the Baptist Parsonage at North Platte, NE.
Florence, daughter of John Barney and Rosa Schreyer Cassel, was born March 5, 1899, at home at Milldale between Arnold and Callaway, Custer Co., NE. She attended grade school in Custer County, the 9th grade at Callaway High School and the following 3 years at Gothenburg High School, graduating in June of 1918. She taught school at Cody Lake, Logan Co., NE., in a new cement block schoolhouse, the winter of 1918-1919, where she met Ernie.
They had two children, Francis Edwin (Buck), born June 29, 1921, at the Charlie Brown farm at Hoagland, Logan Co., NE., and Mildred Alice, born Nov. 16, 1922, at Florence's brothers, the Frank Cassel home at Milldale.
They lived on various farms and ranches near Gandy and in Gandy for a period of time. Buck and Mildred attended grade school in Gandy until 1936, when they moved west of Stapleton and Buck completed 4 years and graduated from Baker Rural High School in 1940. Mildred graduated in 1941, after attending the 8th grade and 4 years of high school in Stapeleton.
In the fall of 1947, Ernie and Florence moved into Stapeleton. Ernie worked for Logan County Road Deprtment until his death on Nov. 29, 1954, when his dump truck overturned on the Salisbury corner .7 miles southeast of Stapleton on his way home from work. He was buried in Section R, Grave 230 at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery south of Maxwell.
After Florence and Ernie moved to Stapleton, she clerked in Redenbo's and Beckius grocery stores for 16 years. She served as librarian in the Logan County Library, housed in the courthouse for 30 years, from Oct. 1951 until Oct. 1981, when she retired.
She has continued crocheting afghans for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as crocheting an afghan every year for several years for the American Legion Auxilary, to be raffled off to raise funds for Girls State. She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1944. She received her 50 years pin from the Rebekah Lodge in June 6, 1982, joining Viola Rebekah Lodge in Gandy on Jan 4, 1928, transferring her membership to Stapleton Lodge No. 402 on Nov, 17, 1931, and then transferring to Tryon Lodge No 413 on June 13, 1961.
Francis Edwin (Buck) Brown served in the USAF during WWII from Oct. 21, 1942, until Jan. 8, 1946. He married Betty Lou Fletcher on June 1, 1947 at the farm home of the bride's parents, Vinton Leslie and Myra Leaone Johnson Fletcher, about 10 miles east of Gandy. Francis worked several years on ranches and many years as State Brand Inspector. Also several years for Hooker Co. Road Department. Betty taught school in Logan County for serveral years. They have lived in Mullen, Hooker Co., NE since 1961.
They have five children, Lenora Lea (Mrs. Dan Little) of Maple Grove, MN., Linca Marie, (Mrs. Dan Rishel) of Cincinnati, OH., Gordon Wayne and wife Brenda of Alamosa, CO., Vivian Jean of Kearney and Ernest Leslie, presently attending Chadron State College
