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NEBRASKANA
107

uated from Grand Island High School. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Michigan in June, 1885, and has since been in active law practice. A Republican, he served as city attorney of St. Paul for twenty years, and as county attorney two terms.

He was married to Mary Ella Orcutt at Rochester, New York, in September, 1888, and to them three children were born, Percival H., born June 21, 1889, who died June 23, 1916; Beulah, born July 16, 1890, married Thomas C. Minnich; and Bernice, born October 22, 1897, married George K. Field. Mrs. Bell, was born at Vienna, Virginia, September 29, 1860.

Mr. Bell was a four minute speaker during the World War period, and for seven years served as president of the local Red Cross organization. He is a member of the community Club, The Nebraskana Society and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Shrine. His social club is the St. Paul Golf Club. Residence: St. Paul.

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W. Glen Bell

W. Glen Bell, who is an educator at Newman Grove, Nebraska, was born at Tabor, Iowa, June 28, 1897, the son of Willis B. and Judith Anne (Wyant) Bell. His father, who was a farmer and business man, was born in Ohio, May 27, 1862, of English descent, and died at Tabor, November 19, 1926. His mother, whose ancestry is Pennsylvania Dutch, was born at Silver City, Iowa, June 9, 1869, and is living today.

Mr. Bell was graduated from Tabor College Academy, in 1915, received the A. B. degree at Tabor College in 1919, and was awarded the A. M. degree at the University of Iowa in 1932. He took a prominent part in the Young Men's Christian Association at Tabor College, was active in music affairs, and played football. He attended summer school at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1916.

He has held the following professional positions: superintendent of schools at Kiron, Iowa, 1919-21; superintendent of schools at Lehigh, Iowa, 1921-23; head of the department of social science, Norfolk Senior High School, 1923-26; superintendent of schools at Allen, Nebraska, 1926-29; and superintendent of eshools (sic) at Newman Grove since 1929. He is a member of the National Educational Association, the Nebraska State Teachers Association, the Red Cross, and the Masons.

Mr. Bell served as president of the Young Men's Christian Association at Tabor College, 1917-18, was a member of the Lions Club of Norfolk, 1924-26, and is now a member of The Nebraskana Society. His hobbies are reading and music, and his favorite sports are hunting and golfing.

Of his marriage to Clara Alice Watkins, three children were born: Glen, May 3, 1923; Wendell, January 16, 1925; and William, June 19, 1926. Mrs. Bell, who was formerly a teacher, was born of English and Welsh ancestry at Iowa City, Iowa, July 27, 1899. Residence: Newman Grove.

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Harley LeRoy Bellamy

Harley LeRoy Bellamy, who is a pharmacist at Cambridge, Nebraska, was born at Decatur, Illinois, November 29, 1889 the son of John and Sarah Jane (Denton) Bell Bellamy. His father, a carpenter, was born in Illinois, in October, 1857, and died at Blackfoot, Illinois, in August, 1929. His mother was born in Illinois, September 1, 1862, and died at Blackfoot, in August, 1929.

Mr. Bellamy was graduated from the Cambridge High and received the Ph. G. degree at Northwestern University in 1910. He has been in the drug business as partner and manager of the Bellamy & Dold Company at Cambridge, since 1910. He holds membership in the Rotary Club, the Community Club, the Congregational Church, and the Masonic order, at Cambridge. His recreations are reading, tennis, baseball, and golf.

On November 12, 1913, he married Gertrude May Picthall at McCook, Nebraska. Mrs. Bellamy was born at Aurora, Nebraska, December 8, 1889. Their two children are: Robert, born March 2, 1915; and Donald, born February 1, 1917. Residence: Cambridge.

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Oren Allin Beltzer

One of the leading executives of Grand Island, Nebraska, is Oren Allin Beltzer, president of the Grand Island Trust Company. He was born at Stratton, Nebraska, March 20, 1888, the son of Jacob Edwin and Margaret (Thompson) Beltzer. His father, who was a nurseryman, was born of Pennsylvania Dutch and Welsh ancestry, in Ohio, 1848. He came to Nebraska after the Civil War, settling near Stratton. He died at Arapahoe, Nebraska. His mother, whose ancestry was English and Scotch, was born in Missouri, in 1855, and died at Atwood, Kansas.

Mr. Beltzer was graduated from the Arapahoe High School, was a student at the University of Nebraska where he held all offices in Kappa Sigma, and received letter in football and baseball, captain both teams 1909-10. Later he attended the University of Pennsylvania.

At this time he is president of the Grand Island Trust Company, is president of the Grand Island Finance Company, and is active in civic affairs at Grand Island. At one time Mr. Beltzer was engaged in professional baseball, and prior to holding his present position was in time real estate business.

He is a member of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, the Elks, and The Nebraskana Society. His social clubs include: Riverside Golf Club; Eastridge Golf Club; and his favorite sport is golfing. He is independent, politically.

Of his marriage to Nell Marie Schreff three children were born: Betty Jane, December 27, 1911, who died September 29, 1913; Jimmie, born November 21, 1918; and Joanne, born July 9, 1919. Residence: Grand Island.

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Eugene Henry Bemis

Born at Sutton, Nebraska, July 4, 1882, Eugene Henry Bemis is the son of George Whitfield Bemis and Ada (Gray) Bemis. His father was a distinguished lawyer at York, Nebraska, where he was once mayor, and at Sutton where he served as district attorney for the Fifth District. His mother is a talented musician and writer.

Mr. Bemis has been engaged in the newspaper business many years and is associate editor of the New Teller at York. He has written a few stories for magazines and lyrics for J. A. Parks compositions. He is actively interested in music and music composition and has arranged hundreds of programs for various community events. He acted as song leader at a recent district convention of the Rotary Club, originated the county school parade at York, which is now an annual feature, and was largely responsible for the festoon lighting system which has been used in York since the first fall festival several years ago.

His wife, who was Kittie Houston, of York, is associated with him in the publication of the New Teller.

He is a member of the York Chamber of Commerce, the Young Men's Christian Association, York Rotary Club, Elks, and Knights of Pythias. An expert advertising man, Mr. Bemis was the author of Song of the Willys-Knight, an advertisement in rhyme, of which ten million copies were distributed. His favorite sport is golfing. Residence: York.

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NEBRASKANA

Florence Olive Bemis

For the past several years Florence Olive Bemis has been prominent in club activities at York, York County, Nebraska. She was born at Brookings, South Dakota, July 16, 1895, the daughter of Harvey Asa and Olive (Johnson) Stevens. Her father, owner and manager of a large ranch, was born January 7, 1866, the son of John Nelson Stevens and Elizabeth Ann (Swartz) Stevens. Her mother, who is an educated and intellectual woman, was born in Wisconsin, July 30, 1870.

Mrs. Bemis was graduated from the high school at Brookings. She is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association Auxiliary, the Parent Teachers Association, The Nebraskana Society, and the Methodist Episcopal Guild. She holds membership in the Neighbors Club at York. During the World War she was prominent in hospital visitation work at Fort Logan, Colorado, where her husband was in the army service, and took part in all Red Cross activities. She is eligible to the membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, is local president of the American Legion Auxiliary, and has held every office in that unit. She is a member of the Eight and Forty Club of Nebraska.

Her marriage to Wendell P. Bemis was solemnized at Rochester, Minnesota, September 2, 1913. She has one son, Wendell Whitfield, born November 22, 1916, who is the youngest member of the junior class in the York High School. Mrs. Bemis is a Republican. Residence: York.

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Nathaniel Gustave Bender

Nathaniel Gustave Bender, a leading executive at Sutton, Nebraska, has been prominent in business and civic affairs in the state for many years. He was born at Sutton, July 9, 1884, the son of Eugenia (Reuss) Bender and Jacob Bender. Jacob Bender, who was born at Galoi, Russia, August 21, 1854, and died at Sutton, November 14, 1928, was a homesteader in Nebraska in 1875; he was engaged in the implement business at Sutton from 1884 until his death in 1928, and served as president of the Mid-west Implement Dealers Association of Nebraska and Iowa at one time. He was mayor of Sutton for several terms, served as a member of the legislature in 1925 and house of representatives in Nebraska, and was a leader in state affairs.

Eugenia (Reuss) Bender, his mother, was born at Galoi, December 19, 1853, and died at Sutton, May 2, 1898. Of German descent, she came to America in 1875. She was an active church worker and was interested in music.

Mr. Bender attended the public schools of Sutton where he was graduated from high school in 1904, and later was a student at the University of Nebraska. He was awarded letters in high school for football, baseball, and track. He entered the business world with the firm of Jacob Bender & Son, and except for a brief period when he was European representative for an implement company, has been connected with that organization.

He is stockholder in the City State Bank of Sutton and spends part of his time in looking after various farm interests. Mr. Bender is a Republican, and has held the following positions in his community and state; member of the board of education of Sutton, four years; city engineer of Sutton; chairman of the Republican Central Committee for Clay County for four terms; and member of the Republican State Central Committee.

He served as a member of the library board for a time, and is a member of the Sutton Cemetery Association and was chairman of the local Red Cross from 1917 to 1918. He holds membership in the following fraternal organizations; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Masons, Blue Lodge, Chapter, Royal Arch, Scottish Rite, Shrine. He served as representative from Tehama Shrine Temple to the Imperial International Council at Toronto, Canada, in 1930.

Mr. Bender was president of the Mid-west Implement Dealers Association in 1929 and 1930, was vice president of the National Federation of Implement Dealers Associations, 1930, and was elected president of the latter in 1931. He is a former member of the executive board of the Sutton Community Club, is a supporter of the Young Men's Christian Association, and holds membership in the University Club of Nebraska. He is affiliated with the First Congregational Church of Sutton. His sports include golfing, fishing, and Hunting, and his hobbies are reading, mechanics, and flowers. In1910 he acted as American representative for American Manufacturered Agricultural Implements, in Europe with headquarters at Budapest, Hungary, and Odessa, Russia.

During the World War Mr. Bender was a member of the Home Guards and was chairman of the Liberty loan drives in his district. He married Clara Henrietta Landmann at Scotland, South Dakota, January 1, 1912. Mrs. Bender, who was a teacher in South Dakota prior to her marriage graduated from Milwaukee Downer Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1908. She was born of German parents at Scotland, September 15, 1887. Mrs. Bender is a member of the Sutton Chapter No. 54 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and was matron in 1931. She was president of the P. E. O. Sisters in 1920-21-22. They have four children, all of whom are in school; Gretchen, born January 23, 1914; Paul J., born October 15, 1916; Frederick G., born October 13, 1922. and Wallace, born January 18, 1926. Residence; Sutton.

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Nels August Bengtson

Nels A. Bengtson, geographer and educator at the University of Nebraska, was born at Navlinge, Skane Province, Sweden, May 22, 1879. His father, August Bengtson, who is a retired farmer, was born in Sweden in 1814. Hannah (Johnsson) Bengtson, his mother, was born in Sweden, in 1853, and died at Shickley, Fillmore County, Nebraska, May 14, 1926.

Professor Bengtson attended the rural schools of Fillmore County, and in 1897 was graduated from the Shickley High School. He holds the following degrees: A. B., 1907, University of Nebraska; A. M., 1908, University of Nebraska; Ph. D., 1927, Clark University. During the summer of 1904 he was a student at Cornell University. He is a member of Sigma Xi, and in 1929-30 he served as president of the Nebraska chapter of this society. He is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

He was a rural school teacher for two years; high school principal at St. Paul, Nebraska, for one year; professor of geography at Peru State Teachers College, three years; instructor in the summer session at Cornell University, 1912, the University of Virginia, 1913, University of Wisconsin, 1925, Columbia University, 1929-30-31-32; and since 1908 has been professor of geography at the University of Nebraska. In 1929 he was made chairman of the department of geography at the latter institution. He was consulting geologist in charge of field investigations in Honduras, 1920, in Ecuador, 1922, and in Venezuela, 1927.

In 1918, Professor Bengtson was breadstuffs expert for the United States War Trade Board, and in 1919 he was appointed Trade Commissioner to Norway. He, is the author of: Physical Geography Manual, 1913; The Wheat Industry, 1915; Commercial Handbook of Norway, 1920; and Pupils' Workbook in Geography of Nebraska,1925. He has acted as Councillor (sic) of Economic Geography at Worchester, Massachusetts, and has written numerous articles on educational and geographical subjects.

He has lived in Nebraska since September, 1880. June 14, 1902, he was united in marriage with Iva M. Maxcy at Peru, Nemaha County, Nebraska. Mrs. Bengtson was born at Bramwell, West Virginia, June 14, 1882. There ore five children: Juanita, born April 22, 1903, who married Robert H. Downing; Paulus, born October 26,

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NEBRASKANA
109

1904; Rowena, born December 2, 1910; Ruth, born January 9, 1919; and Martha, born July 9, 1921.

He is a member of the Association of American Geographers, having served as vice president of this society in 1923; was president of National Council of Geography Teachersin1929; and holds a fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a Mason. His favorite sport is walking. Politically, Professor Bengtson is an independent Democrat. He is affiliated with the First Unitarian Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, and he is a member of the Nebraskana society. Residence: Sutton.

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Abram Elting Bennett

One of Nebraska's leading neuropsychiatrists, Dr. Abram E. Bennett is a native of the state. He was born at Alliance, January 12, 1898, son of Charles Elting and Bertha (Kinsey) Bennett. His father, born at Marshall, Michigan, March 6, 1872, is a conductor on the C. B. & Q. B. R., and is descended from Holland Dutch and English settlers in America prior to the American Revolution. His mother, born at Genoa, Nebraska, October 30, 1876, was a music teacher, of Holland Dutch ancestry.

Upon his graduation from Alliance High School in 1915, Dr. Bennett entered the University of Nebraska, from which he received a B. Sc. in 1919, and an M. D. in 1921. He took postgraduate work at Philadelphia General Hospital 1921-23, Philadelphia Orthopedic and Nervous infirmary 1923, and Johns Hopkins University in 1924. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Rho Sigma.

On September 18, 1923, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Rose Langfang of Dover, New Jersey, at Philadelphia. Mrs. Bennett was born June 20, 1902, and is of German and French descent. Their three children are: Foster, born December 30, 1924; Ann, born May 27, 1926, and Jean, born January 1, 1930.

Since 1924 Dr. Bennett has been engaged in private practice in association with Dr. G. Alexander Young, of Omaha. He is the author of about twenty medical publications in the fields of neurology and psychiatry since 1921. He is a member of the American Medical Editors and Authors Association, and instructor in neuropsychiatry at the University of Nebraska. He is secretary of the Red Arrow Burner Company of Omaha.

During the World War he was a private in the S. A. T. C. He is a Mason, and is diplomat of the National Beard of Medical Examiners. His professional organizations include the American Medical Association, the Nebraska State Medical Association and the Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, of which he was council member 1928-30. Residence: Omaha.

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Mary Bennett

One of Nebraska's oldest pioneer women is Mary Humphrey Bennett, who has lived in the state since 1873. She was born at Groton, Tompkins County, New York, October 19, 1846, the daughter of Margaret (Lamberson) and John Humphrey. Her father, a farmer, was born at Trenton, New Jersey, April 8, 1776, and died at Plainfield, New Jersey, March 5, 1870; his ancestry was English. Her mother was born at West Dryden, New York, August 29, 1805, of English parentage, and died at McLean, April 14, 1882.

Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Rebekah Lodge, is affiliated with the Methodist Church, and holds membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. During the World War she bought Liberty bonds and assisted in all relief work.

Her marriage to Ashley Bennett was solemnized at Hudson, Wisconsin, June 13, 1868. Mr. Bennett was born at Argile, Wisconsin, October 12, 1846, and died at Sutton, October 16, 1927; he was a farmer. Their son, Floyd, was born May 12, 1878. Residence: Sutton.

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Grace Margaret Bohne Benson

Born at Grand Island, Nebraska, February 14, 1882, Grace Margaret Benson has lived in this state practically all her life and at this time is an outstanding figure in women's affairs. Her father, Alfred Herman Bohne, who was a furniture dealer, was born at Beardstown, Illinois, August 27, 1812, and died at Grand Island, July 21, 1891; he served in the 33rd Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. He was of German descent, and was related to the founder of Beardstown who was an officer in Washington's army during the Revolution.

Eliza Margaret (Craig) Bohne, mother of Grace Benson, was born at Springfield, Illinois, November 22, 1842, and died at Rochester, New York, May 15, 1913. She was an educator, served as matron at Doane College, Crete, Nebraska, and was always active in civic and social welfare work. Her ancestry was Scotch.

Mrs. Benson attended the public schools of Grand Island, and in 1901 was graduated from Crete High School. She was a student at Doane College, 1901-04, New York University, 1911-12, Vineland Institute, and the New York School of Philanthropy. She taught at East Northfield, Massachusetts from 1905 to 1906, was active in the schools of Springfield, 1907, and from 1907 to 1913 served as director of the Child Study Laboratory; she is the author of Report of Child Study Laboratory (1913).

Her marriage to Harry William Benson was solemnized at Rochester, October 14, 1913. Dr. Benson, who is a physician and surgeon at Oakland, Nebraska, was born at Argo, Nebraska, February 23, 1876, of Swedish parentage. Their two children are: Louise Margaret, born December 10, 1918; and Barbara, born August 31, 1921.

Mrs. Benson holds membership in the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Native Sons and Daughters, and the Red Cross, is serving as secretary-treasurer of the Oakland Library Board, and is chairman of the Burt County Tuberculosis Campaign and Clinic. She is past member of the Academy of Political and Social Science, is member-at-large of the Conference of Social Workers, and at this time is acting as director of the Nebraska Tuberculosis Association. From 1927 to 1929, she was president of the Oakland Woman's Club in which she is still prominent.

She is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and is a member of the local Parent Teachers' Association. Her favorite sport is motoring, and her hobbies are gardening and child welfare. Politically, Mrs. Benson is independent. For the past six years she has been a member of the League of Women Voters in Nebraska. Her published report of the Child Study Laboratory entered into the second edition and is considered a thorough and comprehensive study. Residence: Oakland. (Photograph in Album).

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Harry D. Benson

Harry Benson, grain dealer, was born at Tiskilwa, Illinois, August 17, 1859, son of Darius L. and Esther, M. (Golding) Benson. He received an elementary education.

His father was born at Worcester, Massachusetts, March 9, 1883. During his life he was a farmer. His ancestors came from England in 1636, landing six miles below Plymouth Rock. His death occurred at Shenandoah, Iowa, August 16, 1916. Esther M. Golding, mother of Harry, was born in Cambridge County, England, October 6, 1833, and died at Shenandoah, March 5, 1916.

His marriage to Lenore Smith was solemnized at Marysville, Missouri, June 29, 1887. She was born at Canton, Illinois, April 29, 1861.

Mr. Benson has been a resident of Nebraska for thirty-three years. A Republican, he served in Kansas Legislature during the years of 1889 to 1891. He is a member of the Nebraskana Society and his secret organization is the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. Residence: Fairbury

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