Harry Family in Severe
 By Gracie M. Harry Moorefield, Nebraska  Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Harry with a baby daughter moved from Adams county, Nebraska to Frontier county in 1884 and have since made their home in the county. They first settled about eight miles south of Farnam, two and one half miles from where the Highland school is now located. Then in 1890 the family moved three and one half miles southeast of Moorefield, where they have since made their home.
Mrs. Harry is a sister of Benjamin Lapp, who moved to this community at the same time that Harry's came here, and located on a place which he later sold to Mr. Dryden, adjoining their homestead. Mr. Lapp is the only one of the four brothers still living. He reside at Chicago, Illinois.
James A. Harry and Naomi Lapp were married March 6, 1881, at Cherrybox, Mo. and were privileged to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary March 6, 1931. To this union were born eight children: Ed. D., who died in 1915; Mrs. John Thomalla, Farnam; Thomas W., died at home south of Farnam where he was born; Charley, Moorefield; Ben J., St. Louis, Mo.; Everett P., St. Louis; Guy, who died April 1896 and Gracie M., Moorefield.
Some years ago, when a small child, an agent came to our home, taking orders for the Bible Scroll, which was very much of interest to us children, there being three brothers at home and one, the oldest, Edward David, away from home and also a sister Ada at home.
We enjoyed his company, as everyone was welcome in those days, as well as at the present time.
In the evening, as he stayed all night some quilts were showed to him, and I made the remark, "That quilt was pieced before the flood," and he laughed so at it, thinking I was speaking about the flood in olden days, but we children had heard our parents tell about the flood on April 17, 1896 and it was such an awful time, a never to be forgotten time, as it was the cause of my little brother's death. My mother kept a diary and her account of the flood is as follows: Jim went to Curtis on the train to
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see the doctor, as our baby, Guy was sick, while he was gone it was raining and the water was all around the house, when he came home, he went out to see if his pigs were drowned, the hog house was up close to the bank or hill, while he was gone the wall of water came down the canyon, a cloudburst. The railroad dam had washed out.
The water came into the house, I got the four children, Charlie Arthur, Benjamin Franklin, Everett P. and little guy on the table and myself, though the water got so deep it began to tilt things, then I pulled the cradle close to the table, and got in it and put the children on the bed, the door bursted open and the water was all over the house and going into the cellar or basement. The dog was hanging on the half door to the basement, struggling to get out of the water, Jim waded in the house and asked, "Naomi are you there yet?" I had gotten the four children on the bed around me, thinking if we all went, I would grab them in my arms.
Jim propped the door shut and climbed out of the window, and went for help, but after he was gone the door bursted open. We had a trundlebed under the bed, so it caused the bed to raise up. The basement was part in the ground and part built up, and was used as a bedroom.
The baby's stocking had gotten off, and washed out of the door and also other things. I tied clothes over the childrens' heads and had them close to my arms, so if we went I could grab them. It made me think of the Jamestown flood and I could only look upward to God.
When my husband came back with Mr. Hue's boys (3 young men who were close neighbors, over a mile away) with a team and wagon and carried the children and me out of the house and water, and took us to their home. The neighbors heard it and come and was very kind to us.
Eddie and Ada, the two oldest children were at school and couldn't get home.
April 19, we moved to Mr. Curtis' house, in an awful condition.
April 20, Mr. Stone went for Kata, my niece at Farnam.
April 21, Little baby Guy is very very sick.
April 22, baby Guy died.
April 24, Baby was buried.
May 3, Ada went to Mary Lapp's and Eddie went to see big washout, that washed us out.
1886
1936
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