Mrs. Maria Williams came to Nebraska many years ago with her husband, Louis Williams, who became wealthy through investments in Butler County land.
   Mrs. Williams had been married to Fred Henfling, who was killed in the Civil War. Her only son, Louis Henfling, died last summer. Mr. Williams has been dead several years.
   Louis Henfling and his mother owned Butler County real estate valued at nearly $2,000,000.00. At his death, his property was equally divided between his wife and his mother.
   Many noted persons, including W. J. Bryan, had been entertained at the Bellwood home. Prior to the death of her son, Mrs. Williams resided with him and his wife.
   She then moved to Omaha were she was interested in many charitable institutions, taking a special interest in the House of Hope.
   She passed away in 1914 and is buried in the Bellwood Cemetery.

     Robert C. Wilson     Pearl Wilson

   Robert C. Wilson, son of Joseph M. Wilson and Mahalia N. Wilson Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wilson were married February 17, 1880, at Elwood, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wilson moved to a farm in Blue Springs, Nebraska, February, 1906. Mr. Wilson passed away May 12, 1911, and Mrs. Wilson stayed on a farm and raised the family.
   Robert C. Wilson was born June 26, 1885 in Illinois. He was one of eleven children. He was married to Pearl Hager on April 17, 1907 at Beatrice, Nebraska and he was employed at the post office at Blue Springs, NE. They moved to Wakefield, Kansas, in 1910, and farmed for about three years there, later returning to Blue Spings. There he held various positions including taxi-driving, running a cigar store and selling insurance. They moved to Bellwood in August of '22. He ran a pool hall and tavern and sold insurance until his retirement. He was the Bellwood Fire Chief for many years. He passed away on Nov. 7, 1968, in Bellwood. Pearl Hager Wilson was born Aug. 10, 1885, at Blue Springs. She was the daughter of John and Martha Hager. Her death occurred on Jan. 26, 1968.

   Their family consisted of five children-two daughters and three sons. They are Bessie Kamenske of Bellwood, Jean Svitak of Boise, Idaho, Raymond Wilson of Bellwood, Harry Wilson of Bellwood who passed away Nov. 13, 1975, and Bernard Wilson of Eureka, California.

   George and Ellen Wood were married on August 10, 1865 in Michigan. They came to Bellwood, Nebraska and had a homestead on the old Frank Flaxel place west of Bellwood, Nebraska in 1867. They had four children: Clarence Wood born in Michigan, Albert Wood, born west of Bellwood, Lillie Wood (Jerdon) born west of Bellwood, and Abbie Bell Wood (McDonald) born west of Bellwood, Nebraska in Butler County.
   Abbie Bell Wood was born April 17,1885. She married Jay McDonald on July 22, 1900. They farmed in South Dakota for many years and moved back to Bellwood, Nebraska on September 18, 1920 where they lived the rest of their lives. They had 10 children. Mabel McDonald Adams, Viola McDonald Schmid, (passed away November 24, 1949), Dorothy McDonald Hasselbalch, Helen McDonald Langhammer, Harry McDonald, Jay McDonald, Roy McDonald, Harvey McDonald, Donald McDonald, and Gerald McDonald.
   When Abbie was born, her folks lived west of Bellwood in a log cabin so they named her "Abbie" and her middle name "Bell". Her last name was "Wood", so they named her after the town of Bellwood.

   About the turn of the century Adolf Yanike moved to Bellwood from Rising City with his wife and five children (Kate, Ella, Walter, Kurt and Adolf, Jr.) He opened a retail meat market in town and purchased a small home for his family.
   Three additional children were born in Bellwood, Eva, Carl and Mae. Of the eight Yanike children, only two survive, Mmes. Eva Groundwater, who resides in Pasadena, Calif., and Mae B. Stanton, who lives in Glendale, Calif.
   In 1912, with his family growing, Yanike purchased the old Henry Ranch, with its giant Barn, extensive home and surrounding lands. In the years prior to and following 1912, Yanike was acquiring more acreage and plots of land around Bellwood. He operated the largest feed lots in the community and was involved with fattening cattle and hogs and shipping them to market in Omaha. The large barn became the center of livestock operations in Bellwood. A slaughterhouse was also operated on the site.
   Soon after purchasing the ranch, Mr. Yanike started building an extensive home on the land and moved a portion of the original farm home to another of his farms in the area. Soon after, he opened a grain elevator and became active in the Bellwood Bank, along with Louis Kreizinger. Yanike passed away in Bellwood in 1931. His widow, Minna, moved to California, where she died in 1948.

   Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mais celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5, 1980. The couple were married in Schuyler by Judge Fiala.
   Mr. and Mrs. Mais were unable to have "open house", as she had recently been in the hospital. Their day was complete with many congratulatory telephone calls, and also relatives and friends stopping in with well wishes. They were the recipients of many cards on their special day. The Mais' have enjoyed their retirement since moving into Bellwood in 1968.

   February 3, 1977 Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nozicka were honored Sunday in observance of their 60th wedding anniversary.
   Due to the health of Mrs. Nozicka, Mass was celebrated at 2 p.m. at their home, with Father Robert Roh officiating. Twenty members of the parish and the Altar Society officers were present and they served refreshments following the Mass.
   They were also remembered by many of their friends with cards.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nozicka

   Mr. and Mrs. Fay Smith were honored on their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception at the Bellwood United Methodist Church. Mrs. Wilfred Stangel, a niece, and Mrs. Donna Smith, daughter-in- law of the couple, were in charge of the event.
   Red and white were the colors chosen by the couple for their corsage and boutonniere. The table centerpiece was of red carnations and white daisies.
   Mrs. Charles Smith and Mrs. Glen Forre registered the guests. In charge of the cards and gifts was Mrs. Florence Kamenske.
   Presiding at the serving table were JoAnn Napier, Mmes. Rhoda Cook, Ed Rice, and Marjorie Kimble. Other women of the Methodist Church assisted in the kitchen.
   Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in Bellwood, January 3, 1920, and have spent most of their married life in the community.