FAMILY STORIES

nise. Dennis divorced and married Sandra Kay Bergman on April 24, 1971. Their daughters are Annette Michelle and Valerie Laurene. They live in Arvada, Colo.

   Denny is employed by Western Weigh and is an inspector for the railroad.

   Roy and Laura moved to Springfield in 1968. Roy was employed by Sarpy Co. Garage and Laura taught third and fifth grades in the Springfield school. She was employed in Sarpy County Schools 17 years and 27 years in Nebraska schools. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary July 4, 1983. Submitted by Mrs. Laura Mae Webb

   Lyle Wedberg, fourth member in a family of eight, was born and raised on a farm near Ceresco. He attended School District 58 for eight years and graduated from Ceresco High School.

The Lyle Wedberg Family

   My parents, John Wedberg and Florence Evans, grew up and married in Saunders County. They engaged in general farming until retirement.

   Lyle married Louise Dellera in 1950 in California. Lyle was inducted into the Army, March 4, 1941, C Co. 159th Inf. 40th Division at $21.00 per month.

   Louise is the eighth child of a family of eleven and was born and raised in Marin County, California. She attended grade school and graduated from high school in San Rafael. Her parents, Louis and Josephine, came from Italy and settled in Marin County, California.

   Following Lyle's discharge from the Army, they came to Nebraska and engaged in general farming. In 1948 they purchased the S.W. ¼ Sec. 12 T-13-R7 Richland Precinct at $125 per acre. This farm was originally Western Union Pacific Railroad property and the Wedbergs are the third owners since that time.

   Lyle and Louise have three children, all who attended grade school at District 48, and graduated from high school in Saunders Co. John is married and is the father of two daughters. He is an Extension Entomologist at University of Madison, Wisconsin. Arnold "Chip" is married and the father of two daughters. He is Branch Manager of Commercial Federal Savings and Loan in Omaha. Linda is teaching in the College of Vermillion, South Dakota as a Dental Hygienist.

   The Wedbergs are now retired and residing on their farm.

   Rev. Herman Gustav Wegner was born February 10, 1859 in the village of Sowen near Falkenburg, Koslin, Pommern. He was confirmed here in the spring of 1873. That fall his mother, Wilhelmina (Schlueter) Wegner, died. His father remarried to Henrietta Procknow and in the spring of 1877 the family came to America. They arrived at Archer, Nebraska at the home of Herman's uncle on the 6th of May. The family included Wilhelm Friedrich Wegner, his second wife, Henrietta, and sons; Karl F., "Will", August F., Herman G. and Gustave F. who later (1891) married Augusta A. Schiefelbein, daughter of early pioneers, Frederick C. and Pauline (Mallwitz) Schiefelbein.

   Herman became an Evangelical minister and on the first Sunday in October 1882 took over the North Loup Mission. In the spring of 1883 he was licensed as a Preacher on Probation at Louisville, Nebraska. He also served the Ithaca church.

   On July 3, 1886 he married Maria Eva Frei, daughter of Friedrich and Regina (Walker) Frei of Clay County, Nebraska by Rev. N. Inholder. The couple had seven children;

   (1)  Esther Emilie b. 1887; married William Schmitt; resided Madison, Neb.
   (2)  Dr. Ernest Salomon b. 1889; married Myrtle Geier; resided York and Lincoln, Neb.;
   (3)  Oscar Benjamin b 1841; married Allie Phillips; resided Fremont, Neb.;
   (4)  Sgt. Aaron Ezra b. 1893; died 1918 in military service;
   (5)  Martha Regina b. 1895; married David Wacker; resided Loveland, Colo.;
   (6)  Dr. Carl Reinhardt b. 1898; married Elisabeth Welsh resided St. Louis, Mo.;
   (7)  Dr. Walter Robert b. 1901; married Irene Clarke; resided Wellesley, Mass.

   At the time of his death (December 23, 1945) Rev. Herman G. Wegner was retired from his pastorate at Loveland, Colorado. He is buried there in Loveland Burial Park.

   His first wife, Maria Eva (Frei) Wegner, was born in Mendota, Illinois on July 3, 1869. She came to Clay County, Nebraska to make her home with her family in Marshall Precinct. She passed away at Loveland, Colorado on December 11, 1921 and is buried in Loveland in the Loveland Burial Park. Buried with Rev. and Mrs. H.G. Wegner is their son, Aaron E. Wegner.

   After his first wife's death, Rev. Wegner married on 9 March 1923. He took for his wife the widow of his brother-in-law, Wilhelm Frei. She was Maria (Eifert) Frei, daughter of John and Catharina (Kauck) Eifert. Molly (Eifert) Wegner passed away in Lincoln, Nebraska on 4 January 1947 and is buried with her first husband, Wilhelm Frei, in Grand Island Cemetery in Grand Island, Nebraska. D. JoAnn Schiefelbein

   My father, William Weidensall, my mother, Anna Goettsch Weidensall, my older sister, Naomi, my little brother, Robert, and I, Wilma Jean, moved to Yutan in 1921 to live in the first two-story house built by my ancestors in 1878. They had purchased 32 acres of land (which grew to 1120) for $6 an acre.

Roy A. and Wilma Johnston Worthy Matron -- Worthy Patron Stella Chapter #57 Wahoo

   The Weidensall men had been cabinet makers and carpenters in Virginia and Pennsylvania from 1756 to 1866, and Dad, too, followed that trade.

   Dad's great-grand uncle, Robert, came to spend his last days with us. After his death in 1922, Dad went to work for the Union Pacific and we moved from the "Old Home Place" to a smaller house on what is now on the corner of Oak and Elm streets.

   We children had a lot of fun around the stock yard. Mom often wondered what happened to all her umbrellas as we used them as parachutes while jumping off the stock cars into a sand pile near the loading chute. We hid the wrong side out umbrellas under the chute. We had to play the game without their aid when too many never returned home.

   Tragedy hit our home in 1924, when I contracted scarlet fever and diphtheria. It caused my seven-year-old brother's death. We were quarantined for three months which caused me to be put back a grade in school.

   Naomi went to San Francisco to live with a wealthy aunt and uncle. Being the only child at home, I was raised with very strict rules.

   I graduated from Yutan High School in 1933. In 1936 I met and married Roy A. Johnston, who had come to town to work on the Union Pacific. Our son, Dennis, was born in 1937 and is now vice president of L.C.P. Associates on Tudor Place, New York City. He is in the 1982 book of WHO'S WHO of Finance and Industry.

   He married Dorothy Carr of Janesville, Wisc. who is a lovely woman with many talents. They live in Chatham, N.J. where Dorothy is a remedial teacher. Kristin and Ami are their two beautiful daughters.

   Our daughter, Pamela, was born in 1944. She had a daughter, Kelly, two sons, Edward Robert and Michael Dean, with her first husband, Edward Easley. She is married again and working in Omaha.

   Her son, "Bob" came to live with us in 1980, graduated from Yutan High School in 1982. He enlisted in the Army for two years and is stationed in Germany. He plans to attend U.N.L. to become a lawyer.

   Dad died in 1942 and Mom celebrated her 93rd birthday in a rest center in Wahoo. Mom is the last to carry the Weidensall name.

   Roy retired from Union Pacific after 43 years. He's active in our U.C.C. church, Masonic and Royal Arch lodges. Having been twice elected Silver Haired Senator to Neb's. Unicameral, he has done a lot of good for Senior Citizens in Neb. We are Past Matron and Past Patron of Stella Chapter O.E.S. in Wahoo.

   I was a registered Girl Scout adult for 26 years where I served as a board member, leader, camp director, and adviser. I am now enjoying the Senior Citizen program in Yutan.

   We are living a happy and useful life. Submitted by Wilma J. Johnston

   Ben O. Wesely met Mary Humlicek in 1920 at a platform dance in Abie. These dances were very popular in those days and people walked and/or drove some distance to get there. Ben sometimes played in one of the bands that performed at these dances. The pay was small, sometimes just an "ice cream cone for an evening's work."

   Ben's parents were Frank and Mary (Junek) Wesely. They farmed near Cedar Bluffs. Frank was born in Zak County, Caslav, Czechoslovakia in December, 1858. He came to the United States at the age of four. He died in 1938. Mary was born March 7, 1863. She died in February, 1912.

   Their children were Ben O., Ludvik, Frances, Emil and Libbie. All are deceased except Libbie.

   Mary Humlicek's parents were Frank and Frances (Codr) Humlicek. Frank came to the United States from Austria at the age of 14. Frances Codr was born in Czechoslovakia on Sept. 27, 1865. She died Jan. 17, 1953. They had met, married and settled on a farm near Linwood.

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May 1, 1923 Ben O. and Mary (Humlicek) Wesely

   Children born to the Humliceks were Frank, Agnes, Anton, Mary, Lydia and Ed. Mary, Anton, Ed and Lydia are still living.

   Ben O. inherited a farm near Cedar Bluffs and built a house there. After his marriage to Mary Humlicek May 1, 1923 at Cedar Hill Catholic Church, he built the other buildings on the farmstead. Mary still resides there. Ben died in 1971.

   During their married life, Mary was a dedicated homemaker. She tended a large flower and vegetable garden, and for years had a huge strawberry patch. She also does crocheting, quilting and Czech baking.

   Ben and Mary have three children: Frank, Ben E., and Eugene.

   Frank married Irene Simanek. They have two children: Mrs. Leroy (Shirley) Dvorak and Larry Wesely. Frank and Irene farm near Malmo.

   Ben E. married Irene Kubik. Irene taught for 8½ years at rural Saunders County schools. To this marriage were born two children: Mrs. Kevin (Sharon) Capron and Dan Wesely. Dan is married to the former Deann Vyhlidal. In 1973, Irene passed away. In 1981 Ben married Margaret (LeGrand) Watson. Margaret has been employed as a typesetter at newspapers for 21 years, the last 16 years at The Schuyler Sun. Ben farms near Morse Bluff.

   Eugene married Maxine Fencl. Eugene served in the Korean War from 1951-1953. He was wounded in Korea in 1953. Maxine taught for four years at rural Dodge and Saunders County schools. They farm near Cedar Bluffs. Three children were born to this marriage. They are Richard Wesely, Mrs. David (Monica) Glodowski and Mrs. Ken (Carolyn) Rezac.

   Mary Wesely has six great-grandchildren: Scott and LeeAnn Dvorak; Eric, Nathan and Carrie Capron; and Aaron Glodowski. Submitted by Mrs. Ben E. Wesely

   Ely Wesely, son of Joseph and Lizzie Wesely, was born and raised on a farm near Cedar Bluffs. He lived there with his parents, two brothers, and two sisters, namely, Joe, Ed, Emma, and Lillian. In 1927, he married Henrietta Nemec from Garland and brought her home to live and farm there until 1934 when he, his wife, Henrietta, and two children moved to a farm northeast of Prague, Nebr. owned by John Wilcox who was a bachelor. That same year another daughter was born, which now made them 3 children. The oldest, a son named Raymond, a daughter, Irene, and another daughter, Marcene, made up the family. In 1936, the family had a house fire which destroyed their home. The fire started in a cob house. A passer-by saw the flames on his way home from a dance at night and came to awaken them. You might say he saved their lives. He helped them get an accordion, a trunk, and the kids out but that's all that could be saved. They had only the clothes on their backs. Neighbors and friends helped by giving them a place to stay overnight and some bedding and clothes.

Ely Wesely

   That same year the crops were very poor. They had no meadow, no wheat. The cows were fed on oats straw and, after all the corn was picked, they got only one load of corn which had to be shared with the landlord on half. Times were really rough. That was during the depression. Somehow they managed to survive as many did. Then, in 1942, the family moved to a farm closer to Prague owned by Charley Wolf. They really felt luxurious that year because they had a windmill which generated electricity into a Delco battery for lights and water. They lived there through all the years till retirement. In 1960 they moved to Malmo, Nebraska and bought a house in town.

   Ely went to work at Economy Housing for a time and Henrietta was a housekeeper for Anna Reimers. Then Ely took the job of running the maintainer for the Precinct near Malmo. Their children each married. Raymond, their oldest, married Irene Sabata of David City. Irene married Milo Palensky of Octavia, and Marcene married Alden Havelka of Weston. Together they had 14 grandchildren and lived to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Febr. 16, 1976. That same year Henrietta passed away in April after a lingering illness.

   Ely continued living there until Sept., 1979 and then moved to the Westview Apartments in Wahoo where he resides at the present time.

   Ely recollects many memories of the times he and his brothers played for barn dances, weddings, etc. Sometimes they came home at 4 A.M. and went right to work. Ely loves his music. He played drums and accordion in his earlier years. He has entertained at Westview. His cassette player is his most prized possession now since arthritis has hindered his playing. He recorded tapes of himself, some with his grandson, Bob Palensky, with son-in-law, Milo, and some with daughter, Marcene. Ely is now 84 years old. (Ely died on April 1, 1983.) Submitted by Marcene Wesely Havelka

   My great-grandfather, Charles Wesely, came to the United States from Czechoslovakia to the state of Wisconsin. I don't know how long he and his family lived there.

   From there he came to Saunders County and homesteaded the farm where Emil Wesely now lives and is owner of part of the farm.

   My grandfather was Joe Wesely Sr. He married Elszebet Junek. They had five children, Ed, Joe, Emma Houfek, Ely, and Lillian Tenopir.

   My father was Joe A. Wesely Jr. He married Emma Beranek. Emma, my mother, passed away when I was two years, two and one-half months old. My grandparents, Joe Weselys, raised me to manhood. My dad, Joe Wesely Jr., was married again to Ethel Fisher. They had seven girls. The first one died in infancy. Six of my stepsisters are living. My stepmother is still living at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. My dad passed away four years ago on April 3.

   I married Berniece Cochran. Her maiden name was Berniece O. Jameson of Campbell, Nebraska. Berniece had three children when we were married on August 23, 1959. They are Sandra of California, Earl Cochran, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Marion Cochran, Scribner, Nebraska.

   I was in the service in World War II from May 18, 1942 to Oct. 1, 1945. After receiving my discharge on Oct. 1, 1945, I stayed in Virginia. I farmed for 2 years with my uncle, James J. Beranek. I came back to Nebraska on Dec. 9, 1947 to the farm where Don Kavan now farms. After 2 years, the farm was sold so I moved to the farm five and one-half miles north of Malmo. Then, on Dec. 8, 1960, I moved on the place I am presently farming northeast of Prague. Submitted by Orven E. Wesely

   On April 21, 1927 in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, Ely and Henrietta Nemec Wesely had their first child, Raymond Ely. He was soon joined by two sisters, Irene and Marcene.

The Raymond Wesely Family. Back Row: Kathy, Jim, Geri, Don, Susan, and David Wesely; Front Row: Linda, Irene, and Raymond Wesely.

   Ray attended kindergarten at District 34, a country school near Cedar Bluffs. He rode to school and back in a one-horse buggy with some neighbor children.

   When Ray was in first grade the family moved to a farm near Prague. Attending school at Dist. 92, Ray carried his lunches to school in a Karo Syrup bucket. He often helped the teacher clean erasers and wash the blackboard. Outside of school, Ray was taught to read and write in the Czech language by his Grandpa Joe Wesely.

   Ray attended his first dance at the age of three months at the German Hall in Cedar Bluffs where his father and uncle's band was playing. There were many barn dances in those days. They were held upstairs in the loft when it was empty. Sometimes dances were held in the corn crib. Whether the crib was a good place depended on what the temperature was outside, because it was very well-ventilated. Some dances were held in someone's house where the rugs were rolled up and the furniture moved out. The Wesely Band played and everyone danced.

   Ray helped his father farm and then farmed himself for two years before he joined the army in 1951 during the Korean War. He spent eighteen

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