FAMILY STORIES

months stationed in Japan. In 1953 he came home and married Irene Sabata in June of that year.

   Ray and Irene farmed by Bellwood and Schuyler until 1959 when, along with their three boys (then ages 5, 4, and 3), they moved to Lincoln. In 1960 they had one more child, a daughter. Ray worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he is still employed. He started singing with the Capitol City Czech Choraliers. They sang at many Czech festivals in Nebraska. In 1982 the group recorded an album and took a trip to Owaso, Michigan to sing. Ray decided to quit after the trip to Michigan so he could spend more time with his grandchildren.

   Ray's family has grown with the addition of the boys' wives and five grandchildren. The oldest son, Don, is serving his second term as the 26th District's State Senator. He married Geri Williams and they live in Lincoln.

   The second son, Jim, is a vocational agriculture teacher at Milford High School. He is married to Kathy Pokorny. They live in Milford with their three children, Jeremy, Kendra, and Joel.

   Their third son, David, is a CPA employed by Dana Cole and Co. in Lincoln. David is married to Susan Greb and they have two children, Katie and Daniel. Daniel shares his birthday and middle name with Grandpa Ray Wesely.

   Ray and Irene's daughter, Linda, is a Computer Input clerk at Health Central in Lincoln and is also taking classes at Southeast Community College. Submitted by Ray Wesely.

   The Whaley Drug Company on the Main Street of Wahoo, Nebraska was owned and operated by R.L. Whaley from 1929 to 1949. "Doc" purchased the business from Mary and Teresa St. Martin.

R.L. and Charlotte Whaley

   The Whaleys were residents of Custer County, Nebraska. Both were graduates of Arnold High School -- Arnold, Nebraska in 1921. R.L. was a graduate of Omaha Creighton Pharmaceutical College in 1927. He practiced in Omaha, Norfolk, Wahoo, and Louisville, Nebraska.

   Lynn and Charlotte had four sons. Dr. R.L. Jr.'s wife is Sally Ann (Johnson). He is practicing dentistry in Los Angeles, California. James Earl and wife Mary Ann (Misek) live in Sacramento, California where he is a salesman for Iowa Vernon Co. William Edward and wife, Janine Claire (Seirriere), live at San Jose, California, where he is with the Valley Trust Company. Robert John and wife Joan (Schmidt) are from Carroll, Iowa. He is a salesman for the Caterpillar Company.

   "Doc" and Charlotte celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1971. They enjoyed over ten years of retirement in Sun City, Arizona. Then they located near their son John in Carroll, Iowa. They have a heritage of 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. By Arline Vybiral

   My father, John Whidden, left the state of Indiana and headed west to Nebraska in the year 1887. John worked on several farms in Saunders County. He saved up enough money and sent for his mother, brother, and two sisters who were still living in Indiana.

Lawrence and Adeline Whidden

   In April of 1892, John married Jessie Gidley. Jessie had come to Nebraska in 1871 from Canada with her parents Jesse and Sarah Dawson Gidley. They were true pioneers of Saunders County. They resided in Douglas Precinct all their lives. Six children were born to John and Jessie Whidden.

   I, Lawrence, was one of six children happily raised in the county. I was born in March of 1911 at Morse Bluff. I attended School District Number 92. As I grew up, farming became my main interest. I can recall the 1930's very well. I remember starting out farming with corn being sold for 10¢ a bushel. Hogs were $3.00 per hundred. I paid around $47 for a milk cow and later she was sold for only $9.00, or a cent per pound.

   I started combining in 1937. Combines were around $1100 then. The winter of 1934-35 was a bad one I recall. We were only able to get into town once between the first of January to March first. Had to follow a maintainer to get there. We had over 30 days with temperatures below zero.

   I married Adeline Kratky on January 17, 1939. Her parents were James and Emma Mach Kratky of Prague, Nebraska. We resided on a farm southeast of Morse Bluff until 1947. We then moved to St. Edward, Nebraska where we still reside on a farm.

   We have two daughters and one son. Our son, Francis, who is the youngest is married to Virginia Hayes. Francis and Virginia have a son, Jesse John. Francis farms with me.

   Our two daughters, both born at North Bend, reside in Saunders County. Marlene, our oldest daughter, married Mike McDonald in August, 1968. They reside at Wahoo, Nebraska. They are the parents of two children, Matthew and Maureen. Our other daughter, Shirley, is married to Charles Niemeyer. Shirley and Chuck were married in December, 1968 and reside at Ashland, Nebraska.

   We do travel to Saunders County monthly to visit our two daughters and their families, plus many other relatives and dear old friends. Written by Lawrence Whidden

   Charles, or Will, as he was known, was born March 2, 1867 to Thomas and Sarah (Bowler) Whitten in Harrison County, Missouri. On May 3, 1869 the family left by team for Saunders County, Nebraska and arrived on the 15th. Sarah died in 1871 leaving four children: Henry Edward, Ellen, Flora, and Will. Thomas continued to farm in Center Township until his death in 1880.

Left to Right: Rubie Cuckler, Will, Dora, Ellen Magnuson, Wallace Whitten, and Edna Watson

   On November 18, 1895 Will married Dora Luretta Bailey, born June 21, 1877 to George Washington and Lydia Anne (Francies) Bailey of Cedar Bluffs. Dora had three brothers: Renaldo Ezra, George Edward, and William Delbert. Will and Dora farmed with his brother, H.E., until 1940. They were known for their up-to-date farming methods and for their beautiful black horses.

   There were five children. Mabel Jane, born July 24, 1897, was a teacher at District 60 when she married Elda Weidenhaft July 24, 1923. They farmed the old homestead in Center Township until 1929 when they moved to Holdrege to start a Chick Hatchery. Mabel preceded both of her parents in death on May 11, 1942.

   William Wallace, born September 8, 1904, was married to Alta Claudine Evelyn, born on October 31, 1906 to Alexander Ross and Hulda (Oberg) Cameron of Ceresco on the 4th of December 1929. They moved to McCook where they started a hatchery. In 1962 they retired and are now living in McCook. Their four daughters are Shirley (Elwin Mauer), Kathryn Joan, Charlene (Richard Decker), and Janice (Edward Wisdom).

   Ellen Victoria, born June 6, 1907, married Raymond Smith, born March 4, 1880, a farmer near Colon who had 2 children by a previous marriage (Imogene and Phyllis). Their three daughters are: Marjorie (David Nystrom), twins, Kathryn (Ardven Malchow), and Marilyn (Harry Falke). After Ray died in 1966, Ellen married Plato Magnuson, of Wahoo, in 1980. They are presently living in Wahoo.

   Edna Mae, born May 19, 1910, while visiting her brother, Wallace, met and married Harold Watson of McCook on January 17, 1932. In 1934, they moved to Cambridge and opened a hatchery. In 1950, they moved back to McCook where they are now residing. Their daughter, Lois (Ernest Rutledge), lives near her folks.

   Rubie Luretta, born September 22, 1916, went to southwestern Nebraska where she was bookkeeper for a number of years at the families' hatcheries. While there, she met Howard Cuckler of Cambridge. On July 19, 1944, in El Paso, Texas, they were married while he was in the service. They moved to Fremont where Howard was employed at a furniture store until his death in 1956. Their children are: James, Patricia (Roger Carlisle), and Kenneth. Rubie married Herman Batten and was living in Valley at the time of her death on April 8, 1976.

   After celebrating their 50th Anniversary at their farm, Will and Dora moved to Fremont in 1945 where Will died May 12, 1959, and Dora died March 15, 1966. (This information was given to Shirley Mauer and Lois Rutledge by their parents. Wm Wallace Whitten and Edna Mae Watson.)

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   My paternal grandfather, John Wicht, was born in 1832 and his wife, Magdalena, in 1836 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Their children, Lena, Franke and Hans, were born there. The family moved to Nebraska in 1883 and farmed in the Yutan area. My grandfather was kicked by a horse; blood poisoning set in and he died in 1885. My father was 17 at the time and he and his mother continued to farm.

The Hans Wicht Family. Standing: Helena Wicht Schultz, John Wicht; Front Row: Hans Wicht, Clara Wicht Peters, Katie Ohm Wicht.

   My maternal grandfather, John Ohm, was born in 1837 and his wife, Anna, in 1846 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. They came to Illinois in 1871, moving to Yutan in 1877 where they farmed south of town. Their children were Jacob, Katie, Fred, John and George. My mother, Katie, was born in 1869.

   Hans Wicht and Katie Ohm were married in 1889 and farmed northwest of Yutan for a few years; later buying a farm four miles south of Yutan where I was born. Their children were John, born in 1890, Helena, born in 1894, and Clara, born in 1902. My parents were hard-working people but Dad never lost the sparkle in his eye or his smile and sense of humor. My folks attended church regularly and Mother would take cream, milk, eggs, and butter to my grandparents who lived in Yutan and we would have Sunday dinner with them. My Grandfather Ohm also had a sense of humor so it was fun for me.

   John married Ruth Esty and Helena married Arthur Schultz in a double ceremony in the family parlor in 1915. While the young people were on their honeymoon in California, my parents moved into a new home across the pasture. John and Ruth moved into the old family home when they returned from their honeymoon. Their children were Evelyn, who married Jerry Beranek (parents of Sally, Cheryl and Jeffrey), and Forrest, who married Kathleen Kirkbride (parents of Jon and Jay). Helena and Arthur Schultz were parents of Kathryn who married Arthur Parkenning (parents of Terry and Dawn).

   Several years after moving to the new place, my father became ill with cancer and died in 1919. My mother moved into the house in Yutan where her parents had lived. She later married Thomas Frahm and died in 1965, having celebrated 25th wedding anniversaries with each of her husbands.

   I married John Frederick Peters, son of John Nicholas and Laura Hullhorst Peters of Yutan, in 1922. He was a lawyer and banker and we lived in Yutan until 1944 when he was appointed State Director of Banking and we moved to Lincoln. In 1949, we moved to Omaha and Fred was Vice President of the United States National Bank. Fred died in 1980 and I moved to Fremont in 1981. Our children are Margaret, who married Claude Lutton and lives in Ashland, and John, who married Joan Rasmussen and lives in Fremont. Margaret's children are Susan, Richard and David, and John's children are Christine and John. Submitted by Clara Wicht Peters

   Rev. Frederick Louis Wiegert was pastor of the Ithaca Evangelical Church from 1904 to 1908. He also served as pastor in other eastern Nebraska churches such as Elmwood, West Point, and Telbasta.

   Rev. Wiegert was born in 1861 in Saal near Stralsund, Germany and came (age 4) to settle with his parents in Wisconsin. They later settled near Grand Island, Nebraska where he entered the ministry. He was ordained in 1885.

   Rev. Wiegert married Christina Barbara Frei, daughter of Friedrich and Regina (Walker) Frei at Clay Center, Nebraska in March of 1887. They were parents of eight children:

   (1) Nettie Sophia, b. 1888; married Frank A. Schroeder; resided Wahoo;
   (2) Della Sarah b. 1891; married T. Harry Greene; resided Elmwood;
   (3) Walter Wesley b. 1894; married Amelia Nelsen; resided Fremont;
   (4) Ada Emma b. 1896; married Dr. Paul Jurisson; resided Fremont;
   (5) Hilda Julia b. 1898; d. 1899 Elmwood;
   (6) Erna Laura b. 1900; married Walter Bergstrom;
   (7) Silas Solomon b. 1903; d. 1928 Louisville;
   (8) Ruth Hilda b. 1904; married (1) Charles Stahly; (2) Robert Faulkner.

   Dr. Wiegert retired at Elmwood, Nebraska in 1924. He passed away there at 77 years of age on March 17, 1938. He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

   Christina Barbara Frei was the second of nine children born to Friedrich and Regina Barbara (Walker) Frei. She was born February 25, 1866 in Wankheim, Wurttemburg, Germany. She came to America in the fall of 1867 where her parents settled in LaSalle County, Illinois, in Mendota. Later, the family settled on a farm five miles east of Clay Center, Nebraska. She attended Dist. #52 in Marshall Precinct. Christina passed away on August 15, 1952 at Elmwood, Neb. She was buried with her husband in Elmwood Cemetery.

   Christina's three sisters, Anna Esther Frei and Lydia Louise Frei ... twins ..., and Julia Frei (married by Dr. Wiegert) were married in eastern Nebraska. Anna Esther married Charles Ludwig Schiefelbein 28 May 1900 at Ithaca where they lived until 1915. He was the son of Friedrick C. and Pauline (Mallwitz) Schiefelbein. Lydia Louise Frei married William W. Meierhenry at Telbasta, Neb. on 1 April 1900. They lived there until William died in 1941. Julia Frei married Edward Fred Moorberg on 12 Feb. 1900 at Elmwood, Neb. They lived at Beaver Crossing, Nebraska.

   Christina's sister's husband ... Rev. Herman G. Wegner, was also pastor at the Ithaca Evangelical Church prior to 1895. She was Maria Eva (Frei) Wegner. D. JoAnn Schiefelbein

   The Wilcox people were adventurous in seeking out new land. They left Scotland in the early 1830's for Canada. They were of the Quaker religion and were engaged in farming.

   Charles Wilcox was born 1837 in Canada. He married Jane Dawson. She was born 1838 in Ontario. Her parents were of Irish origin and of the Wesleyan Methodist religion. Jane's father died before 1851. Her mother's name was also Jane. She lived with the Alex Dawson family in 1871. Year of her death is not known.

   To the marriage of Charles and Jane Dawson Wilcox were born two children: Clement and John Sidney (also known as Jack). Their last known residence in Canada was in 1871 at Snowden and Glamorgan, which is a subdistrict of North Petersborough, Ontario. It was not long before the family decided to move. In October of 1871, Charles Wilcox, his wife, and children moved to the United States. They settled at Saint Joseph, Missouri. Charles and Clem were employed by the Smith Packing Company. They came to Nebraska in 1872. The family settled in Douglas Precinct and were located in School District #92, Saunders County.

   Clement, born 1856, married Alice J. Armes in December, 1877. Alice was born in 1857 in Pennsylvania. To this marriage were born: Sarah, Charles, Hattie, Frank, Ada, and Mary and Ellen -- twins. Ellen died at birth.

   John, or often called Jack, married Jennie Armes, sister to Alice J. Armes. Children born to this union were: Brownie, Bealie (died at age 2), Cleland, Lola, and Ted.

   Both Charles and Jane Wilcox are buried at Fleming Cemetery in Saunders County.

   Charles Albert Wilcox, son of Clement and Alice (Armes) Wilcox, was married to Mary Etta Roberts. She was the daughter of David and Margaret (Wheeler) Roberts. Charles and Mary, as youngsters, attended the same rural school #34 and the same church.

Charles and Mary Etta Wilcox Married Mar. 1, 1905

   Children born to this marriage were: Myron, Jean, Pauline, Alberta, Kenneth, Marjorie, Don, Robert, and Dale. They attended #92 school.

   Only three children are living at the present time. They are: Pauline of Tucson, Arizona; Alberta of Covina, California; and Marjorie of Wahoo, Nebraska.

   Myron died in 1966. Jean died at birth. Kenneth died as a young child. Donald died in 1975. Robert died in World War II, and Dale died in 1980.

   Marjorie Wilcox married Lyman Alm. Lyman died in 1964. Marjorie is presently teaching at West Ward School, Wahoo. Children born to Lyman and Majorie Alm were: Lyman, Robert, Erik, Lizabeth, and Mary Alice.

   Lyman Gale Alm is presently living at Columbus, Nebraska. Robert Charles Alm is deceased. Erik Bryce Alm lives near Wahoo, Nebraska. Lizabeth Agnes (Alm) Korkow lives at Pierre, South Dakota. Mary Alice (Alm) Taylor lives in Boise, Idaho.

   The Wilcox family were strong believers in education. Almost all of the children were offered extra music as well as a high school and college degree. Sunday afternoons were often spent around the

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