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Centennial History Book
Then there were DISASTERS
GEORGE STEVENS FAMILY
The news got back to Iowa about Nebraska, the good land, and the best part of all was that one could get 160 acres just for living on it. Because of this, George Stevens and his wife, Sarah, with their three sons, Elmer, Fred and Finley, left Bentonsport, Iowa and came to Nebraska. A daughter, S. Lizzie, passed away three years prior to this. She had diphtheria. They arrived in Plum Creek (Lexington) on March 4th, 1884, along with other happy hopeful homeseekers.
The land that they chose is about four miles west of Eustis. The farm is now owned by Raymond and Edna Bartruff. The first thing was to build a house. A hole in the hill served as part of the house and in front of this, a room was made of that durable building material, sod. For awhile no boards graced the floor. Water was the chief problem. They and the John Jacks, who homesteaded just south of them, hauled water from the Mackey ranch and the Christ Grabenstein, Sr. farm. In the fall of 1885, Miles McGrew dug them a well.
The first year, 25 or 30 acres of the virgin sod, was turned over and became a field.
The John Jacks, William Oielers, John Kochs and the Merideths were their closest neighbors. Later on in the year of 1884, A. W. Easterday and others moved in. New acquaintances were quickly formed and comradeship flourished in this new country. Many happy times were experienced by all their children with them. The nice part is that the grandsons and their families of these pioneer people are still enjoying this same fine friendship that was spawned nearly a century ago in this community.
Mr. Stevens helped organize the school District #51, a sod school house, which was built on the Stevens land. Miss Strickland (Mrs. John Jack) was the first teacher. Mrs. Ristine also taught a term. Gene Stevens taught the first term in the new frame building. This building was sold in the 1950’s and is now a resident in Lexington. District #51 is now a part of the Eustis Consolidated school.
In 1892 their sod house began to leak very badly. Fred remarked that he had to hold an umbrella over Finley to keep the water off him. That year they built a story and a half frame house.
On a beautiful warm day on May 11, 1893, a heartbreaking tragedy struck a blow to this family. On this day Mr. Stevens went with John Koch, Sr. to Farnam. As he came out of Dunham’s drug store, John Walker, a rancher, who lived on the farm now owned by Howard Wolf, and who had brooded over a fancied wrong, had been sitting on the sidewalk. He fired a revolver at Mr. Stevens, hitting him through the hand first and again through the elbow, and as Mr. Stevens started to run, another bullet hit him in the back, critically wounding him. One bullet hit Mr. Wycoff, but did not seriously injure him. Mr. Stevens was taken to the Dave Seth residence, where medical attention and kindness was lavished upon him, but to no avail. He passed away four days later on May 15th and was buried by his request in the Farnam cemetery.
Mrs. Anna Leedham, an aunt of Mrs. Stevens came in 1890 to make her home with the Stevens. She enjoyed this home, until her death in 1911. In the meantime, Mrs. Stevens’ mother also found a haven and lived here until she was 91 years old. She passed away in February, 1912. Both ladies were buried in the family lot in the Farnam cemetery.
After the death of Mr. Stevens, Mrs. Stevens lived with her sons on the old homestead for many years. During these years, she enjoyed the lodge work and her many friends, for she was a friend to all. She passed away August 4, 1927. She too, was laid to rest in the Farnam cemetery beside her husband, George.
They, like all pioneers, endured the hazards of prairie fires, blizzards, droughts and sickness. Their faith in God and courageous hearts were their allies.
Elmer Stevens married Mary Smith. He passed away March 3, 1929. They had no children.
Finley Stevens married Ethel Farmer of Farnam. They moved to Hill City, Kansas, where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. He passed away October 13, 1929. They had four children, Rex, Dorothy, Kenneth and Helen.
Fred Stevens married Della Pickering Mitchell. One son, Robert, was born to this union. Fred passed away June 21,
Robert Stevens, who is a grandson of George Stevens, with his family have lived on a farm one mile west of the Stevens’ homestead all his life. This farm was purchased by his father, Fred Stevens, from Edward L. Drewing. This farm is located equal distance between Eustis and Farnam along Highway North 23.
Robert married Donna McNeal of Gothenburg June 13th, 1944. Donna taught school two years in Dawson County and one year at the Lone Star school south of Farnam. Robert has worked nearly thirty years for Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation (also, called Tri-County) at Gothenburg. He has also been a Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church for the same length of time, having spoken in approximately sixty churches and as long as one year in four of these churches. He presently serves on the Holdrege Methodist Memorial Homes Board and the Deaconal Ministry Board of Nebraska. Robert and Donna have five children. Fred, his wife, Marlys and three children live at Webster City, Iowa, where he is District Vice President of First Federal Savings and Loan. Robin, his wife, Lynnette, and two daughters, live at Gothenburg. Robin is head basketball coach and teacher there. His wife also teaches Physical Education at 100R and does substitute teaching in the Gothenburg Public Schools. Mac is presently a student at Colorado State in Fort Collins. Kim is a Senior at Kearney State and his wife, Donna, is employed at the First Presbyterian Church and Good Samaritan Hospital as a secretary, of that city. Marlynn is a sophomore at Eustis High School.
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