FAMILY STORIES

Bank of Morse Bluff on June 27, 1891, but became cashier and chief executive officer of the bank until his death on March 10, 1955. The original bank was located in the building now housing the Morse Bluff Post Office. Like numerous banks in the United States during and after the great depression, the Bank of Morse Bluff was forced to close its doors; but unlike many of the others, the bank was to reopen. The bank closed Jan. 4, 1932. But, after several months of reorganization planning, its doors reopened on August 4, 1932. One of Mr. Wolf's lifelong goals was to repay the depositors of record and this was accomplished on May 20, 1950 when he was able to pay the final payment to the old waived depositors of the Bank of Morse Bluff.

   At the January, 1934 stockholders meeting, it was decided to change the name of the bank to the Platte Valley Bank and move across the Platte River, a distance of only two miles. The move officially took place in April, 1934.

   Emil E. Wolf Sr. was married to Miss Stella Tepley of Clarkson, Nebraska on October 12, 1909 in Fremont. They had two sons, Arden D., Emil E. Jr., and one daughter, Elaine. They lived in Morse Bluff until October 1947, at which time he established his residence in North Bend.

   Mr. Wolf was a member of the Masonic Lodge, a director of the Farmers Telephone Co. of Dodge County, president of the Wolf Sand and Gravel Co. of Morse Bluff, a director of the Omaha Public Power District, a former trustee of the North Bend Chamber of Commerce, a former ambassador of Ak-Sar-Ben, former president of the First Nebraska Regional Clearing house, a eight-county bankers' organization. He had farm holdings in Dodge and Saunders counties and was particularly interested in the development of irrigation in this area.

   Emil E. Wolf Sr. devoted his life to his family and his fellowman. He was always doing things for the progress of individuals, all civic organizations, and for the betterment of humanity and the community. Submitted by Tom and Deanna Wolf

   Although we are recent residents of Saunders County, our family history here dates back to 1910 when Tom's grandfather, Emil E. Wolf Sr., moved to Morse Bluff. Tom's father, Arden D. Wolf, was born in Morse Bluff Nov. 21, 1910 and graduated from the eighth grade, District 14, Morse Bluff. At this time, our children, the fourth generation Wolfs, are again attending the Morse Bluff school.

Tom and Deanna Wolf, Tommy, Katy, and Alex, October 1981

   Tom Wolf was born in Columbus, Nebraska in 1944 and lived in Grand Island before moving to North Bend in 1953. Tom graduated from North Bend High School, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Santa Clara, California with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. My maiden name was Deanna Hoffman. I grew up as one of nine children on a farm near Le Mars, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University. Tom and I were married in Omaha, Nebraska on July 29, 1972.

   We returned to this community April 1, 1974, after the death of Tom's father, who was then President of the Platte Valley Bank. Our temporary residence was in a family cabin at Wolf's Lakes. We picked a secluded spot for our home north of Morse Bluff and adjacent to the Platte River which we moved into Christmas Eve 1974. We have been blessed with three children, Tommy, age 7½, Katy, age 6, and Alex, age 2.

   The only disadvantage we have found living in Saunders County has been the spring flood of 1978 and 1979. Both floods required us to leave our home for at least one week. Although our home was not damaged, the road leading into it and Highway 79 were washed away. We walked, bicycled, and rowed a boat getting to and from our home until the water receded.

   We have become very involved in the community in which we live. Tom is president of the Platte Valley Bank, area Ak-Sar-Ben Ambassador, past president North Bend Chamber of Commerce, director of Birchwood Retirement home, charter member of North Bend JayCees, member of Knights of Columbus, member St. George's Catholic Church, chairman of the North Bend Civic Improvement Committee, and treasurer of the Morse Bluff Dike and Drainage District. I am currently president of the Morse Bluff District 14 School Board, past president of North Bend JayCeettes, an officer for the North Bend Chapter of P.E.O. and very active with our children. We enjoy many outdoor sports and activities which makes living where we do most enjoyable. Submitted by Deanna Wolf

   Hattie C. (Scow) Wolfe was born July 5, 1888 and raised northeast of Prague, Nebraska. She attended Duck Creek School. She told of the spelling bees, parties, lectures, etc. held at the school house which was used as a community meeting place. She married Charles M. Wolfe on January 1, 1908 at the farm home of her parents, Christian and Annie (Lees) Scow. Charles was born November 29, 1887 to Henry and Charlotta (Auten) Wolfe, who farmed southwest of Cedar Bluffs, Nebr. They had 5 children; Melvin E., Lawrence A., Clara I. Doss and two children who died in infancy.

Charles M. Wolfe Family 1968

   They farmed southwest of Cedar Bluffs until 1920 when they decided things looked more promising in Western Nebraska. So they packed their household goods and farm equipment and headed for Garden County. They lived at Oshkosh, Nebraska until 1936 when they came back to the "Prague Place" (where Hattie was born). In 1942 they acquired 130 acres southeast of Cedar Bluffs. In 1946, Charles decided it was time to retire. So he turned the farming chores over to Lawrence, who had just returned from service duty in Germany. After moving to Cedar Bluffs, Charles was janitor at the school for several years. Their next move was to Fremont where they remained until their deaths. Submitted by Ina Mae Wolfe

   On March 18, 1874 at the home of the groom's brother in Sand Creek, Henry Wolfe and Miss Charlotta Auten were united in marriage, the ceremony being in charge of George Miller, justice of the peace. They went to housekeeping immediately on a homestead 8 miles southwest of Cedar Bluffs in Douglas precinct, where they lived until 1908, when they retired from farm work and moved to California. The much advertised California climate did not appeal to them and they returned to Cedar Bluffs, where they purchased a residence and have made their home ever since. Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Masonic Lodge and both Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are affiliated with the Eastern Star.

Henry Wolfe Family, 1930. Back: Ira, Charles and Anson; Middle: Ann Thomas, Florence Smith, Ella Settles; Front: Charlotta and Henry Wolfe.

   Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are the parents of six children; Mrs. William M. Settles, Anson Wolfe, Ira D. Wolfe of Cedar Bluffs, Mrs. Charles Thomas of St. Edward, Mrs. Walter Smith, and Charles M. Wolfe of Oshkosh. There are also 26 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

   Both Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are natives of Indiana. Mr. Wolfe was born near Terra Haute, May 25th 1850 and came to Nebraska, Saunders County in 1872. On his arrival at Fremont, he learned there was no other way to get to his destination (he was headed for the home of his brother, Jacob Wolfe, in the Spring Creek neighborhood) than on foot, so he started out, stopping the first night with Mr. Walker and arriving at the home of his brother the following day. Only three houses were passed on the trip, the Walker home, Robert Fleming's and Thomas Griffin's.

   Mrs. Wolfe was born in Sullivan County, Indiana on August 26, 1857 and came to Nebraska overland in a prairie schooner with her parents in 1871. The family also settled in the Spring Creek neighborhood and it was here that the courting days were passed.

   NOTE: A prairie schooner is a long canvas-covered wagon used especially by immigrants crossing the prairies. Submitted by Ina Mae Wolfe

   Lawrence's and my paths crossed during the summer of 1937 at Riverton, Wyoming. I had gone

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to visit relatives in Wyoming. I was born and raised at Coin, Iowa. After High School graduation, I worked as a clerk in a grocery store in Coin and then went to work in the office of Dr. Hans Frenkel in Clarinda, Iowa. Lawrence was born and raised at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. He attended school at District 34, Saunders County, until 1920 when the family moved to Garden County, Oshkosh and he finished his education during his 8th grade. Farming was of more interest to him than book learning.

   In 1934, while they lived in Garden County, he decided to go to Wyoming to homestead 160 acres between Riverton and Pavillion, Wyoming. He built a house and barn on the land and stayed there until he was called in February, 1942 to serve in World War II in the Armoured Division. He was a POW from December, 1944 until May, 1945.

   Upon his return from Germany, we were married on June 14, 1945 at Coin, Iowa. On October 19, 1945 he was released from the Army at Cheyenne, Wyoming. We returned to Cedar Bluffs and set up housekeeping on a 130-acre farm owned by his parents, Charles and Hattie C. Wolfe, located one mile east and ½ mile south of the Cedar Bluffs corner.

   During our 37 years of togetherness, we have enjoyed the good life found here in the Midwest. It has been a challenge of hard work, milking cows and love of the land to acquire the 290 acres we now own.

   We have raised two sons, John C., born April 18, 1946, and Lloyd W., born November 18, 1948. They attended country school at District 12, Cedar Bluffs High School, and then on to the University for 4 or 5 years. John graduated with a major in English and taught school for 3 years at Beaver City and Halsey, Nebraska. He returned to the farm in 1975 and has taken over the farming since Lawrence's retirement. Lloyd graduated as an Electrical Engineer. He has been with Wesco for 10 years as a salesman -- living in Grand Island at this time. He was married on November 15, 1980 to Loye Fees of Miller, Nebraska and they have a son, Ryan Lawrence, born June 18, 1982. Loye and Lloyd have purchased land close to Miller, Nebraska -- looking forward to returning to farming in the future. Submitted by Ina Mae Wolfe

   John Jackson Wood was the son of John and Sarah Fleming Wood. His grandfather was also named John Wood. John was born near Manchester, Indiana, March 14, 1847. His mother died at his birth, leaving his father, a sister and a brother. When John was only six weeks old, his father bundled his belongings into a wagon and proceeded to Tyrome, Pennsylvania. When only eight years old, his father took the family to Lanark, Illinois where he lived until he was 18. He went to the Black Hills in employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. At the age of 22, John located and occupied a piece of land under the Homestead Act of Congress near Ashland, Nebraska.

John Jackson Wood Home

   Two years later, he paid a visit to Lanark, Illinois, and while there, he met and married Angeline Weed of Lyons, Iowa. John and Angeline moved from their farm 2 miles north of Memphis to 1 mile southeast of Memphis. The house and farm buildings were built by Angeline's brother, Henry Weed.

   John and Angeline Wood had three children, Lillian, Grant and Carrie. Lillian married Louis Calvert and resided in Wahoo. They had 4 children, Hallie, Carl, Orlo and Aleta. Lillian died in 1912.

   Carrie and Grant were horseback riders. They each had their own ponies and would ride them full speed, standing bareback. Carrie married Edward Anderson who was in the lumber business in Memphis. They had one child, Louise. Carrie and Louise passed away at an early age.

   Grant Wood, with his love for horses, began training and riding his own horses at age of 17. He raced these horses through the West until the age of 35 when he returned home to farm.

   In 1913, Angeline Wood became ill and Anna Voss, a registered nurse from Omaha, came to care for her. Anna married Grant Wood in 1914. They lived in Memphis. Then later, they moved to the farm and John and Angeline moved into the house in Memphis. Four children were born to Grant and Anna: Harley, LaVerne, Marie and Dorathea.

   John Wood died in 1923 and Angeline in 1925.

   In 1933, Harley Wood went to Omaha to work in sales for Cudahy Packing Company. In 1937, he married Blanche Green of Omaha. They have 2 children, Beverly Kay and Raymond.

   In 1938 LaVerne married Duane Gustafson and continued farming near Ithaca. They have 3 children, Dennis, Douglas, and Ronald.

   Grant Wood passed away in 1937. The farm was sold in 1941. Anna moved to Cleveland to live with Marie and Dorathea, who had employment there. Marie married Joe Ross in 1948. They have 3 children, twins, Karen and Larry, and Dianne.

   Dorathea married Harvey Rohr of Cleveland in 1942 and has 1 child, Roxanne. They were divorced in 1965. Dorathea married Carl Cornwall in 1971. Carl has 3 children, Richard, Holly, and Kelly by a former marriage.

   Saunders County, Nebraska has been a great birthplace. By Harley Wood

   My grandparents, Alfred and Emma Woolman, came from England in 1871 and homesteaded in Clay County, Nebraska; then moved to Republican City, Nebraska. They had nine children; the sixth, George, was my father. He owned a shoe and harness shop there until he became postmaster of Republican City. In 1898, he married my mother, Myrtle Ludi, oldest daughter of N.J. Ludi, editor of the local newspaper. George and Myrtle had seven children. I am the youngest.

   The Ludi ancestry goes back to Switzerland for the name and to John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley, both passengers on the Mayflower.

   In 1902 the N.J. Ludi family, including Bessie, Raymond, Ernest, Belle, Harry, Nellie and Guy, came to Wahoo where N.J. bought the newspaper and renamed it the Wahoo Democrat. My mother, Myrtle, who was already married, remained in Republican City.

   In 1934, at age 23, I came to Wahoo to work for Ludi Printing Co. (Wahoo Democrat). With time out for 3½ years in the service, 18 months in Europe, during World War II, I continued to work there until I retired.

   In 1868, Lucile's grandparents, Nels E. Bruce and his wife of one month, Johanna, left Sweden for the United States, lived in Chicago for a few years then moved to a farm near Malmo. Their oldest son, Eric P. Bruce, born 1869 in Chicago, was Lucile's father. He had a music store in Omaha where he met Edla Eskelson, whose parents, John and Karen Eskelson, also emigrated from Sweden in 1880. Edla celebrated her first birthday on the ship coming over. Eric and Edla were married April, 1901. They had five children, Russell, Dorothy, Lester, Bernadine, and Lucile. Eric died in 1912 and Edla and the children moved to Wahoo shortly thereafter. In 1915 she married David A. Anderson and moved to the Malmo area.

   Lucile attended country school Districts 70 and 88 here in Saunders County, and Wahoo High School. She worked for Brodahl Motor Co. and Burmeister Bros.

   We were married in 1941. In 1942, I went into the service. After my discharge I resumed working at the newspaper. I retired in 1976.

   We have three sons, Gary, Brian, and Dennis.

   Gary, a school teacher at Hampton, Nebraska, married JaDell Schleif of Davenport, Nebraska, and has two daughters, Shiloh and London.

   Brian works for Hellstar Mfg. Co. here in Wahoo. He is married to Dianne Canarsky of Wahoo. They have two children, Shannon and Jeremy.

   Dennis married Jeanne O'Leary of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, lives in Omaha and works at Creighton Uni. as a computer Systems Analyst. Jeanne is also a Systems Analyst.

   Lucile and I have lived in a big old house on Sycamore Street for the past 28 years. It seems kind of large for the two of us, but it's home, and when, the family comes, it is fine. Submitted by Harry E. Woolman

   Frank Wright and Mary Anna Miller met in High School in Valparaiso. They were married 8 July 1903, in Wahoo, at the home of her brother, Dr. Moses Miller, a prominent dentist there.

Dr. and Mrs. Frank T. Wright, July 8, 1953. Left to Right: Pauline Bennett, Dr. Wright, Willard, Mary, and Evonne Berger.

   Frank Wright was born 1 January 1875, in a sod house near Valparaiso. His parents, William Owen Wright and Emily Valinda Giffin, were married 15 December 1870, near Valparaiso. William's parents were Thomas Ownsby Wright and Jane Phillips (Sparks) Wright, who migrated from Adair County, Kentucky, in 1839, to Springfield, Illinois. They had twelve children of whom my grandfather, William Owen, was the twelfth. The above families all homesteaded in Saunders County.

   William and Emily's children were: Luther, William, Frank, Elizabeth, Coral, Sarah, Effie, Pearl, Edythe and Eve. Emily's parents, who homesteaded in Butler County and later lived in Valparaiso, were George Milligan Giffin and Sara Anne (Bellville) Giffin. His grandfather, Robert Giffen, came from Scotland, in 1777, and served in the Revolutionary War. Sara's grandfather, Cornelius Belveal, also served in that war.

   My mother, Mary (Miller) Wright, was born near Ceresco, 15 December 1875. Her parents were James Miller and Elizabeth (Paul) Miller. He came from Ireland in the late 1850's and she came about 1860, to the home of her father's brother, John Hyndman Paul, in Illinois. They were married in 1864 in Illinois. They homesteaded near Ceresco, in 1873.

   My grandmother, Elizabeth Paul, was a daughter of Moses Paul and Elizabeth (Hyndman) Paul, of County Antrim, Ireland. Moses and Elizabeth had ten children. Around 1860, the first five immigrated to Illinois. James and Elizabeth Miller and her uncle, John Hyndman Paul, and her brother, John Hyndman Paul and families came to near Ceresco, in 1873. James and Elizabeth had nine children; Elizabeth, William, Moses, Samuel, Robert (A), Mary, Rachel, Robert (B), Rose Etta.

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