FAMILY STORIES

   My grandfather, Wilson McCauley, born in County Cavan, Ireland in 1830, left his home in Northern Ireland to seek a better life, and landed in America in 1852. His wife, Mary Brownlee McCauley, followed a few weeks later. They came during the potato famine in Ireland. As any good Irishman knows, you cannot survive without potatoes. Her trip by boat took six weeks. They had been at sea three days when they ran into a terrible store, which blew them back to port in a matter of hours.

The Robert McCauley Family, 1904. Back, L. to R.: Mabel, Robert, Ada, Ella, Myrtle; Front: Alice, Ruby, Clarence, Irvin and Verna.

   They settled on a farm near Marissa, Illinois, south of St. Louis, where they raised a family of six boys and three girls. My father, Robert Lincoln McCauley, was born August 26, 1858.

   My grandfather, Wilson McCauley, died at age 46 of appendicitis.

   When my father was 21 years old, and with five brothers at home to do the farming, he decided to go west.

   In the spring of 1879, he rode in an emigrant car to take care of the animals for the Robert McLean family who were bound for Saunders County. They settled near the bluffs south of Fremont. Dad told of looking out of the box car as they left Omaha and seeing Indian tents pitched along the road.

   He soon found work on the W.J. Harman farm three and a half miles east of Cedar Bluffs. As he walked to his new job, he came to Elm Creek. There was no bridge so he threw his suit case across; then followed the ravine until he could jump across. Within ten years he had rented a farm west of Cedar Bluffs owned by Richard Williams and owned a horse-powered corn Sheller. If he had a job shelling corn, that farmer could expect to see him pull onto his place at 4:30 in the morning.

   As time passed, his five brothers from Illinois came to Saunders County to visit. Three of them went on to settle in Kansas. Alex and William stayed in Saunders County.

   In 1888, he was married to my mother, Mary Elizabeth Moore, whose parents lived on the W.H. Orme farm north of Colon. To this union was born thirteen children; one died in infancy. Seven girls and five boys grew to adulthood. In the spring of 1902, we moved to the Chris Belsley farm south of Cedar Bluffs where I was born.

   All twelve of Robert McCauley's children, Myrtle, Ada, Mable, Ella, Robert, Verna, Alice, Irvin, Ruby, Clarence, Loyd and Everett, attended School District #43 known as the Thomsen School.

   My father passed away in 1936 at age 78, and my mother passed away in 1945 at age 76.

   Some of my fondest memories are of growing up with my brothers and sisters in a small house with no conveniences. I recall sitting down to the table, three times a day, to potatoes -- in some form. Submitted by Ruby McCauley Lubker

   Robert M. McClean, age 27, came to the newly organized village of Wahoo from County Monaghan, North Ireland in April, 1869 with his brother, John. They sailed from Liverpool on the good ship, Idaho. The brothers stayed with their relatives, the James M. Lees. Robert started to work on the Lee Ferry Line operating the ferry across the Platte River south of Fremont. The old landing for this ferry in Saunders County is on land now belonging to Larry and Mary Brown, who live close by. (Mary is Robert's great-granddaughter.)

The McClean Farm -- GrandView About 1910

   Soon the young bachelor longed for a fair young maid back in the old home. Opportunity came soon. After a very severe winter in 1872, the ice broke suddenly and the Platte River "went out." A government man desperately needed to get across the churning ice-filled waters to Lincoln. After everyone else had declined, Robert offered to get the man to the waiting buggy on the south bank. His price was a ticket to Ireland and two back. Hence, Robert brought his young bride, Mary Anne Carson (born October 22, 1851 in Ballybay, North Ireland), to Wahoo where they homesteaded a few miles north of the little town. (They had been married in Ireland by her uncle, March 26, 1872.) Their home was the first in the county to have completely plastered walls because brother John, had been a plasterer in the Old Country. Robert became one of the founders of the Wahoo Covenanter Church.

   Tragedy struck the family in 1879 when the oldest little girl, Tillie, died of scarlet fever.

   Robert then sold his homestead and gathered up his grieving wife and three other small children and sailed back to Ireland.

   The spring of 1880 the family returned to Wahoo. From there they loaded their children and belongings in a "lumber wagon" and journeyed to another homestead near the Niobrara River in Pierce County, driving a small herd of cattle before them. In the next few months, they lost all their stock from snow in the winter and prairie fires in the summer. They nearly starved to death before they were able to get back to Wahoo.

   They soon managed to buy a farm on the south bank of the Platte River which, until not many years ago, had been the site of a Pawnee Indian village. A monument still stands near the old home to mark the area where the Indians and whites drew up a treaty in 1855.

   The McClean's called their home "Grandview." They helped organize a school in their district (#11). The first was a sod lean-to built into the cliff between their place and Woodcliff. They carried water up the steep bluff from the river until they could sink a well. They survived droughts, blizzards, grasshoppers, sickness and Indian trouble but managed to raise a large family. They always kept an open house to the Indians as well as to their white neighbors.

   The children of Robert and Mary Anne McClean were Matilda A., Emily Margaret, John Knox, Charles Leslie, Robert B., Lois Carson, William James, Marian Hazel, and Elmer M.

   Two sons, J. Knox and W. James, remained in Saunders County and raised their families on nearby farms. Descendants of these two still live in Saunders County. Submitted by Dorothy McClean Boettner

   Jim and Inez McClean were married in Fremont in 1943 and had three children, Patricia, Monty, and Carmine. Inez previously taught in Leshara, Yutan, and Fremont. The parents of Inez were the late Ivar and Selma Carlson of Fremont. Ivar came to America from Sweden when he was eighteen. He was married to Selma in 1916 in Ceresco where they lived until 1928 when they moved to Fremont, having a family by then of four children: Rudolph, Inez, Raymond, and Mildred. While learning the new language, and with only a sixth grade education, Ivar taught himself the construction trade. He built many houses in the Ceresco area. Before he left, he and his cousin, Otto Landstrom, built the Lutheran Church of Ceresco.

Jim and Inez McClean, 1943

   Jim's parents were James and Nettie McClean of rural Fremont. Jim's grandparents, the Robert McCleans, Scotch-Irish immigrants, homesteaded north of Wahoo one mile, and grazed cattle where the present town now stands. Jim and Nettie started farming on the farm owned by Nettie's father, Al Maxwell. Jim and Inez now live on this farm, feeding cattle and raising feed. Nettie's grandparents came from Kentucky by ox team settling in Iowa. A freed slave accompanied them. Jim and Nettie were members of the Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and Nettie was also active in the Pohocco Ladies' Aid, south of Fremont.

   Jim's granddaughter, Patricia's child, is now the fifth generation person to live on the same farm. She

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is Jamie Lee Lindgren, daughter of Ed and Patricia Lindgren. They live on the south farm and raise Appaloosa horses. All are avid riders. Jamie goes to school in District 105, where her mother, grandfather and great-grandmother attended. The McClean's son lives in Omaha. Monty received his degree from Midland College and works now for the Omaha Job Service. Carmine is married to Steve Youmans and they have a son, Jason, four years old. They are employed in Fremont. Steve works for Kriz Davis Electrical Wholesalers.

   Our family have always been glad to be a part of the great midwest. We believe in the strong family unit and have many family get-togethers to celebrate birthdays and holidays. We trust our young generation will continue our traditions, built on a strong faith in God and love for one another. Submitted by Jim McClean

   The McDermott family has resided in Nebraska for over 100 years. My story will begin on the paternal side in Ireland in the 1800's. My grandfather, Charles McDermott, was born November 19, 1843 in County Tyrone, Ireland. He came to the U.S.A. in 1850 to Princeton, New Jersey. He married Ellen Foley May 9, 1867. Ellen Foley was born in County Cork, Ireland, November 1, 1845. She came to the U.S.A. in 1854 and also settled in Princeton, New Jersey. Charles and Ellen moved to Omaha in January, 1868 and then to Ames, Nebraska in May of the same year. Charles was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad as a "Section Boss." In 1869, he homesteaded 160 acres just west of Colon in section 4 of Center Precinct, Saunders County. He and Ellen moved on to their land in 1870. They had nine children: John F., Mary, James P., Kate, Charles T., William H., Nellie, Mabel and Ruth. My grandmother, Ellen, died January 12, 1917; and my grandfather, Charles, died February 26, 1927. My father, John F. McDermott, was the oldest of the nine children. He was born in Ames September 14, 1868.

J.F. McDermott, Sept. 14, 1868-June 24, 1936 Kate McDermott, Nov. 23, 1869-Oct. 9, 1947

   I will now tell about the maternal side of the McDermott family, the Daileys. My great-grandfather, Daniel Dailey, and my great-grandmother, Mary (Driscoll) Dailey resided in County Cork, Ireland. They had six children. My grandfather, Jeramiah (Jerry) was the second oldest. He was born in County Cork, Ireland and came by sailboat to the U.S.A. in 1854. In 1861, Jerry married Johanna Lynch in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1868, he homesteaded in Section 4 of Center Precinct, Saunders County, and in 1884, he returned and proved up on it. Jerry and Johanna Dailey had nine children: Mary Ann, Maggie, Daniel, Nellie, Jeramiah, Kate, Johanna, Thomas, and Timothy. My mother, Kate, was the sixth. She was born in Fremont on November 23, 1869.

   My story will now join the maternal and paternal heritage of the McDermott family with the marriage of my father, John F. McDermott, to Kate Dailey in 1905. They lived in Gregory, South Dakota for a short time and then moved to Colon. John F. ran the North Elevator in Colon. My brother Charles Edward, was born February 4, 1907 and died January 17, 1955. My sister, Johanna Mable, was born June 27, 1911. I, William Jeramiah, was born June 2, 1909. In September, 1909, our family moved to the farm home near Colon in Section 3 of Center Precinct, from here on referred to as the "home place", from the Union Pacific Railroad Co. on June 2, 1879 for $9 per acre or $720. My grandfather purchased the west 80 of the "home place" from Stewart Rowan on June 24, 1887 for $30 per acre or $2400. My father, John F., and I farmed the "home place" until he died June 24, 1936. I continued to live with my mother and farm. On June 1, 1940, I married Mary Angela O'Keefe. She was born in Spaulding. She graduated from the College of St. Mary in Omaha and became a school teacher in Saunders County. Angela and I lived on the 160 acres in Section 4, Center Precinct, which had been homesteaded by my grandfather, Jerry Dailey. This original homestead was at that time owned by Tim Dailey. I farmed for Tim Dailey and my mother. In 1944 I started on my own. Angela and I had two children: Mary Johanna and James Francis. We moved to the McDermott "home place" after my mother, Kate, died October 9, 1947. I have continued to farm since then until the present time.

   My daughter married Michael Anthony Brinkman. They have two children: Bridget Dierdre and Sean William. My son married Laura Beth Expersen. They have three children: David James, Kimberly Marie, and Ryan Patrick.

   In April, 1975, I built a new home one quarter mile from the "home place." My son, Jim, and his family moved onto the "home place." Jim has farmed since 1969.

   We have always been parishioners of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Colon. My father, J.F. McDermott, helped organize the church. I belong to the Knights of Columbus, and Angela belongs to St. Ann's Altar Society and Catholic Daughters. She was president of Wahoo Deanery of Catholic Women. We have been Democrats all of our lives.

   I was a co-leader of Colon Hustlers 4-H Club for 25 years. Angela was a Girl Scout leader. I received a "Meritorius Service Award" from the Nebraska State Volunteer Firemen's Association for 20 years of service as a volunteer fireman. In summation, Saunders County has been my home for 73 years; and 1 truly believe that there is "No Place Like Home."

   Returning to the same county as I was born seemed like a coincidence at the time. But it has been just great. At the age of five, I left Saunders County with my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Whidden, and a baby sister, Shirley. I, Marlene, returned to this county to pursue a teaching career at Prague Public Schools from 1964-70. This was the same school that my mother had attended. I can also recall visiting my Grandpa James Kratky at Prague when I was a child. Our big Christmas gatherings were wonderful.

The Mike McDonald Family

   As a very young child I can remember that we had no electricity or indoor plumbing. But my love was being outdoors with my dog and being around my father on the farm.

   I attended Rural School District Number 11 and the St. Edward High School in Boone County. I graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Home Economics and Child Development.

   I met my husband, Mike McDonald, in the summer of 1966. He was in the Marines at the time. Mike was born at Las Vegas. His father, James McDonald, died in the year 1947. His mother remarried in 1955 and resides at Oakdale, California.

   In January, 1968, Mike came to Nebraska to work at Western Electric. In the fall, Mike and I were married in Lincoln. In 1971, Mike became employed at Hormel's in Fremont and has been commuting to work for the past 11 years. Mike's interests have concentrated on youth ball programs and VFW activities. Mike made State VFW Commander for the year 1980-81. His other interests are golfing and bowling. Mike can trace his great-grandfather, Hugh McDonald, to Dublin, Ireland. Hugh came to New York and married Annie Clark. They headed west in hopes of finding gold. It's been fun researching them.

   As a homemaker and mother, my interests are being a 4-H leader, Council member, extension club member, and genealogy researcher.

   We have two children: Matthew, born June 23, 1969 and Maureen, born October 3, 1970. They seem to keep us busy with their activities. We can remember the neighborhood outdoor adventures. Seemed like only yesterday that we had 10 or 12 little five-to-eight-year olds playing ball on our lawn. Now they are growing up so fast with many new interests.

   Both children are students at the Wahoo Middle School this year. Matthew enjoys weight lifting and wrestling and many other sports. He loves the science and math courses and his future aim is Computer Science.

   Maureen has a love of animals, especially cats and horses. Hopes to work with animals later on in life. She loves to play basketball, rollerskate, bake goodies, and collect dolls.

   Being a part of Saunders County has truly enriched our lives. By Marlene Whidden McDonald

   Great-grandfather Jacob Billman, was born Jan. 1, 1834, in Ingletheim, France. In 1855, at Peru, Illinois, he married Magdalena Stoehr, born March 10, 1824, at Budenthal, Bavaria. They had 5 children. One of the girls, Maria, married Wm. J. Lehr. He was a county judge at Wahoo, Nebraska.

   Magdalena was born Feb. 10, 1858, at Ottawa, Illinois and married Mathias Trienen. He was born Feb. 19, 1850, at Dollendorf, Germany. He came from the Port of Bremen on the Vessel Danube landing in New York, May, 1869. He was the first of his immediate family to immigrate to America.

   Mathias went to New Trier, Minnesota to his mother's relatives, and went to work at St. Paul in a planing mill making doors and windows. He purchased carpenter tools there. When Chicago had its fire he helped rebuild the city. Next he went to visit his sister Eva near Ottawa, Illinois. There he was engaged to build a corn crib for Jacob Billman and met his future wife.

   They had 5 children and lived in Marsyville, Kansas. Their daughter, Magdalena Amelia, born Oct. 3, 1883, married Henry Herve McElfresh Jan. 7, 1903. Herb (as his friends called him) was born Nov. 27, 1872 at Rensseleer, Indiana. At age 16, he came to Nebraska and settled near Ithaca. They too had 5 children. Magdalena died May 11, 1977. Herve died April 6, 1941.

   Their first child, Laura, was born Nov. 1, 1903, and married Herman Aude of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He died April 9, 1956. Laura later married Alex Bieniek, St. Paul, Minnesota. She died March 23, 1980.

   The second child, Viola, born Dec. 23, 1905, married Wm. J. Cords. They had 7 children. She died Jan. 27, 1955. Francis Henry, the third child,

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