FAMILY STORIES

   On February 16, 1874, he married Bridget McMartin at Petersboro in Ontario, and they returned to Nebraska to make their home.

   They had five children: Kitty Ann, Mary Ellen, Thomas who died at age two, Edmund Jr., and William John.

   Grandpa Magher brought his parents and a brother, John, to Nebraska. John operated a hog farm for many years. Grandpa also brought Mike McMartin, Grandma's nephew, and Maude Corkery Malloy, Grandma's niece, to Nebraska.

   During Grandpa's farming years, he acquired 1,000 acres of land in Saunders County, Morse Bluffs Township, land in Keith county, and a house in Fremont, Nebraska.

   He was a large shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Bank of Cedar Bluffs, and a member of the school board for years.

   He gave land so a new District No. 9 school could be built.

   He and his wife retired to Fremont in 1907, and he died April 18, 1926.

   His son, William John, acquired the home place. The land is still owned by two granddaughters. Submitted by Lucille Celmer and Maxine Stearns

   Josephine (Rockford) Magher was born March 17, 1885, at Weston, Nebraska, to Thomas and Honora O'Donnel Rockford.

Josephine Magher, Oct., 1944

   When Mother was a baby, the family moved to a farm near Colon, Nebraska, South Cedar Township.

   She attended Fremont Normal and taught rural school. She had two of her nephews, Roy and Harold Rockford, in school.

   On November 27, 1907, she married William John Magher at Sand Creek Catholic Church, and they made their home on the Magher home place -- Morse Bluffs Township.

   Two children were born to the couple -- Meryle Lucille and Maxine Claire.

   In 1914, the barn burned and our parents were unable to save the barn and the animals. The summer was spent building a new barn and house.

   Henry Bueller, carpenter, and his workmen would arrive early Monday morning and work until late Saturday evening. The workmen slept in tents. A large tent housed the cooking and eating quarters.

   Lucille attended St. Wenceslaus Boarding School at Wahoo and learned her prayers in Bohemian.

   In 1919, our family moved to Colorado for our father's health. He died August 13, 1925.

   As children, we spent many summers in Saunders County with Uncle John and Aunt Mollie Rockford Shanahan. We will never forget the days of preparing and feeding the threshers.

   In 1932, we returned to Nebraska to live, and our mother managed the farm until her death August 5, 1975.

   Her happiest years were spent on the farm -- Morse Bluffs Township, and she enjoyed telling her grandson, Dennis Stearns, how things were when she lived on the land.

   If our mother had lived eight more days, she would have been a widow for fifty years.

   The love of the land was so deeply instilled into her daughters that they still own the land. Submitted by Lucille Celmer and Maxine Stearns

   Carl Peter (Charles) Magnuson was born January 7, 1868 to Magnus and Lizzie Nelson in Smoland, Sweden. He came to America in December, 1888, changing his name to Charles Magnuson, and, in March of the following year, came to Colon, Nebraska making his home with his brother and working as a hired man for neighbors.

Carl and Anna Magnuson

   Anna Maria (Mary) Fristrom was born May 12, 1869 to Carol and Anna Fristrom in Gotland, Sweden. She came to America in April, 1886 with her mother and 3 brothers, Alfred, Pat, and twin brother John, to join her father and one brother, Oscar, who came one year earlier.

   On February 28, 1893, Charles and Mary were married and spent the first 35 years in the Mead community. Their remaining years were spent in the Malmo area -- first 3 miles east and then in town. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1943.

   Four children were born to this union: Anna -- married to Arthur Cole of Broken Bow; Clara -- married to Ronald Ecklund of Weston; Edwin -- married to Elvera Nyblom of Osceola; and Minnie -- married to Lyman Bengtson of Weston.

   Frans Emil Magnuson was born on April 30, 1882 in Smoland, Sweden, the youngest of nine children. He left Sweden at the age of 19 and came to Saunders County which was already the home of two brothers, August and Charles, and a sister, Tillie. All lived in the vicinity of Mead, Nebraska. The trunk which held his belongings is still being used by his youngest grandson. The inscription of Karl (Charles) Magnuson, Mead, Nebr. is still readable.

   He worked on farms in the area until he married Ida Jacobson on Feb. 24, 1904. He then rented a farm belonging to her parents and continued farming there until he purchased his own farm. After leaving the farm in 1930, he moved to Fremont and became a painter.

   His wife was born in Saunders County to John Jacobson and his wife, the former Emma Olson. Both came to Nebraska from Sweden, met and were married. He was born in 1844 in Sydra Ryrs, Sweden and worked on the railroad. Later, he homesteaded in the area of District 82. He spent most of his years in that vicinity until he passed away in 1926. His wife was born in Varmland, Sweden in 1852. She and a group of young women came to Nebraska to "seek their fortunes." Five children were born to them. The two oldest died in infancy. The others were Ida, Edith (Mrs. Oscar Carlson) and Fred. John and Emma are buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery near Colon, Nebraska.

   Frans and Ida were parents of three children: Paul (1905), Lyman (1907), and Eunice (1917). We all attended District 82 -- a two-room school, which at that time was called Carey High School. Paul graduated from the 12th grade, Lyman from the 11th grade, and, had I remained there, I would have graduated from the 10th grade. But at the end of the 8th grade, my parents and I moved to Fremont, while Lyman and his wife came to farm the home place. One of my favorite teachers at Carey High was Karin Cleven. While we have not seen each other in years, we still correspond each Christmas.

   Early memories include those of attending Old Settlers' Picnics at Mead, Fourth of July Celebrations at Wanahoo Park, church and Sunday School at the Mead Emanuel Baptist Church, and later at Pohocco Lutheran Church.

   In 1942, I married a young Chicago Lutheran Seminary graduate, Walter Rowoldt, who also spent a few of his early years at Yutan, Nebraska. Four children were born: Grace Ann (Planalp), Mary (Martin), Stephen and James. Paul and Lyman married sisters -- Helga and Esther Nelson. Paul's children are: Dale, Iyone (Meyer), and Linda (Allen). Lyman's children are Shirley (Tedrick) and Elaine (Kovar).

   All of these grandchildren enjoyed visiting with their grandparents and hearing the stories about when they were children in the late 1800s. Incidently, at this writing, Ida is still living and has reached the age of 98. Frans passed away in 1965. Submitted by Eunice Magnuson Rowoldt.

   Mr. and Mrs. Lars Magnuson and one daughter, Signe, came to Saunders County and settled on a farm in District 88, March 1880. They were members of the Mission Covenant Church in Malmo, Nebraska.

Cecilia, Signe, and Anna Magnuson

   Signe was five years old when her parents came to America. She remembered losing a shoe in the port hole of the boat.

   After the first March night, with dust everywhere, her father exclaimed "Vad skulla jar här i America at göra?" (Why did I ever come to America?) He had worked in a saw mill in Sweden.

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   Ulrika, his wife, was a practical nurse. Many times Signe, with her father, were left to take care of her two younger sisters, Cecelia and Anna, who were born on the farm. Once when the Indians stopped she had to scoop corn on a blanket for them. He kept saying "More, more." Was she ever frightened! The morning of the Blizzard of 1888, her father (Lars) said she didn't have to go to school that day because the big snowflakes were falling and that was the way it did in Sweden before a storm.

   Cecelia married John T. Helsing and Anna married Chester Haggard. Signe married Johanes Gustaf Anderson of Omaha who came to America after he had finished his confirmation instruction. She met Mr. Anderson at her second-cousin's wedding in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was bridesmaid and he was best man for his brother, C.M. Anderson.

   After a courtship of five years, they were married at her home. They made their home in Omaha where Mr. Anderson was foreman of the Cudahy Plant in Omaha. Their three children were born in the home across the street from South High.

   Mr. Anderson died of diabetes at the age of 42 leaving his wife with the three children. The baby boy was only seven weeks old.

   She moved to Malmo to care for her father. Within a year and a half, she lost her mother, age 67, her husband, baby, five months old, and her father.

   Later, when the girls were of high school age she took care of an elderly couple in Wahoo. After that, before the first hospital was established in Wahoo, she went out nursing for ten days at a time. When the girls were on their own, Elsie having graduated from the Business Course at Luther College, and Helen getting her Bachelor's and Master's Degree from the University of Nebraska, they purchased a home from Ernest Monteen where their mother kept the home fires burning until her death at age 94. She was a woman of a deep religious faith.

   "Pat" Magnusson was christened Franz Conrad Robert after he was born in Wahoo on March 18, 1899. He grew up in Wahoo with six brothers and sisters and was active in school activities. He played basketball during his high school years and was captain of the team.

Left to Right: Conrad, Gordon, Kathleen, Margaret, and Bertha Magnusson

   He taught school in Saunders County most of his adult life. Schools where he taught include District #37, south of Mead, Memphis, Ithaca, Morse Bluff, Elkhorn, Stuart, and Wahoo.

    Pat loved music and always initiated and/or encouraged musical activities in the schools where he taught. Band, orchestra, glee clubs, and individual vocal and instrumental solos were an integral part of school activities.

    Pat was a great champion of the under-achiever, the "picked-on" student, and that student who really needed that extra push to succeed. He would give encouragement and money (that he could not afford) to those who needed this type of help but he also had the courage to apply tough discipline when it was timely.

    On October 24, 1923, he married Bertha Viola Nissen, who was reared in Yutan, Nebraska with one brother and five sisters.

   They had three children. Laurel Kathleen became a Registered Nurse and later was active in Hospital Administration and counseling. She married Eugene Radcliffe and they had two children, Margaret Sue Bowker and Daniel Howard. Margaret Helen became an Executive Secretary in the fields of law and medicine. She married Robert Orville Baldwin and they had four children; Kathleen Louise Garrido, Pamela Leigh McLerron, Reed Conrad, and Robin Christine. Gordon Kay earned his Master's in Orthodontics from the University of Nebraska and practices his profession in Rapid City, South Dakota. He married Elizabeth Taylor Prior and they have three children; William Allen, Leslie Taylor and Eric Konrad.

   Pat was an avid reader and loved to fish. Bertha inherited a love of flowers from her mother, Christina Nissen, and raised beautiful African Violets. Together, they taught their children to love music, books, and nature. They also taught them the value of hard work, honesty and integrity.

   Pat died from a sudden heart attack on August 22, 1957 at the age of 58 years, 5 months and 4 days. The Bethlehem Lutheran Church overflowed with the friends, relatives, and many, many former students who remembered him well.

   Bertha taught school in California for one year and was the librarian in Wahoo before she married Edwin A. Hedlund in 1965. They lived in Wahoo until his death in August, 1971.

   Bertha lived with her sister, Laura Moller, for two years until a debilitating illness forced her hospitalization in Rapid City, South Dakota. After a long illness, she died November 11, 1976.

   Their children remember the family orchestra (with the metronome clicking), the white band uniforms that mother washed and ironed, the Christmases at our grandparents, and our parents -- with love. Submitted by Kathleen Magnusson Radcliffe

   Frans Edward Magnusson was born in Smoland, Sweden on January 12, 1863. When he was a young child, he moved to Vastergotland. He immigrated to America as a young man and pursued his trade as a finishing carpenter in Wahoo. He assisted in the building of many of the churches, buildings, and homes in Wahoo and the surrounding areas.

Left to Right: Conrad Yerda, Bert, Frank, Ethel, Viola, Rudy, Ida and Bill Magnusson, 1908.

   On January 5, 1889 he married Ida Kristina Persson. Ida was born May 7, 1871 in Barslof, Sweden. She sailed for America when she was 15 years old and worked as a hired girl until she met and married Frank on January 5, 1889.

   Nine children were born in that small white house by Luther College.

1. Alva Theresa was born November 17, 1889 and died in December of 1890 from diphtheria.
2. Ethel Alfield was born two weeks later on December 26, 1890. She married Herman Erickson, a farmer from Swedeburg. They had one son. John Walter, a piano professor.
3. Rudolph Magnusson, born February 2, 1893, was a plumber. He married Sandy Sanderson. They had no children.
4. Fredrick Alvar was born January 3, 1897 and died December 26, 1895 from whooping cough.
5. Gerda (Yerda) Elvira was born January 3, 1897. She married Bernard Eliason, a farmer and insurance agent. They had four children; Elaine Knapp Schneider, homemaker, Arlene Roberta LeBaron, R.N., Frans Robert, president of an insurance company, and Carolyn Jean Peterson, R.N.
6. Frans Conrad Robert was born March 18, 1899. He was a school teacher and married Bertha Nissen, school teacher. They had three children; Laurel Kathleen, R.N. and Hospital Administrator, Margaret Helen, executive secretary, and Gordon Kay, orthodontist.
7. Agda Viola Theresia was born on September 20, 1901. Vi married Lloyd Rutherford, teacher and insurance executive and they had one son, Warren, Hospital Administrator. Vi composes music and plays the piano by ear.
8. Bernard Adolph was born October 16, 1903 and was an automobile salesman. He married Signa Mae Larsen and they have one child, Gloria Gaye, insurance executive.
9. Bertil Ludvig was born October 4, 1907. He was a banker and married Eloise Datel, school teacher and accountant. They had one son, Barry Lee, TV repair shop owner.

   Both Frank and Ida had musical talent that was a gift that many of their children and grandchildren inherited.

   Ida composed music and poetry. She was an avid reader and translated verse and prose from English to Swedish and visa versa. She raised beautiful flowers and was known as a kind, compassionate and generous woman. She was also a practical nurse and cared for people during epidemics of those communicable diseases that took so many lives during those years. She died March 13, 1933, the result of a stroke.

   Frank developed diabetes and died February 25, 1936 in Wahoo.

   Those descendants of Frank and Ida look back upon our heritage with pride and warmth. Submitted by Kathleen Magnusson Radcliffe

   The history of Clara (Berger) and Benjamin Malchow dates back to 1870 when both maternal grandfathers homesteaded one-half mile apart in Union Precinct. They were Henry Mumm, Clara's grandfather, and Emil Faudel, Ben's grandfather. Both settled in the Mead and Yutan area. (See Tena and Albert Berger History.)

Ben and Clara Malchow 45th Wedding Anniversary

   Clara Catharina Mumm was born on April 4, 1915 to Tena and Albert Berger on a farm east of

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