OOKER
County, which measures 24 miles from north to south and 30 miles
from east to west, was named in honor of General Joseph Hooker, a
noted general of the Civil War. It was created from the
unorganized territory west of Thomas County, under an act of the
legislature approved March 29, 1889. The first meeting of its
board of commissioners was held April 13, 1889, when the county
was divided into districts. The special commissioners were L. S.
Trefren and F. J. Brannan, and George Mary was county clerk. Next
meeting was held June 11, 1889 after an election in which the
following were chosen officers:W. N. Proctor, Stephen Ham and E. M. Grant, commissioners; Cyrus Satterly, clerk; James A. Wilkinson, sheriff; F. L. Mary, surveyor; Stephen D. Seester, coroner; Luther S. Trefren, treasurer, and M. A. Cudebec, superintendent. This board continued in session until June 17, 1889, and organized the political divisions of the county. The commissioners at that time called a special election at which $1,500 was voted to build a county courthouse and jail. This was erected during the summer of 1889 and was accepted by the board of commissioners on Nov. 16, 1889.
The courthouse was built in Mullen, the present county seat. It was named by officials of the Burlington railroad after a contractor who operated during construction of the railroad in this vicinity. This courthouse, a frame building about 24x26 feet, contained two rooms and a hall between, while the county jail was made of 2x4 boards nailed one on top of the other. In 1916 a new one-story modern brick courthouse with full basement was built. The old building was sold to W. R. Boyer and moved across the street north where it is now a private dwelling. The jail was converted into a garage.
The first settlement in Hooker County was made by three families in 1884 before the county was laid out. The families of Chauncey Tucker, Josiah Downing and W. E. Bowers all took land on the banks of the Dismal river in the southern part of the county. They found this territory a hunter's paradise, abounding with deer, antelope, buffalo and elk. The nearest trading place and postoffice was North Platte, 75 miles away. The road was sandy and hilly and the round trip required from seven to ten days. Provisions, bedding, fuel and a supply of water for the trip had to be hauled.
Timber on the Dismal river consisted principally of cedar and ash. Early settlers cut posts from this timber, hauled them to North Platte and traded them for supplies. Of the first families settling the county, Martha E. Wood, a daughter of Chauncy Tucker; the wife of W. E. Bowers, and Placer Tucker, son of Chauncey Tucker, are still living in the county.
The first newspaper in this county, the Hooker County Tribune, was established in 1895 by M. Cudebec, and was printed on an old army press. It is still being published. Other owners of this paper were Edgar Phillips, 1897-98; Charles Shilling, 1898-99; E. L. Everett, 1899-1901.
There was little settlement in the county until 1904. A few homesteads were taken along the rivers but they were a long way apart. No extensive settlement was made until 1904, when passage of the Kinkaid act permitted settlers to homestead 640 acres of land each instead of 160 acres as formerly; This new act brought many homesteaders into the county and in a few years practically all the land was taken. Prior to 1904 the range was used by large cattlemen who fenced some government land and ran large herds of cattle throughout the county. Drift fences were built for miles so cattle could not wander from one cattleman's range to another. The arrival of the "Kinkaiders" led to government investigation of the fencing of public lands. Many criminal proceedings were instituted to compel the large cattlemen to remove their fences and permit homesteaders to take the land. Within ten or fifteen years after the act had been passed this litigation was ended.
Among the early settlers coming to Hooker County were Henry J. Lowe and family, who emigrated from Kansas in 1894. Settling on a ranch northwest of Mullen, they started back the same fall to Kansas and camped on the Dismal river, when their horses escaped. The next day Lowe started out to find the animals and after locating them he decided not to return to Kansas. Trading his horses for a small stock of merchandise in Mullen, he started in business. He accumulated considerable ranch land, cattle and horses, manageing his interests until his death in the fall of 1926. His son, John E. Lowe, still operates the store.
In 1887 the Grand Island and Wyoming Railway company built the first and only railroad through the county. This road is now one of the main lines of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad, running between St. Louis, Mo., and Billings, Mont. It carries some of the heaviest freight trains in the country.
There were no improved highways in Hooker County before 1917. At that time travel in this county followed trails through the sandhills, often
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referred to as pasture roads. Wire fence gates had to be taken
down every mile or so. At one time to go from Mullen to Valentine,
the Cherry County seat on the north, it was necessary to open as
many as 100 gates during the eighty mile trip. These roads were
quite sandy and to make them passable the county commissioners had
hay or manure spread over the worst places. Grading these roads is
ineffective, because the wind blows the grade out. When one of
them wears out, another road is traveled beside it.
But in 1917 an organization known as the Potash
Highway Association was formed by citizens between Broken Bow and
Alliance. Since then an east and west road has been built across
the county, all of which is now oiled except about seven miles of
gravel. However, the north and south roads are practically a
blank. A gravel road runs north from Mullen to the Cherry County
line and from Mullen south about five miles. The other north and
south roads are the same as they were twenty years ago--just
trails. Some of them, however, have been fenced to prevent cattle
from eating the hay as fast as it is spread on the road. Main
roads not graveled or oiled now have automobile gates where the
road crosses a fence so it is no longer necessary to stop at every
fence and open the gate before going farther.
Hooker County's school system is unusual. When
the county was created in 1887, it was divided into seven school
districts, but because of the small population, few classes were
held. In 1903 the District 2 schoolhouse at Mullen burned, and the
valuation of the district was too small to permit floating a bond
for a new building. District 1, 2, 3 and 5, practically all the
county, were then disbanded, a new district formed from them all,
and a $4,000 bond issued to build a four room schoolhouse in
Mullen.
After the Kinkaid act became effective in 1904,
the county's population increased, and many of the new settlers
were thirty-five or forty miles from the only school house in the
district. To supply the children of these families, District 2
began building schools in communities where there were more than
five children. At one time this district supported twenty-two
schools.
During the past seven years, however, the
county's population has been thinning, and the district now
operates but ten schools besides the one at Mullen. Several of
these ten are mounted on wheels, and are moved whenever the school
population in a community drops below five.
In 1916 Hooker County issued bonds to build a
high school in Mullen. An addition to the building was erected in
1929 and its annual enrollment is now between 125 and 150 pupils,
some of whom come from surrounding counties. District 2 also
recently constructed a modern grade school costing over $40,000.
Mullen's school population is about 300.
Five years ago the Women's Welfare Club of
Mullen sponsored a movement for a public library, for which bonds
were issued. This library is now lodged in a basement, but a tax
fund is expected to allow the rest of the building to be completed
in a few years.
Mullen, the county seat, is the only town in the
county. The town was originally laid out and platted by Amos W.
Gandy and George W. Trefren on May 7, 1888. The first postoffice
was established the year before and M. A. Hammell was appointed
postmaster. This first site was one mile west of the present
town's location. The site was moved because the owner of the site
one mile west of the present location refused to sell the
necessary ground for yardage of the Grand Island and Wyoming
Central Railroad. They obtained their ground from the owners of
the N 1/2 NE 1/4 of section 20 township 24 north, range 32 and the
town followed the switch yards and depot grounds of the
railroad.
When the town was platted Hooker County did not
have any books for recording such instruments and the original
plat was filed in Thomas County. It was not transferred to the
records of Hooker County until March 18, 1890. During the next ten
years the town gradually grew and several businesses were formed.
A bank was organized with a capital of $6,000. A saloon was
licensed in 1900 and at the end of ten years the town had two
general stores, one newspaper, two saloons, two livery stables and
about a dozen residences. There were during that time but few
residents of the county, most of them living in Mullen. The
surrounding country was operated by several large cattle owners,
who grazed the entire county. There were no fences in the region
at that time and cattle grazed all over the county. Supplies were
freighted out to ranches from Mullen by four and six horse freight
wagons which continued to be used until about 1919. One of the
livery barns burned in 1906, but the other one ran until about
1919, at which time automobiles began to replace the horses.
Hooker County is located almost in the center of
the sandhill district of Nebraska. The soil is mostly sandy loam.
The hills run from the northwest to southeast with many valleys
between. This territory is drained by the Middle Loup river on the
north and the Dismal river on the south. There are only a few
lakes in the county, all but one of which are situated in its
southwestern part.
The land is adapted principally for hay and
grazing purposes, and during the last seven years of drouth, which
have seriously damaged farming in central and eastern Nebraska,
this county has never been short of pasturage for its livestock,
and has been able to take care of all its cattle and horses with
sufficient pasturage and winter feed. In addition, many cattle and
other livestock are brought in from the surrounding states of
South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas. Hooker
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County soil does not dry out like the hard ground in the
central and eastern part of the state and has raised a good crop
of grass each year.
Along the Dismal and Loup rivers there is
usually an abundance of wild fruit such as wild plums, wild
currants, chokecherries and wild grapes. Prairie chickens, grouse,
pheasants and ducks abound. Some fur bearing animals, such as
beaver, muskrat, raccoon and civet cat are found. A few wild deer
are occasionally seen which come up from the forest reserve fifty
miles east of this county. Streams abound in catfish, bullheads
and some trout; in the lakes there are bullheads, perch and blue
gills.
BRAMER, WILLIAM HERMAN: Banker; b Stamford, Neb Oct 1, 1899; s of Fred Bramer-Ricka Ott; ed Dunning HS 1916; Grand Island Bus Coll 1917-19; m Sarah Ann Thomas June 10, 1924 Mankato Kas; d Marilyn Grace; 1916-17 rural sch tchr, Blaine Co; 1919-20 emp by Home State Bank of Dunning; 1920-33 asst cash, Citizens State Bank of Mullen; 1936- cash, Bank of Mullen; 1930- owner & opr, 5000 A ranch running 350 cattle in Hooker Co; 1922-33 mbr town coun & clk; AF&AM 282, past master; Sandhill Feeder Cattle Producers Assn; Prot; hobbies, riding, hunting, fishing; res Mullen.
ERIKSEN, LEONARD E: Insurance, Real Estate & Livestock Dealer; b Council Bluffs, Ia Sept 14, 1903; s of Erik Peter Eriksen-Laura Louise Leonard; ed Mullen HS 1921; m Virginia Louise Hodges June 27, 1938, Alliance; 1907-21 farmed & ranched with father, Cherry Co; 1921-25 tchr 2 years in Cherry Co & 2 years in Hooker Co; 1925-32 bkkpr & asst cash Citizens State Bank, Mullen; 1932- with RACC as state cattle inspector, Mullen; 1934- in ins, real est & livestock bus; brand inspector for Neb Stockgrowers Assn; Comml Club; AF&AM; OES; Episc Ch; hobby, bridge; res Mullen.
ERNY, CHARLES LOUIS: Retired; b Bienhaine, France Feb 18, 1859; s of John Erny-Catherine Timmel; ed grade sch; m Louise Worner Apr 28, 1896 Marengo Ill; s Joseph L, Carl Albert, Frank C, Henry John; d Lena Louise; came to U S 1883, settled in Ill, moved to Hooker Co 1890, where ranched & farmed until retirement 1925; res Mullen.
ERNY, FRANK C: Rancher; b Mullen, Neb Dec 24, 1897; s of Charles L Erny-Louise Worner; ed grade sch; m Ruth Fern Hardy May 2, 1921 Hyannis; s Harvey Dewain, Charles Walter, LeRoy Henry, Ernest Norman; rancher in Hooker Co; orgr & first leader 4-H Club; first co chmn Corn-Hog Farm Program; 6 years assessor; ofcr Co Farm Bur; IOOF 367, past grand; res Mullen.
FITZGERALD, WAYNE REX: County Superintendent of Schools; b Callaway, Neb Apr 29, 1910; s of Frank E Fitzgerald-Edith M Oliver; ed Hooker Co HS 1928; summer sch at CSTC, U of N, U of Southern Cal; m Helen Andrews July 25, 1931 Hot Springs S D; s Denny Rod; d Jeriann; 1928-29 rural sch tchr, Hooker; 1929-87 grade sch tchr, Mullen; 1935-37 prin of grade sch, Mullen; 1937- carp & bldg contr; 1939- Hooker Co supt of schs; NSTA; Comml Club, secy; secy vol fire dept; pres Mullen Golf Club; Meth Ch; Dem; hobby. golf; res Mullen.
FOLK, THEODORE: Grain & Lumber Dealer; b Pribran, Czechoslovakia Apr 30, 1879; s of Joseph Folk-Mary Hanzlicek; ed Ellsworth Co Kas; Oklahoma City HS 1897; m Anna Ruzek July 28, 1900 Burton Okla; s Lewis, Theodore Jr, Charles, Leonard; d Helen (Mrs W R Mills), Thelma (Mrs William Gross), Irene (Mrs Eugene Lake), Mildred (Mrs B B Wright), Ethel (Mrs Glade Patterson); 1882 came with parents to Ellsworth Co Kas; 1890 moved to Okla; 1897-98 farmed with father & was clk in groc store, Oklahoma City; 1898-99 clk in Oklahoma City groc store; 1899-1904 owner & opr gen store, Burton Okla; 1904-05 salesman for Minnesota Mutual Life Ins Co, Mitchell S D; 1905-89 rancher & farmer, Cherry Co, still owns original ranch; 1929- opr Farmers Elevator Co, Mullen; during Sp-Amer War enl 1898 at Guthrie Okla, disch Sept 1898; AF&AM; OES; Neb Stockgrowers Assn; past mbr town bd; past mbr Hooker Co HS bd; hobby, ranching; res Mullen.
GIBBS, HOMER L: Rancher; b Tekamah, Neb Oct 26, 1876; s of Prince Crowell Gibbs-Nancy M ___; ed grade schs; m Jessie L Waite June 4, 1902 Myrtle; s Robert J; d Elizabeth N; obtained first quarter section land by filing on homestead SE Hooker Co 1898, under Kinkaid Homestead Law filed on 3 quarters adjoining, owner 8300 A, several sections on lease for grazing; farmed original homestead, raiser Hereford cattle; hobbies, fishing, entertaining grandchildren; res Ringgold.
GIBSON, JOHN ALBERT: Postmaster; b Omega, Neb Oct 13, 1893; s of William Gibson-Sadie Brown: ed Mullen & Merna HS 1914; m Lucy Jeffords Sept 11, 1920 Billings Mont; s John Jr, Barney Bill, Joe Michael; d Shirley Ann, Jeffie Claire; 1915-17, 1919-24 asst cash, Bank of Mullen; 1924- P M, Mullen; during World War 1917-June 1919, in USN, naval training sch, at San Francisco, Quantico Va, Santo Domingo, Great Lakes; AF&AM 282; Comml Club; Golf & Gun Club; Episc Ch; hobbies, hunting, fishing; res Mullen.
HUMPHREY, ARTHUR GILBERT: Attorney; b Davis Co, Ia May 10, 1880; s of Alfred H Humphrey-Charlotte Runkle; ed Southern Ia Normal, Bloomfield Ia; Des Moines U, BD 1898, LLB 1904; m Clara C Jeffords Oct 30, 1910 Broken Bow; s Carl Gilbert, Jack Alfred; d Phyllis Jean; 1898-1901 tchr, Davis Co Ia schs; 1904-06 prin, Mullen schs; 1905 adm to Neb bar; 1905- priv law prac, Mullen; 1906 Hooker Co judge; 1907- except 2 terms Hooker Co atty & commr; 1936- Mullen city atty; 1907-36 mbr town bd; 1934- pres Hooker Co Lib Assn; Neb St Bar Assn; past mbr Mullen sch bd; past regent Hooker Co HS; during World War mbr Hooker Co draft bd; AF&AM 282 secy, ch mbr, 1st master; KT, Broken Bow; Tangier Shrine; Comml Club; Golf & Gun Club; past pres; Rep; 1914- chmn Hooker Co Central Com; hobby, fishing; res Mullen.
HUMPHREY, MRS CLARA JEFFORDS: Homemaker; b Broken Bow, Neb Nov 27, 1884; d of Charles H Jeffords-Mary Elizabeth Price; ed Broken Bow; m Arthur Gilbert, Humphrey Oct 30, 1910 Broken Bow; s Carl Gilbert, Jack Alfred; d Phyllis Jean; 1903-06 Custer Co sch tchr; 1906-07 Hooker Co sch tchr; 1907-11 P M. Mullen; 1925-27 representative from dist 91 to Neb legislature; 1939 historian of Hooker Co for "Who's Who in Neb;" during World War Hooker Co chmn for Liberty Loan drives; Amer Leg aux, past pres; past matron OES; past pres Mullen Welfare Club; past pres St Joseph Guild; Episc Ch; 1914- chmn womens div, Hooker Co Rep Central Com; hobbies, horse racing, cattle raising; res Mullen.
LOWE, JOHN ELLIOTT: Merchant & Rancher; b Goodland, Kas Feb 27, 1898; s of Henry J Lowe-Mary Kudrna; ed Lincoln US; m Eva Wigent June 16, 1915 Mullen; s John Elliott Jr; d Harriett Loins; 1912-13 asst cash Citizens State Bank, Mullen; 1918-14 with father in H J Lowe Gen Store, Mullen; 1914- owner & mgr J E Lowe Co, Mullen; 1924- rancher in Cherry Co, with ptr, Carl Simonson, opr 20,000 A with 1100 cattle; treas sch dist 2; past regent Hooker Co HS; past mbr village bd; 1919-29 ptr in Crookston Merc Co, Crookston, also St Francis S D; 1936- owner J E Lowe Impl Co, Brownlee; VP Comml Club; AF &AM 282, past master; IOOF, past noble grand; Sandhill Feeder Cattle Producers Assn, dir; Neb Stockgrowers Assn; hobby, cattle; res Mullen.
MATHEWS, HARRY MOSES: Auto Dealer; b Fort Kearney, Neb July 8, 1883; s of John T Mathews-Sarah ___; ed Denver Colo; m Edith Ella Hunt Mar 4, 1904 Grand Island; s Arthur, George Millard, Paul Edward; d Violet Lucille (Mrs J Kraye), Ruth Doris (Mrs Frank Stouter), Mabel Della; 1898-1900 worked on farms in Hamilton Co; 1900-04 worked for W T Dearing Grocery, Phillips; 1904-08 fireman on UP RR, Grand Island; 1908-11 brakeman for CB&Q RR, Alliance; 1911-14 homesteaded in Cherry Co; 1914-22 ranched in Cherry & Hooker Cos; 1922-24 mechanic at Stickley's Garage, Mullen; 1924-27 owner & mgr Mathews Chevrolet Co, Mullen; 1927- ptr & gen mgr Mathews & Son Chevrolet Co, Mullen; 1928-32 mbr sch bd, Mullen; 1937- dir Bank of Mullen; Comml Club; hobby, fishing; res Mullen.
MEIDELL, FREDRICK AXEL: Rancher; b St
Louis, Mo Sept 24, 1865; s of Fredrick Axel Meidell-Osie Anderson;
ed Logan, Sanga-
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mon, Menard Cos, Ill; m Thomine Halversen Sept 7, 1889 Burlington Kas; s Donald F, Clarence E, Charles E, John R, William, Norman R, Stanley A, James M, Francis A; d Hazel (Mrs Ernest Pearman), Daisy (Mrs John H Lutey), Nellie (Mrs E A Satter); farmed in Menard Co Ill; 1907- homesteader in Hooker Co under Kinkaid act; 1908-11 emp by CB&Q RR as asst carp; 1911- rancher & farmer; Farmers Union; Neb Stockgrowers Assn; past co commr; hobby, ranching; res 10 miles S W of Seneca.
MERCURE, NELSON DARWIN: Auto Dealer; b Mullen, Neb May 16, 1914; s of Nelson Darwin Mercure-Sara Josephine Jossissen; ed Mullen HS 1931; Denver Electrical & Auto Sch 1933; m Margaret Della Hanna May 16, 1937 Harrisburg; s Ronald Seth; 1929-32 opr of used parts & accessory store & worked as mechanic; 1938 worked in electrical shop, Denver; 1934-35 had chg of used car service at Ford Garage, North Platte; 1935-36 opr DodgePlymouth Garage, Mullen; 1936 worked for Ford Garage, North Platte, also Chrysler & Plymouth agencies, Denver; 1937 Dodge & Plymouth dlr, Mullen; 1938- owner & opr Ford agcy, Mullen; Comml Club; Gun & Golf Club; Episc Ch; hobbies, hunting, fishing; res Mullen.
MILLER, GAY ELLIOTT: County Clerk & Clerk of District Court; b Lincoln, Neb Oct 29, 1912; s of Gay W Miller-Mable Lowe; ed Holdrege HS 1930; U of N 1930-32 & 1935-36, VP Dramatic Club; pres Kappa Sigma; mbr Daily Nebraskan staff; m Doris Johnson Nov 26, 1936 Omaha; 1932-35 & 1936-39 emp by J E Lowe Co, Mullen; 1935 emp in Lincoln city lib; 1939- Hooker Co clk, clk of dist court & assessor; AF&AM 282; Golf Club; Comml Club; Episc Ch; hobby, collecting Indian relics; res Mullen.
MOTL, JOHN JOSEPH: Pharmacist; b Pisek, Czechoslovakia Dec 31, 1883; s of Thomas Motl-Antoinette ___; ed West Point HS 1900; Creighton U, PhG 1905; m Anna Louise Dietrich Nov 24, 1909 Omaha; s John J Jr; d Frances (Mrs Williard Vinton), Erna Mary, Rosalie Helen, 1893 came with parents to West Point; 1905-07 pharm for Walt Mason, Long Pine; 1907 mgr Zacek Pharm, Dodge; 1907 bought Bobisud Pharm renamed Motl Pharm, 1907-11 owner & opr; 1911 owner & opr Motl Pharm, Mullen; during World War org ARC, present chmn, Mullen; past mayor; mbr vol fire dept; mbr town bd; regent Hooker Co HS; dir dist 2 sch bd; Neb Pharm Assn; Natl Assn of Retail Druggists; chmn Comml Club; secy Golf Club; Cath Ch; Dem; hobbies, fishIng, golf; res Mullen.
POOL, FLOYD WESLEY: County Judge; b Independence, Va Feb 18, 1868; s of John R Pool-Missouri Boyer; ed Independence Va; m Candis M Long Nov 9, 1893 Grayson Co Va; d Verna Lea (Mrs W E Boyer), Alice Alberta; 1889-95 traveled through western states & worked at various jobs; 1895 homesteaded in Cherry Co; 1895-1920 farmer, rancher & stockraiser, Cherry Co; 1920-84 retired, Mullen; 1934- Hooker Co judge; past mbr dist sch bd, Cherry Co 20 years; pct assessor; AF&AM 282, past master; Meth Ch; Rep; hobbies, gardening, traveling; res Mullen.
WADLOW, EDGAR EUING: Merchant; b Lesterville, Mo May 7, 1888; s of Joe Shelby Wadlow-Eliza Steagall; ed Lesterville Mo: m Effie D Johnston Oct 9, 1910 Lesterville Mo; s Walter Leslie; 1910-12 farmed in Mo; 1913 opr dray line, Mullen; 1914-16 in merc bus, Lesterville Mo; 1916-35 rancher, Mullen, also Cherry Co; 1935- owner & opr Sandhill Comml Co, Mullen; Hooker Co commr; IOOF 367; hobbies, hunting, fishing; res Mullen.
WALKER, DAVID A: Physician & Surgeon; b Carthage, Ill Oct 10, 1874; s of David Lincoln Walker-Alemeda Cilistine Fish; ed Carthage Ill HS 1891; Opthalmological Coll, OM 1900; Keokuk Med Coll of Phys & Surg, MD 1902, Keokuk Coll of Pharm, PhG 1905; grad work at Chicago Polyclinic; m Ona Mae Stephenson May 14, 1906 Alliance; s David Edward, Dr LeRoy Earl; d Ulala (Mrs Francis R Hanna); 1902 granted permission to prac med, Okla; 1903-04 adm to prac in Colo, interne Mercy Hosp Coll, Keokuk Ia, also assoc with Dr John Ossenbaugh, Chicago; 1905- prac med, Mullen; mbr staff of St Mary's Hosp, North Platte; phys & surg for CB&Q RR; 1913-14 phys. for UP RR, Overton; 1908-09 Hooker Co judge; past county phys; past city phys; Lincoln Co Med Soc; Neb St & AMA: AF&AM, past mbr; Meth Ch; Rep; hobbies, work, rebuilding homes; grandfather Dr Henry Walker received MD from A M Coll, Cincinnati, Ohio. Off Old Citizen's Bank Bldg; res Mullen.
WIGENT, MRS EMILY J ELSNER WILSON: Homemaker & Merchant; b Charleston, W Va Sept 10, 1891; d of George Riley Wilson-Mary Franceny Keener; ed Charleston W Va; Marshall Coll, Huntington W Va; m William H Wigent Sept 3, 1937 Omaha; s Albert (father dec) 1909-16 priv secy for Ziegler & Behrend, Huntington W Va; 1917-22 priv secy to pres of N Amer Hotel Co, Omaha; 2922-25 asst supt Burgess-Nash Store, Omaha; 1925-28 cash Home Life Ins Co of N Y, Omaha; 1929-31 mgr Adelphia Hotel, Omaha; OES; Rebekah; LOE, past worthy guardian; past dir Omaha Womans Club; Dundee Club; Story Tellers League; roll-call chmn Mullen ARC; Womens Welfare Club; past drama chmn for Council of Churches, Omaha; past secy & treas of primary dept, story teller, Omaha Presby Ch; story-teller Mullen Meth Ch, Ladies Aid; Episc Guild; hobbies, drama, children's stories; res Mullen.
WIGENT, WILLIAM HORATIO: Mortician; b Reading, Mich Dec 8, 1873; s of George M Wigent-Harriet Norton; ed Eaton Co Mich; m Altha E Hickox Jan 11, 1894 Charlotte Mich (dec); d Eva Dell (Mrs J E Lowe); m Emily Jeanette Wilson Elsner Sept 3, 1937 Omaha; 1890-1900 worked as stone mason, carp & woodcutter in S central Mich; 1900-05 carp for Al Hoover, Ansley; 1905 homesteaded in Hooker Co; 1905-08 rancher, Hooker Co; 1908-25 owner & mgr W H Wigent Furn Store, Mullen; 1909 became lic mortician; 1908- owner W H Wigent Funeral Parlor; 1925- owner & mgr W H Wigent Variety Store, Mullen; past mbr dist 2 sch bd; 1909- local recorder vital statistics, Hooker Co & part of Cherry Co; Comml Club; Neb & Natl Funeral Dirs Assns; hobby, fishing; res Mullen.
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