FAMILY STORIES

New York on June 2. He worked in Illinois and Wisconsin and came to Omaha in 1869 to meet his brother, P.B. Olson, who just arrived from Sweden. Their parents, and brother, John, came later.

   In July, 1869, at the age of 19, Grandpa homesteaded 80 acres in Saunders County between Malmo and Weston. He built a small dug-out in November, 1869. He worked as a hired man, at one time working for N.B. Berggren, east of Wahoo. He saw Wahoo grow and saw Wahoo's first train.

   At the age of 22, in 1872, he built a frame house, 18x22 feet, which to my knowledge, is still standing at the age of 110 years. He encountered many hardships.

   On June 24, 1876, he married Louise Peterson. In 1880, he bought 40 acres of railroad land. Later on, he bought 40 acres more.

   In the spring of 1884, they lost their two oldest children, Hula and Albert, in one week from diphtheria. Their daughter, Amanda, was born in May, 1884. In sadness, they rented their farm and moved to Weston, and Grandpa built a new home. My father, Lyman, was born there.

   Grandpa worked at the elevator for 9½ years, and in the hog business for 1½ years. Then he moved back to the farm in March, 1895. Thirteen years later, in 1908, he built a modern house. They lived there until February of 1921, when my father, Lyman, married Minnie Magnuson of Mead.

   Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Amanda, bought a home in Wahoo and lived there for 5 years, until Amanda died in January of 1926. They then moved back to the farm. On June 24, 1926, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, with no grandchildren. I just missed it, and so did my mother. I, Marie, was born to Lyman and Minnie on July 14, 1926.

   Grandpa passed away on September 10, 1928, at the age of 78. I was 2 years old, so I don't remember him, but my mother told me how much he loved me. I was his little girl. I would close my eyes when I kissed him because he had whiskers. Grandma passed away on January 19, 1941. In January of 1943, we moved to Wahoo and bought the same house Grandpa and Grandma had lived in. Mother and Dad lived there until their deaths in 1970 and 1973.

   I married Harold Berggren of Mead, 35 years ago. We live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and so does our son, Marvin, 32, and his 3 sons, Joe, Eric, and Kirk. Our daughter, Kay, 31, and husband, Dennis, live in California with their daughters, Heather and Jessica. The other daughter, Betty, 29, lives in Michigan. Her children are Gina and D.J.

   Grandpa was a hard worker, and was loved by all. By Marie (Bengtson) Berggren

   My great-grandfather, Patrick Bennett, was born in Vermont in 1815. After his marriage to Nancy Smith, they moved to West Virginia where nine children were born: William, who served in army during Civil War and went to Saunders County, Nebraska in 1871 where he married Sarah Ethell; Celestia A., deceased; Nancy J., married to George S. Lambert; Armada, married to Beelan; Henrietta, married to Evans; Euphrasia, married to Hagerman; Ida, married to Sidwell; John who died in West Virginia; and the last child, Frances Myron, who was my grandfather. Great-grandfather moved to Davis County, Iowa, in the fall of 1865, engaging in farming. In the spring of 1872, he moved to Saunders County, Nebraska where he homesteaded 80 acres on Rock Creek near Ceresco and later purchased 80 additional acres. I have been told that his first home was a cave on the hillside close to Rock Creek until he later built his home. He donated a corner of his property, to be part of the Zion Cemetery where many of the Bennetts are buried.

   Grandfather Frances Bennett, known as Frank, worked in a saw mill for some years in Iowa, and, in the spring of 1872, he moved with his father to Saunders County, Nebraska where he also homesteaded on Rock Creek. He married Rachel Miller, the daughter of Sebastian Miller who had earlier settled in Nebraska. He built a small home which was later used as a granary after building the present large home of one and one-half stories. He served on the school board as well as being active in the Baptist Church. Grandfather said he chose his land on a hill rather than the fertile flat lands for the reason that wood and water were essential to life for early Nebraska settlers as well as being safe from spring floods. Three children were born to this union: Ada May, who married Frederick Adolph Schmidt and had two children, Marie and Donald; Alice Mary; and Charles Lee, my father.

The Bennetts Grandchildren: Kenneth, Marie and Donald Children: Loyd and Robert Parents: Charles and Amanda.

   Charles Lee Bennett married Amanda Maynard whose parents came from Tennessee and rented a farm adjoining a corner of the Bennett farm. Two sons were born to this union: Robert Lee and Loyd Kenneth. Dad continued to operate grandfather's farm after his parents moved to Wahoo until my mother's health failed in 1920. Dad moved to a drier climate in Wyoming. Grandfather kept the farm rented until his death in 1934, and, later, his children sold it.

   I moved to California in 1953 with my wife, Ruth, and son, Donald Paul, and daughter, Marie Alice. Donald is now living at Sonoma, California with his wife, Joyce, and both are employed at the Sonoma State Hospital. Marie lives in Westminster, California with her husband, Tom Anderson, and their two sons, Edward Charles and Michael Thomas. My brother, Loyd, lives in Douglas, Wyoming with his wife, Evelyn. Their only child, Kenneth Lee, lives in Richland, Washington with his wife, Mary Margaret, and two children, Anita Lorraine and Paul Kenneth. Submitted by Robert Lee Bennett

   My maternal grandfather, William Henry Bennett, was born Dec. 25, 1840, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Patrick and Nancy (Smith) Bennett, were born in Vermont. Nancy's father, Jonathon Smith, was born in New Hampshire, and her mother in Rhode Island. The family later moved to West Virginia. The Bennett children were William, Celestia A., Nancy J., Armeda A., Henrietta, Euphrasia, Ida, John, and Frank M.

L. to R., Back Row: Mary E. Bennett, Estella, William Henry Bennett; Front Row: Jay, taken about 1892.

   William joined the Virginia Infantry Volunteers in 1861, and served during the Civil War until 1864.

   The family moved to Davis County, Iowa in 1865. William married Sarah E. Ethell in 1870. They moved to Rock Creek Precinct, Saunders County, Nebraska, settling there in 1871. They were parents of five children. After the death of his wife, he was later married to my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Hurts) Ingran, born Jan. 27, 1844 at Chillicothe, Ohio. She came to Nebraska with her family in 1865, settling near Valparaiso. William and Elizabeth had two children, Estella Leota, my mother, and Jay Eldo. Mary Elizabeth had six children by a previous marriage to Daniel Ingram. There were thirteen children from the marriages of William and Elizabeth.

   Mary Elizabeth's parents were Thomas and Mary (Miller) Hurtt, who were married in Ohio. Thomas came from England and Mary Miller came from Germany to America in the early 1800's. They were parents of six children, Tamsey, Milton, Wesley, Santford, Charity Ann, and Mary Elizabeth.

   Thomas, my great-grandfather, was said to be quite small when he was born. He was a shoe cobbler and made many pairs of shoes in early days. They lived in a dug-out when first settling here, as many other early settlers did, before building their homes.

   My mother, Estella, grew up on the farm four and one-half miles west of Ceresco. She attended school at Eureka, Dist. 40, three and one-half miles west of Ceresco, when David S. Ethell was teacher there. She was married to Jesse A. Beaman, April 16, 1902. There were ten children, four dying in infancy. She enjoyed sewing and made many dresses for her four daughters. She received instruction on the organ (piano) from Mr. Ernst August Rocker, who drove a horse and buggy down from Wahoo to give lessons at the homes. My father, Jesse, received instruction on the violin, also from Mr. Rocker.

   Patrick Bennett and wife, Nancy, donated one acre of their land to the Rock Creek Cemetery Association, adjoining them on the south in early 1879. Benson Boyers and wife, Lydia, donated one acre of their land to the cemetery, adjoining them on the north in late 1878. The Mr. Zion Church was built in 1886 adjacent to the cemetery. Thus, it also became known as the Mr. Zion Cemetery.

   William Henry died Sept. 13, 1911. His wife, Mary Elizabeth, died Jan. 29, 1915. Submitted by Erma (Seaman) Krone

   Dwain Benson was born May 1, 1910 to William and Ellen Bengston Benson at Swedeburg, Nebraska. He attended school in Swedeburg and graduated from the Luther Academy and College. He taught school for 2 years and returned to the farm in Swedeburg where he was born.

   On June 9th, 1939 he was married to Sylvia Kratky, daughter of Frank and Ernestina (Texel) Kratky of Malmo. She was born Aug. 7, 1915 in a small town north of Prague by the name of Rescue. She attended school in Dist. #75 and Malmo High School. There were only eleven grades there at the time. She finished her education in Schuyler High School. After receiving her Teacher's Certificate, she taught school for 5 years in Saunders County.

   Upon returning to the farm in 1941, they joined the Grace Lutheran Church where Dwain was baptized and confirmed. They continued to support the church and were active in the school and community, holding various offices. They were chosen as a Farm Family in 1969 by the Saunders S.W.C.D. Conservation, for practicing conservation on the farm.

   They were blessed with three daughters. Sandra, born April 23, 1941, graduated from Wahoo High School and Midland College. She taught school in Colorado. While teaching there, she met John

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Harkins from Raynham, Massachusetts. They were married Aug. 8, 1964. They have two sons, David, born Jan. 11, 1968, and Michael, born Mar. 25, 1970. They are making their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

   Marla was born March 30, 1945. She also graduated from Wahoo High School and the University of Nebraska. She taught school for several years in Colorado and Illinois. She was married Oct. 11, 1969 to Robert Weise of Peoria, Illinois. They have one son, Christopher, born July 22, 1977. They are presently making their home in Dallas, Texas.

   Bonnie was born Nov. 16, 1951. She graduated from Wahoo High School and from nurse's training in Omaha. She has spent several years working in hospitals as a Registered Nurse, and also worked in a doctors' clinic. She was married to Craig Scott of Grand Junction, Colorado on Aug. 3, 1974. They have two sons, Cory, born Feb. 13, 1978, and Nicholas, born July 25, 1981. They are living in Denver, Colorado.

   After spending 35 years on the farm, Dwain and Sylvia retired to a home in Wahoo. Submitted by Sylvia Benson

   Vaclav Beranek, son of Vaclav Beranek, immigrated to Cobb, Wisconsin from Bratcice, Bohemia in 1862 with his youngest children, Jan, Josef, Barbara and Mary. He died in 1890 in Nebraska.

Charles and Fannie Beranek 60th Wedding Anniversary

   Jan Beranek, born April 16, 1844, married Albina Vopalensky April 19, 1868, in Wisconsin. They bought 80 acres of wooded land to clear. Two years later they sold it for $1,000 and moved to Nebraska by train, taking baby son, Frank, and their belongings. They planned to join other Czech families at Dodge, but flooded lowlands near North Bend caused Jan to cross the Platte by ferry. They located 80 acres southwest of Morse Bluff to homestead, patent granted by U.S. Grant, August 13, 1876. Jan received citizenship in April, 1876. They erected a log house, using logs from a wooded tract he purchased near Scott's Lake. Their twelve children were born there. Ten survived to adulthood. They divorced after 35 years of marriage. Albina and some of the children moved to Ravenna, Nebraska. Charles, then 18, stayed with his father to farm. Jan died at his son, Charles', home on December 16, 1939 at the age of 95. Charles inherited the farm.

   Charles Beranek was born May 21, 1885. During his childhood, the boys slept outdoors in buildings, on hayracks or at neighbors, as the house was crowded. There wasn't room at the table so the children sat on the floor, eating from one large bowl. His sister, Anna, taught him reading and writing. He entered school at age 8. He attended 9th and 10th grades after harvest, dropping out during 10th grade. His friends called him "Professor" because of his studious nature. Some boys had him write a romantic note to another boy because he could imitate girls' handwriting.

   On January 12, 1910, Charles married Fanny Pallas at the Wahoo courthouse by Judge Slama. Deep snow made travel difficult to the Morse Bluff farm with horse and buggy. Their honeymoon night was spent at a farm north of Wahoo.

   Fanny was born in Trebic, Moravia, August 30, 1892. In 1902, she immigrated to Omaha with her parents. Alois and Katerina Pallas, and brother, John. She attended school until the 6th grade. She worked in a fur factory and for Carpenter Paper, folding envelopes. She told stories about the difficulty of earning money. Alois was a cabinet maker for Brandeis. Katerina took in immigrants as boarders.

   When Fanny came to the farm she had to learn to cook, sew, and care for poultry. Her neighbors taught her the needed skills.

   When Charles played cornet or alto in the band, Fanny kept a hatpin in her mattress for protection. Charles teased that she didn't waken when he came home.

   When Charles was middle-aged, a boyhood friend, who was a judge, visited him saying, "When I have a difficult case to judge, I ask myself, 'What would Charlie Beranek decide?' I've always respected your judgment."

   They belonged to the ZCBJ lodge. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World. Fanny was a charter member of the Just Neighbors Extension Club. He was president of the Farmers Bank at Morse Bluff, and, later, mayor of Morse.

   They raised three children. Ella (Travnicek) and Charles L. were born in the log house in 1910 and 1915. Matilda (Soukup) was born in 1919 in the new house built on the homestead after World War One.

   Charles, Sr. died July 12, 1979. He passed the farm on to his son, Charles L. After retiring, Charles L. passed it on to his son, John C., who currently lives on the homestead, which has been in the family over 100 years. Submitted by Fanny Beranek

   Charles L. Beranek and Virginia Rousar married July 31, 1943 before he was sent overseas in World War Two. He served in the Infantry 30th Division as a communications sergeant. He participated in the invasion at Omaha Beach.

   They have farmed the family acres after Charles Sr. retired. They have one son, John, who lives on the farm homesteaded by his great-grandfather, Jan Beranek, since John's parents retired to Morse Bluff. John served in the Air Force as a mechanic in Viet Nam and later attended Milford Tech, graduating as an auto mechanic.

   Charlie and Virginia enjoy various Czech club activities, and like to take summer trips to Nebraska points of interest. Charlie has been the rural mail carrier since his retirement from the farm.

   Virginia enjoys music, collecting many Czech songs which she records. She sings with the Saunders County Czech Club at many festivals. Submitted by Charles L. Beranek

   Kenneth L. Beranek, Cedar Bluffs, was born July 15, 1962 in Schuyler, Nebr. to Amiel Lou and Mary Ann (Degmitech) Beranek. He was the third oldest of five children: David, born 10/3/60; Rodney, born 8/22/61; a younger brother Roger born 6/27/65 and a sister, Diane, born 9/28/63. He attended grade school at District #54 south of Morse Bluff through the sixth grade. He attended North Bend Central Jr.-Sr. High School and graduated in 1980. During this time he was active in 4-H, FFA, wrestling and football. He received numerous awards in sports, which included Class C-1 All State tackle, 1st team, and placed 2nd in state wrestling at 185# in the 1979-1980 school year. He began employment at Land O' Lakes in Schuyler in September of 1980 where he is currently employed. His hobbies include hunting and fishing. On September 18, 1982 he married a neighbor girl, Lori Lynn Hines, at the United Presbyterian Church in North Bend.

Kenneth and Lori Beranek

   Lori, the daughter of Marvin and Karen (Rohren) Hines, was born February 26, 1962 at Fremont, Nebr. She is the oldest of three children. She has a brother, Jeffrey Marvin Hines, born October 14, 1963 and a sister, Cheryl Kay Hines, born January 3, 1965. Lori attended grade school at District #14 in Morse Bluff, and attended North Bend Central Jr.-Sr. High School, graduating in 1980. In high school she was active in 4-H, FHA, Pep Club, basketball, track, chorus, National Honor Society and attended Girls' State. She graduated from Southeast Community College, Lincoln campus, with a dental assisting major in 1982. She is a certified dental assistant employed in Fremont.

   Lori and Ken purchased an acreage in September 1981, three miles west of Cedar Bluffs, formerly owned by Harry Jones. They are completely remodeling the nine-room house, with most of the work being done by themselves. Submitted by Mrs. Kenneth Beranek

   Thomas Otto Berg, 23, and Helga Christine Karlson, 25, both lived and worked in Oslo, Norway. They had agreed to get married, but first, they would go to America. Helga's sister, Frieda, 18, was to go with them. Thomas was a sailor and had been on American shores. Helga and Frieda already had two brothers and a sister in America. In 1903, Conrad Karlson, then 14, and Hilda Karlson, 16, had come here, their passage being furnished by an uncle, Frank Edvall, who lived in Nebraska. In 1907 Conrad sent money to 16-year-old Oscar so that he could join him here.

Front, L. to R.: Helga and Thomas Berg; Back, L. to R.: Elsie, Violet, Eleanor, Genevieve.

   On September 30, 1921, Thomas, Helga, and Frieda sailed away from the shores of their homeland, not knowing if they would ever set foot on it again. They docked in New York on October 10, were processed through Ellis Island (in their words -- an awful place --), and that night they boarded a train headed for -- Nebraska?? That was still a four-day journey. They began to realize how vast America was.

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