Seward County, Nebraska Genealogy

Biographies and Obituaries "W" INDEX

WAIT, WAITE, WALL, WALLICK, WELCH, WEST, WESTERHOFF, WILLIAMS, WIMBERLEY, WINSOR, WULLENWABER

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WAIT, Alta Gay, wife of (1) Roscoe Plin WEST, (2) Abraham J. F. MORTON, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. WAIT. See: Alta Gay (WAIT) WEST MORTON
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WAITE, William, son of John D. and Juliette (ROSEBERRY) WAITE, husband of Abbie (GROW), who was a daughter of Darwin C. and Harriet (RENIFF) GROW. This biography is from the Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, Alden Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912, page 612 (Note: just last paragraph is about Seward):
[Surnames: GROW, RENIFF, ROSEBERRY, WAITE]

WILLIS R. WAITE.

    Willis R. Waite, owner and operator of an excellent grain and stock farm near Arcadia, Nebraska, has spent most of his life in that state. He was born July 22, 1870, at Palmyra, Warren county, Iowa, he and his twin brother, Wilbur S., being the youngest of the five sons of John D. and Juliette (Roseberry) Waite. The father, of English and Dutch descent, and a native of Pittstown, New York, served during the civil war as a member of Company F, Thirty-first New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and died in Valley county, Nebraska, October 20, 1891. Mrs. Juliette Waite, a native of New Jersey, now lives at Loup City, Nebraska. She has a son, Wm. H., in southern Mexico, interested in rubber and cattle, near Vera Cruz; a son, Elmer E., at Vancouver, Washington; Wilbur S., is at Loup City, representing the district in the legislature; Willis R., of Valley county, and one son is deceased.
    At the age of ten years, Willis R. Waite accompanied his parents to Valley county, where he reached manhood on his father's farm. John D. Waite had purchased, in 1880, the homestead right taken by his oldest son, C. E. Waite, who had settled in Valley county in April, 1879. After completing the course in the local schools, Willis R. Waite entered the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines, Iowa, where he graduated, and he also holds a diploma from Columbian Business College, of Chicago. After leaving school he engaged in teaching school, and later was employed as bookkeeper for the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, at New Castle, Wyoming, where he remained a year and a half. He taught school in Loup City and in Sherman county for a time, and in 1899 returned to Valley county, Nebraska.
    Mr. Waite was married October 25, 1899, to Miss Abbie Grow, who was born at Loup City, Nebraska, and they are the parents of two children, Charles Edmund and Lucy Grow. Mrs. Waite is the daughter of Darwin C. Grow, postmaster of Loup City, whose wife was before marriage Harriet Reniff, born near Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Grow was born at Batavia, Illinois, and came to Nebraska in 1876, becoming one of Sherman county's pioneers.
    In 1907 Mr. Waite purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in section sixteen, township seventeen, range fifteen, and this is still the home place. He has substantial and convenient buildings on his farm, of which we show a view elsewhere in this work [in Valley county, not scanned here]. An especial item of interest on the place is his fine orchard of over a hundred and fifty trees, protected by a grove of fast growing Norway poplars, of which he has several groves on the place.
    Mr. Waite is an energetic man of affairs, and is interested in everything relating to the welfare of the state or county. He is well and favorably known in Valley county and has many friends. He served for a time as director of district number twenty-seven. In politics he is a republican.
    Mr. Waite's introduction to Nebraska was anything but pleasant; the family was snowbound at Seward by the three-day blizzard in the middle of October, 1880. They spent the winter in a half-finished house with nothing but shiplap between them and the cold world outside; for a whole week they stayed in bed most of the time, having only cornstalks for fuel. To keep their cow from freezing, she was brought into the house and kept in one room. When the floods came in the spring they were water-bound for three weeks, and even when it subsided travel was difficult, as all bridges were washed away. When the blizzard of January 12, 1888, came, our subscriber and his brother were hauling hay half a mile from home, and experienced great difficulty in reaching home. Deer, elk and antelope were plentiful, the former sometimes being seen in herds of five or six. Mr. Waite and his brother killed a fine buck on one of their hunting expeditions. They followed trapping to add to their income, and with good success; they trapped not only animals, but game birds, securing over one hundred prairie chickens one winter.
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WALL, Alvin E., son of Ernest W. WALL and Marie (IMIG). This obituary, transcribed by relative Alice Imig Stipak, is from an unidentified Seward Co., Nebraska area newspaper, about October 1943:
[Surnames: GREEN, IMIG, PRICE, WALL]

OBITUARY
————
Alvin Wall

    Alvin E. Wall, son of Ernest and Marie (nee Imig) was born May 18, 1903, near Seward, Nebraska, and passed away at his home in Beaver Crossing September 27, 1943, age forty years, four months, and nine days.
    He was an invalid for many years. His main enjoyment in life was music, flowers and pets. He never failed to notice a thing of beauty brought into the home. He enjoyed the visit of children. The expression of his beautiful eyes revealed this for he couldn't speak.
    His mother and sister Irene [she was also retarded] preceded him in death in the year 1933. Those who survive him are his father, step-mother, a half brother, A. G. Green of Lincoln, Nebr., three nephews in the armed forces, Herbert Green of Porto Rico, Willis of the paratroopers, Dale in the navy and a niece, besides other relatives and friends.
    The funeral service was held at the home, Rev. E. W. Price officiating. Burial was in the family lot in the Woodlawn [Greenwood] cemetery of Seward.
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WALL, Blanche B. (SMITH), second wife of Ernest W. WALL. This obituary, transcribed by Alice Imig Stipak, is from an unidentified Seward Co., Nebraska area newspaper, about 14 Feb 1944:
[Surnames: ADEN, BELL, BLUHM, CRONE, DOTY, GREEN, HILLE, PRICE, PROBST, SELL, SMITH, WALL, WOOD]

Mrs. Ernest Wall Died While
On Way to Friend's Funeral
BEAVER CROSSING
(Mrs. Verna Wood, Correspondent)

    The death of Mrs. Ernest Wall on Wednesday afternoon [9 Feb 1944] came as a shock to the community. Apparently in good health, accompanied by Mrs. C. W. Doty, she was on her way to the funeral of Verna Mae Bell, when stricken, about a block from her home in east Beaver Crossing. The car left the road and stopped against a railroad sign post, with no damage to either Mrs. Doty or car. Dr. Hille was called, but all efforts were unavailing.
    Blanche B. Smith was born at Dorchester, June 10, 1896. A graduate of the Dorchester schools, she had held clerical positions in Saline and Seward counties. She was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Woman's club. Besides her husband, she is survived by one sister, Mrs. Gerhard Aden of Adams, Nebr. She was a niece of Addie Smith of Seward, who made his home with her part of the time.
    Funeral services were held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, with Rev. E. W. Price in charge. The Eastern Star chapter, of which she was a member, conducted committal services. Interment took place in the Seward [Greenwood] cemetery.
    Among those from out of town who attended were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wall and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Green of Lincoln; Mrs. Gerhard Aden and her family of Adams; Carl and Ted Bluhm and families, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Probst of Seward; Mrs. Alma Sell of Ruby; and Mr. and Mrs. Phil Crone of York. Mr. Wall expresses appreciation to those who came to his aid in his sorrow.
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WALL, Ernest W., husband of 1) (first cousin) Marie (IMIG), 2) Blanche B. (SMITH); son of Ernest W. F. WALL and Helena "Helen" (IMIG). This obituary, submitted by relative Pam Green Wagner, is from an unidentified Seward Co., Nebraska area newspaper, probably February 1951:
[Surnames: AHLSCHWEDE, BERRY, CROSS, HUFFMAN, IMIG, MACOY, MIER, ROSS, SCHERNIKAU, SCHROEDER, SMITH, WALL, WHITNAH]

                                                          OBITUARY
                                                    ERNEST W. WALL
    Ernest W. Wall, son of Ernest and Helen Wall, was born in Illinois, July 1, 1874. He passed away at his home in Beaver Crossing Saturday morning, Feb. 3, 1951, at the age of 76 years, 7 months and two days.
    He was united in marriage at Seward to Marie Imig. To this union were born one son and one daughter. His wife and the two children preceded him in death.
    He was again united in marriage on Febr. 2, 1937, to Blanche Smith at York, Nebr. She also preceded him in death.
    Mr. Wall was engaged in farming during most of his active years at Seward. He moved in 1934 to Beaver Crossing, where he farmed until the last few years.
    Those who mourn his passing are two sisters, Mrs. Fred Schroeder of Bloomington, Ill., and Mrs. Emma Mier of Minier, Ill.; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Theo. Wall; a number of nieces and nephews; many friends.
    Services were held at the Wood Bros. chapel in Seward on Feb. 5, with Rev. M. L. Seybold officiating.
    A mixed quartet from the Beaver Crossing Methodist church, composed of Miss Marguerite Ahlschwede, Mrs. Florence Amos, Mark Whitnah and Harry Cross, accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Robert Ahlschwede, sang, "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," "There's a Home Eternal," and "Sometime We'll Understand."
    Committal was made in the Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers were Geo. Wachter, Rene Huffman, Lee Berry, Harvey Schernikau, F. L. Ross and Les Macoy.

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This article is about the sudden and tragic deaths of Ernest W., Friederick John "Fred", and Theodore, the three sons of Ernest W. F. WALL and Helena "Helen" IMIG. Submitted by relative Pam Green Wagner, it is from an unidentified Seward Co., Nebraska area newspaper, probably February 1951:

THREE BROTHERS
DIE WITHIN
FOURTEEN DAYS
    Grim unusual circumstance is noted as the press this week carries the obituary of Ernest Wall of Beaver Crossing, third of three brothers who have died within the short span of two weeks.
    The body of Fred Wall, Seward farmer, was found in his home on Jan. 20. The coroner's verdict was that death had occurred on Jan. 18.
    Theodore Wall of Beaver Crossing passed away Jan. 22, and Ernest Wall of Beaver Crossing died Feb. 3.
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WALL, Ernest W. F., husband of Helena "Helen" (IMIG) (daughter of Friedrich and Johanna [PLEINES] Imig). This obituary, submitted by Pam Green Wagner, is from from John H. Waterman's General History of Seward County, Nebraska, 1915, p. 195:

    Ernest W. F. Wall, an 1877 settler near Seward, died at his home, April 15, 1914, aged eighty years one month and twenty days. A wife, three sons and four daughters survived him.

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The following is Ernest W. F. Wall's 65th birthday party article, submitted by Pam Green Wagner, from an unidentified Seward Co., Nebraska area newspaper. The handwritten date on the clipping is 3 Mar 1898, suggesting he was born in 1833: (The photo is of his son-in-law Joe Kaltenborn, husband of daughter Johanna Wall.)

    A number of friends of Ernst Wall, who resides three and a half miles south-west of Seward, gathered at his home last Thursday evening and helped him celebrate his 65th anniversary. It was to be a surprise on Mr. Wall, and it is needless to state that he was completely taken by surprise. About 30 were present, and all report a good time. They left the Wall residence about twelve o'clock after wishing Mr. Wall many more happy and prosperous years.
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WALLICK, Abraham, husband of Mary Hazel (JOHNSON), son of Elizabeth (SHALLENBERGER) and John Abraham WALLICK of Indiana. The first biography of Abraham and Mary Wallick is from Seward County Nebraska 1982, Seward County Historical Society, p. 410. Submitted by great-great granddaughter Alice Imig Stipak.
[Surnames: BJORBACK, FOSLER, HAGEMAN, JOHNSON, VOGT, WALLICK]

ABRAHAM AND MARY WALLICK

    Abraham Wallick was born in 1819 and died in Seward in 1892. He was the great grandson of Gottlieb Wallick who immigrated to the United States from Switzerland in the 1700s. He married Mary Johnson in 1834. He served in the Civil War even though he was then the father of 10 children.
    He and Mary had 13 children including two sets of twins. Mary died in 1871 at the age of 37 leaving her family of small children. The children were separated, living with various relatives. Abraham died in 1892. Both he and Mary are buried in the Seward cemetery.
    Their children were: Elizabeth, John Franklin, Christian, Sarah Ellen, Viola, Wallace, Mary Louisa, Moses, Elijah, Melville, Henry, Jane, and Addie.
    Viola married Simon P. Hageman* and was the mother of Grace Hageman Fosler.
    Abraham was a great grandfather of Wayne Fosler, Eleanor Fosler Vogt, and LaVerne Fosler Bjorback, all of the Seward area.
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WALLICK, Martha Viola, wife of Simon Peter HAGEMAN, daughter of Abraham and Mary Hazel (JOHNSON) WALLICK. Note: Viola died in the great flu pandemic of 1918, after selflessly nursing her daughter's family back to health. This undated, unidentified obituary and memorial card are on file at the Seward County Genealogical Society. Submitted by her great-granddaughter, Alice Imig Stipak.
[Surnames: FOSLER, HAGEMAN, IMIG, WALLICK]

Viola Wallick

    Viola Wallick was born January 29, 1862, at Cuba, Iowa. Her early childhood was spent in Iowa until at the age of seven, when she moved with her father's family to Seward county, Nebraska. On May 27, 1884 she was married to S.P. Hageman at Seward, and the remainder of her life was spent on their farm home five miles south of Seward.
    Mrs. Hageman departed this life Friday, December 13, 1918, age 56 years, 10 months and 14 days, her death being caused by pneumonia.
    She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Grace Fosler and Mrs. Alice Imig; one son, Albert R., eight grandchildren and six brothers and four sisters.
    Besides her relatives the departed leaves a host of friends who will cherish her memory as a friend and neighbor always ready with kind acts of helpfulness and comforting words in time of trouble and need. Her family has lost a devoted wife and loving mother whose life may be a shining example of loyalty to her loved ones, that may aid them through the remainder of life. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.

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[The Memorial Notice of Martha Viola Wallick Hageman:]

GONE

Another hand is beckoning us,
    Another call is given;
And glows once more with angel steps
    The path which reaches heaven.

Alone unto our Father's will
    One thought hath reconciled;
That He whose love exceedeth ours
    Hath taken home His child.

Hold her, oh Father! In thine arm,
    And let her henceforth be
A messenger of love between
    Our human hearts and Thee.

And grant that she who, trembling here
    Distrusted all her powers,
May welcome to her holier home
    The well beloved of ours.--Whittier.
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Card of Thanks

    We wish to thank the many friends and neighbors for their kindness and help during the illness and death of our beloved wife and mother. Also for the many beautiful flowers.
        S. P. Hageman,
        Mr. And Mrs. Bert Hageman,
        Mr. And Mrs. Orin Fosler,
        Mr. And Mrs. George Imig.
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WALLICK, Mary Hazel (JOHNSON), wife of Abraham WALLICK, daughter of Zerilda "Jane" (WILCOXEN) and Moses C. JOHNSON of Fulton Co., IL. This biography is from W. W. Cox, History of Seward County, Nebraska, 1888, p. 234.
[Surnames: HAGEMAN, JOHNSON, SMITH, WALLICK, WILCOXEN]

WALLICK

    Mary H. Johnson was born Jan. 3, 1834, in Fulton county, Illinois. Was married to Abram Wallick, July 26, 1850. Moved to Iowa in 1853. Joined the Baptist church in 1858. Moved to Seward county in 1868, where she died in February, 1871.
    Mrs. W. was the mother of thirteen children, as follows: Elizabeth V. Smith, now dead, Christian J., John F., Ellen, Abram M., Martha N. [sic, Martha V.], Elvira [SIC, Elijah], Melville, Wallace, Mary L., Henry C., Ada, and Jane.
    Mrs. Wallick is remembered by all the older settlers a s a very worthy Christian lady, who went through great tribulation to her brighter home in the skies to receive her crown.
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WELCH, John T., husband of Mary Jane (?). This biography, written by his granddaughter, is from pages 218-219 of the 1967 book On A Bend of the River, posted here courtesy of the author, Jane Ramsay Graff.
[Surnames: ATWOOD, BIRKY, BRAWNER, GIBILISCO, GRAVES, JAMES, PUTNAM, ROWE, WELCH, ]

WELCH
                            by Alvera Mary Welch Brawner

    Mr. and Mrs. John T. Welch, with their one son, Edward, and one daughter, Pearl, came from Blandensville, Ill. in the year of 1873. Later two more sons, Andy J. and J. Stanley, were born to this union.
    Mr. and Mrs. John T. Welch undertook a move that memorable day when they left their home in Blandensville, by a covered wagon, three horses--one of which was ridden by a hired man, one cow to furnish milk for the children, a meager supply of food and a few family supplies and heirlooms. The journey was over thousands of miles of wasteland and deep rivers with no bridges. A place with shallow water to ford had to be located before the river could be crossed. They had to defend themselves from the weather and threatened attacks of Indians, whom Mr. Welch seemed able to bargain with very well.
    Their main problems upon arrival at Milford were day-to-day existence and finding a shelter to fight the elements and protect the family.
    They soon leased five eighties of land through a land grant from the Burlington-Missouri Railroad. Borrowing money for transportation on their long journey and leases on the farmland, made money scarce for buying extra tools, stock, etc. Therefore their resources were very limited. John Welch had the courage, determination and own self-disciplined will power that gave them, with the cooperation of others just like them, the independence and pride they desired.
    Mary Jane Welch, who had the courage of her husband, did the never-ending tasks of cooking, baking, washing, ironing, patching and sewing. She had no help in her tasks. She was self-reliant, had good judgment, great determination to fight the wind, dust storms and blizzards, or whatever hardships came her way. She was also a sustaining hand to her husband and turned often to her Lord for strength and guidance.
    The sole goal of the family was for self-betterment in material ways and education for their children in school and Sunday school. Mr. Welch helped haul, by horses and wagon, the building material from Nebraska City, Nebr. for the first Methodist Church in Milford.
    Mr. Welch also leased 30 acres of timberland on the Blue River north of town to furnish the fuel and material needed for stoves, fence posts, and roughly hewed lumber. Even the small branches were hauled home to be used for kindling. He arrived home with a load of wood barely in time for the arrival of his son, Andy. With no means of communication and no one to send for John, Mary Jane had to wait alone with two small children for his arrival.
    All except eight acres of this timberland have been leased to the Kiwanis Club of Lincoln for Camp Kiwanis, a Camp Fire Girls' retreat.
    With enough sod broken, trees planted with small seedlings from the timberland, and fences established, Mr. and Mrs. Welch were able to secure the deeds to the five eighties and 30 acres of timberland on July 15, 1883. Four of these eighties are still in the hands of five of John T. Welch's grandchildren.
    ED WELCH, the oldest son, an employee of the Lincoln Traction Co. for a number of years, was the father of two daughters, Marilda May and June Mary. Miss Marilda is still living in Wenatchee, Washington.
    MISS PEARL WELCH, the only daughter, [p. 219] was a graduate from Milford High School and Peru Normal. She taught school in the rural districts for a number of years, riding horseback to and fro. After marrying Sidney Atwood, they moved to Spokane, Washington, where she spent most of her life.
    ANDY J., the third child and first one born in Nebraska, graduated from Milford High School. He attended Northwestern Normal College in Lincoln for one year, then returned home to help his father farm and raise feeder cattle. He married Miss Mary Birky on January 1, 1896. They settled in a small home on one of the eighties and continued helping his father. Later they moved to the large family home, Alvera Mary and Lyle Andy. Andy J. was a member of the State Legislature as a Senator from the district from 1928 to 1933; a member of the Seward County Board of Supervisors of which he served as chairman; a past president of the Seward County Agriculture Society; and was a 15-year member of the State Fair Board of Nebraska. He was also active in community, county or state affairs, he served in all civic organizations of Milford. Whether in community, county or state affairs, he served with all the energy that his father displayed in his coming to Nebraska.
    ALVERA MARY WELCH BRAWNER was a graduate of Milford High School and a student of piano for many years. She took one year of music at the State University and came home to be with her parents. At this time she is a private piano and organ teacher and a postal clerk in the Milford Post Office. She resides in the town home built by Mr. and Mrs. Andy J. Welch in Milford.
    LYLE ANDY WELCH is also a graduate of Milford High School and the University of Nebraska where he majored in public school music. He taught music in Lincoln Public Schools 22 years; spent six years in the military service during World War II; and had been a National Guardsman since 1926. Major General Lyle Welch is now serving as the Adjutant General of the State of Nebraska, since 1959. Lyle built a new home in 1962 on the old family farm homesite where he and his wife, Gretchen, now reside.
    J. STANLEY WELCH was a graduate of the University with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He attended Northwestern University College of Medicine. In later years he attended the University of Berlin and University of Gottlingen, Germany. He was in private practice from 1903 until 1913 when he and a cousin, Dr. E. W. Rowe, established the Lincoln Clinic, with one other associate and continued practicing as a surgeon until his retirement. In August 1917 he married Jessie Bell Graves.
    MISS JANE SARAH, 1918 who was a graduate of the University of Nebraska and as a technician from the University Hospital in Omaha. An accomplished musician, she played both the violin and viola in the Omaha and Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.
    JOHN S. WELCH, 1920, also graduated from the University of Nebraska and the Northwestern University College of Medicine in Chicago, Ill.; after which he joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. At the present time he is a staff member in surgery.
    JOEPHINE STERLING WELCH was born in 1923. She was a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Graduate Degree and a Masters Degree from the University of Minnesota, and also an accomplished musician. She married Dr. Joseph Gibilisco who is a dental technician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
    JAMES ALEXANDER WELCH was born in 1928. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Masters Degree and is now with the Veterans Administration in Washington, D. C.
    Thus you see that Mr. and Mrs. John T. Welch's efforts to secure material things and provide an education has carried down to four generations as Andy James and Jennifer Putnam are the fourth generation to start their education in Milford.
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WEST, Alta Gay (WAIT), wife of (1) Roscoe Plin WEST, (2) Abraham J. F. MORTON, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. WAIT. See: Alta Gay (WAIT) WEST MORTON
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WESTERHOFF, Charles, husband of Lena (GROTS), son of John and Elizabeth (?) WESTERHOFF. This biography is from page 219 of the 1967 book On A Bend of the River, posted here courtesy of the author, Jane Ramsay Graff.
[Surnames: BRAWNER, GROTS, GRUBER, SCHMIEDING, WELCH, WESTERHOFF ]

CHARLES WESTERHOFF FAMILY
                            by Alvera Mary Welch Brawner

    Charles Westerhoff, son of John and Elizabeth Westerhoff married Lena Grots, granddaughter of Rev. Gruber in 1905. They purchased the farm that had been homesteaded by his parents and continued to live there until his death in August 1957. Mrs. Westerhoff remained on the farm until her death in 1966.
    One son, Clifford, was born in 1908, and has made his home in Seward since his marriage to the former Olga Schmieding of Garland in May 1937. Cliff has been engaged in the petroleum industry in Seward for the past 30 years. He purchased the bulk plant and serves Seward and Saline counties as a bulk agent for Phillips Petroleum Company. In April 1965 he received recognition for 25 years of service with the company.
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WHITE, Clarence "Bud", husband of Verna Fern "Bunny" (ARMAGOST) WHITE, obituary, Lincoln Journal Star, September 3, 1987. Submitted by Ann Miller White, daughter-in-law of the deceased.
[Surnames: ARMAGOST, DEAN, KUNERT, SMETTER, STIENBERGER, WELLER, WHITE]

    White -- Clarence, 69, Beaver Crossing, died Tuesday in Seward. WWII Navy veteran. Past elevator manager, Beaver Crossing Elevator. Member, American Legion Holmes Post 178, Beaver Crossing. Survivors: wife, Verna; sons, Jack, Robert, Kenneth, all of Beaver Crossing, Ronald, Lincoln, Gordon, St. Paul; daughters Mrs. Jerry (Sandra) Smetter, Republican City, Mrs. James (Sherri) Dean, Giddings, Texas, Mrs. Ronald (Gayle) Kunert, Wendy White, both Beaver Crossing; brother, Harold, Schuyler; sisters, Pearl Weller, Garden City, Kansas, Mabel Stienberger, Marcola, Oregon; 19 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
    Services: 10 a.m. Friday, Methodist Church, Beaver Crossing. Beaver Crossing Cemetery. Memorials to family. Moore's Funeral Home, Beaver Crossing.
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WHITE, Robert H., son of Clarence "Bud" and Verna Fern "Bunny" (ARMAGOST) WHITE, husband of Marilyn "Sue", obituary, Lincoln Journal Star, July 5, 1995. Submitted by Ann Miller White, sister-in-law of the deceased.
[Surnames: DEAN, ENGEL, KUNERT, REDINGER, ROBERTS, TRUE, SCHAEFER, SMETTER, WAMBOLD, WHITE]

    White -- Robert H. 48, Beaver Crossing, died Sunday (7/2/95) Employee, Control Data, Lincoln; Hearthstone, York; Community Care Center, Utica. Graduate, Beaver Crossing High School. Vietnam veteran. Member, American Legion Post 178, Seward Jaycees, baseball, softball, bowling teams. Survivors: wife, Marilyn "Sue", son, Derek, Beaver Crossing; daughter, Amy White, Beaver Crossing; mother, Verna "Bunny", Beaver Crossing; brothers, sisters-in-law: Jack and Mary Anne, Kenny and Carol all of Beaver Crossing, Ron and Ann, Lincoln, Gordon and Carmen, St. Paul; sisters, brothers-in-law, Sandy and Jerry Smetter, Doniphan; Sherri and Jim Dean, Giddings, Texas; Gayle Kunert, Beaver Crossing; grandson, Cameron; nieces, nephews, friends. Preceded in death by father, Clarence.
    Services: 2 PM Wednesday, United Methodist Church, Beaver Crossing. The Rev. Carl True, Beaver Crossing Cemetery. Pallbearers: "Ace" Randy Roberts, Jim Redinger, Benny Engel Jr., John Kunert, Rick Schaefer, Trent Wambold. Visitation 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday. Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Beaver Crossing; one hour before services, church. Memorials care of family.
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WHITE, Verna Fern "Bunny" (ARMAGOST), wife of Clarence "Bud" WHITE, funeral pamphlet obituary. Submitted by Ann Miller White, daughter-in-law of the deceased.
[Surnames: ARMAGOST, BUCKINGHAM, DEAN, ELZNIC, KUNERT, MOYER, SCHRINER, SMETTER, THEISSEN, WHITE]

    Verna Fern "Bunny" White, 79, of Beaver Crossing died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, at her home.
    She was born Dec. 19, 1920, on a farm near Sheridan, Wyo., to Walter and Mary Fern (Buckingham) Armagost, the youngest of four children. She attended the public schools in Riverton, Neb., and graduated in 1939 as salutatorian of her class. On Nov. 7, 1939, she was married to Clarence "Bud" White in Fremont. To this union five sons and three daughters were born: Jack, Ron, Robert, Kenneth, Gordon, Sandra, Sherri, and Gayle.
    In their early years, they lived in California and Schuyler, before moving to Beaver Crossing in 1950 where Bunny worked at the City Meat Market from 1961 to 1974.
    She is survived by her sons, Jack (Mary Anne) White of Beaver Crossing, Ron (Ann) White of Lincoln, Kenneth (Carol) White of Beaver Crossing, Gordon (Carmen) White of Sutherland; daughters, Sandra (Jerry) Smetter of Doniphan, Sherri (Jim) Dean of Giddings, Texas, and Gayle Kunert of Beaver Crossing; daughter-in-law, Sue White of Beaver Crossing; a special granddaughter, Wendy Elznic, whom she raised; 21 additional grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Theissen, Myrtle Point, Ore.; brother, Loran (Catherine) Armagost of Shelton, Wash., and several nieces and nephews.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bud; son Robert; great-granddaughter, Skylar Elznic; and sister, Adeline Schriner.
    A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, at the United Methodist Church in Beaver Crossing with the Rev. Michael Moyer officiating. There will be cremation and no interment or visitation. Memorials have been established and can be directed in care of the family. Lauber-Moore Funeral Home in Beaver Crossing is in charge of arrangements.
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WILLIAMS, Lucinda A. (MORTON), wife of Edmund P. WILLIAMS: see Lucinda A. (MORTON) SKILLMAN WILLIAMS
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WIMBERLEY, Thomas M., husband of Ina E. (HAYNES). This biography is from W. W. Cox, History of Seward County Nebraska and Reminiscences of Territorial History, Part Two: Biographical, 1905, pages 197-198:
[Surnames: HAYNES, WIMBERLEY]

THOMAS M. WIMBERLEY

    One of the lads that played on the streets of Seward in the long ago. Is now one of the live real estate men of University Place, Nebraska. He was born in Christian County, Illinois, but was sharp enough to find Nebraska in his early childhood. Came to light and life, October 2, 1859.
    When Thomas got big enough he won the heart of Miss Ina E. Haynes of Butler County and was married, December 3, 1883. She was [p.198] born among the everlasting hills of York state, April 27, 1865, and came to Nebraska in early childhood. They have one daughter, Miss Bertha May.
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WINSOR, Joseph Lincoln, husband of Mary E. DeCAMP, son of Abram Rounds and Harriett (?) WINSOR. This biography is from page 220 of the 1967 book On A Bend of the River, posted here courtesy of the author, Jane Ramsay Graff.
[Surnames: DeCAMP, HANNAH, HANSEN, INGHAM, LAMPSON, SMITH, WILLIAMS, WINDSOR, WINSOR, WOHLGEMUTH]

WINSOR

    Joseph Lincoln Winsor of Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, the youngest son of Abram Rounds and Harriett Winsor, was born near Dubuque, Iowa, on March 4, 1865.
    Joseph L. Winsor was a direct descendent of Sir Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, Captain Abraham Rounds Winsor of the Revolutionary War, and one of the earliest English families in America, dating from Joshua Windsor at Boston in 1630.
    Joseph L. Winsor was a direct descendant [sic: That line is a repeat of start of previous paragraph; correct line is missing] [arrived in Seward] County, Nebraska, where they set up a homestead on June 14, 1869, and near this vicinity he resided the rest of his life. Joseph's father, two sons and one daughter filed on homesteads. The family came here from Jackson County, Iowa. The family consisted of seven children--Philera, Carlton Abram, John Graham, Lydia, Mary, Joseph Lincoln, and Jannette, a married daughter who remained in Iowa.
    Mr. Winsor has told some vivid accounts of Seward County's early history and some of these accounts follow.
    In the afternoon of the day when the Winsor family arrived, three of the boys unloaded the wagons and took off the top boxes. Then they covered and fastened them to the ground. That evening they had bread, coffee and milk--prepared over a camp fire. It rained very hard that night with about two inches of rain on the ground in the morning. That morning there were two large elk, standing in the yard and viewing the new comers. They ate bread and milk for breakfast, as their dry wood was floating around in the water. Joseph's mother had baked a supply of bread in Lincoln, at the home of an old friend. That morning Joseph's father and one brother started breaking prairie sod with two yoke of oxen. Ten of the boys went South to the Blue River for a load of wood. They made mound along the way, in order to find their way back.
    The second week Joseph's father went to Camden and hired a man, by the name of Lampson to bore a well. He found water at 97 feet and the family was very grateful for pure cold water to drink, after drinking lukewarm water for two weeks. For the next two or three years, this well furnished water for the new comers for several miles around.
    Joseph's father and two of the boys started building his father's sod house. It was sixteen feet by twenty-four feet on the inside, with walls two to three feet thick. The roof had three full length ridge-poles cut from trees about twenty inches through at the large end, with posts eight feet from the wall at the small ends. That helped make a partition for the beds. The rest of the roof consisted of slabs from the saw mill at Camden. One brother and sister had a shallow ravine on their land and each made a dug out with a sod end and one window and a door. Another brother had a log and pole cabin.
    Then things went along nicely until the grasshoppers came. The grasshoppers were so thick you could not see the sun for hours at a time. When they came down they ate anything and everything including the jackets and coats the men had taken off while working. The corn was beginning to tassle and nothing was left, except stalks about two feet long.
    As a small boy, Mr. Winsor remembered the Indians. The Indians were moving from Omaha to the Indian Territory. He stood on the old sod house and watched a string of Indians coming across from the northeast in single file with tent poles fastened to sides of ponies and a kind of basket or swing fastened to poles behind them. Two or three Indians were riding and the papoose was strapped to the back of a squaw. The squaws walked, having charge of the procession. The chiefs and braves rode ponies. The prestige of an Indian Brave was estimated by the number of feathers in his cap, each feather signifying a victory.
    Another memory was of the three day blizzard which began on Easter Sunday in late April 1874 or 75. The snow blew and whirled so thick, you couldn't see three feet ahead. Three men and a lady lost their way and asked to stay with the Winsors. Joe's father told them they could sit by the fire. They took a bed cord off of an old fashioned bed, fastened a clothes line to it and had a line from the house to the stable, the well, and the corn crib.
    The men took turns carrying corn for fuel and they sat by the stove, during the entire blizzard.
    On October 11, 1884, Mr. Joseph Winsor married Mary E. DeCamp of Solon, Iowa. They had five daughters--Mrs. Grace Smith, Mrs. Marietta Wohlgemuth, Mrs. Jessie Hannah, Mrs. Alice Ingham and Mrs. Ruby Hansen.
    Mrs. Winsor passed away in 1945, and Mr. Winsor two years later.
    Mr. Winsor took a great interest in his hometown and was an active participant in Seward County and Nebraska affairs, and was one of the last of the early settlers in this vicinity.
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WULLENWABER, Frederick N., husband of Lena A. (BECHTEL), son of Nicholas and Hannah (SHOEMAKER) WULLENWABER. This biography is from W. W. Cox, History of Seward County, Nebraska and Reminiscences of Territorial History, Part Two: Biographical, 1905, pages 196-197:
[Surnames: BECHTEL, WULLENWABER]

F. N. WULLENWABER

    This young man came to Seward County, when a lad of seven summers, in 1877, and grew to manhood on his father's farm southwest of [p.197] Seward. After getting all the good possible out of the country schools, he spent two years at the Seward high school. Commenced business with his father in the farm implement trade at Seward in 1894, and in the spring of 1904, became the sole proprietor and is doing a large business. It is very pleasing to note the steady advancement of this Seward County boy to the prominent place he holds among the business men of this city.
    Was married to Miss Lena A. Bechtel of Seward, at Omaha, June 8, 1898. These young people both were born in Illinois. Mrs. Wullenwaber came to Seward County when fourteen years old. The future historian may name their children. We can't wait to do that.
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WULLENWABER, Nicholas, husband of Hannah (SHOEMAKER). This biography is from W. W. Cox, History of Seward County, Nebraska and Reminiscences of Territorial History, Part Two: Biographical, 1905, pages 195-196 (photo from p. 195 courtesy Pat Ryan White):
[Surnames: BLUNKENSHIP, BRAINARD, SHOEMAKER, WULLENWABER]

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NICHOLAS WULLENWABER

    A German born lad that found the way to the United States when twelve years old to find a better home. Was born February 20, 1845 in Prussia. In 1869, we find the young man in Taswell [sic: Tazewell] County, Illinois where he found a girl from the Fatherland, Miss Hannah Shoemaker. Uncle Nick talked very nice to her and she consented to be his bride and they were married, February 7, 1869. She was born in Prussia, June 10, 1848. They have six children, viz: Frederick N., Sophia, Maria, now Mrs. D. Brainard; Minnie, now Mrs. W. A. Blunkenship [sic]; Augusta and Bertha.
    Mr. Wullenwaber came to Seward County in 1876 and settled in "K" precinct, where he improved a model farm. Some years ago he moved to Seward and engaged in the implement trade but has now retired and is taking life easy, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life.
    Mr. Wullenwaber is rather a model citizen wide-awake, full of enterprise. We wish we had ten thousand just like him. He is a member [p.196] of the Modern Woodman. The church home of the family is with the Evangelical church.
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WULLENWABER, Philip, husband of Elsie (HENDRICKS). This biography is from W. W. Cox, History of Seward County, Nebraska and Reminiscences of Territorial History, Part Two: Biographical, 1905, page 196:
[Surnames: ECKLES, GEMBLER, HENDRICKS, HOOS, WULLENWABER]

PHILIP WULLENWABER

    Another plucky German lad that crossed the deep sea at nine years of age. Was born April 20, 1849. His parents settled in Taswell [sic: Tazewell] County, Illinois in 1858. There Philip grew to manhood and married Miss Elsie Hendricks, November 30, 1872. She was a German girl that came from the old home in childhood, born July 21, 1849.
    They are the parents of nine children, viz: Philip P. N., who died near Seward at eighteen, Annie E., now Mrs. C. Gembler; William A., Emma, now Mrs. O. Hoos; Lewis H., Julia, now Mrs. A. Eckles; Lucy, Henry and Frederick C. They came to Seward County in 1877 and settled in "K" town on section 23, on railroad land, where Mr. Wullenwaber has a most excellent farm and well improved. He is one of our enterprising wide-awake citizens. Has a membership in the M. W. A.
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