Eric Jones. Eric Jones joined Central City Friends Meeting in 1998, as the appropriate next step in his journey of seeking. He was attracted to Friends by their sense of continued "seeking after Truth," and their attempts to live out their testimonies in everyday life.

     Eric is Dean of Educational Services at the Grand Island Campus of Central Community College. He came to the College to set up their computer system and inter-campus computer linkages. He has served in other vocational institutions in Arkansas and Washington State.

     Central City Friends have welcomed Eric's participation in the life of the meeting. His frequent leading of Sunday School class, coupled with his exploration of the life and convictions of early Friends, have helped all in the meeting review and refresh their own beliefs and faith.

Joseph and Annie Joyce Family. Front row: Jennie, Joseph, Annie, and Ruth. Back row: Clarice, Mabel, Stanley, Nellie, and Rachel. Joseph and Annie Joyce with their seven children, moved to Central City from Atlantic, Iowa in 1899. They lived in a couple of rooms in the college basement while their three-story house was being built just across the street from the campus. Since neither of the dormitories had yet been built, they had a lot of college students rooming in their house. At times as many as eight boys were living on the third floor and four or more girls on the second floor. Depending on how many of the Joyce girls were at home. Soon after the house was finished, Ruth and Jennie were away teaching and Jennie was a missionary to Cuba from 1905 to 1913. Nellie was in nursing training in Colorado Springs, (not sure of date). Clarice was teaching in Nebraska and Colorado 1905 until 1910. Mabel was married in 1903. The Joyces always had students living there. The house was sold sometime after the parents died and most people will remember it as the John and Clara Ferguson home.
     Joseph Joyce had been a trustee of the Monthly Meeting and a member of the College Board since they were established. Most of the eleven years before his death in 19 10 he had been treasurer of the College Board, the Monthly Meeting and the Yearly Meeting.
     Four of the Joyce children graduated from the Nebraska Central Academy: Clarice in 1901, Mabel in 1902, Rachel in 1904 and Stanley in 1910. Clarice graduated from the college in 1911. So the Joyce Family was very much involved in the life of the college. Ruth, Jennie and Nellie never married. Clarice married Elton B. Hoskins, Mabel married James Stephen, Rachel married Vance Siler and Stanley married Della Ellis. It has been over

fifty years since any of the descendants of Joseph and Annie Joyce have lived in Nebraska. They are now in California, Oregon and Washington.

Sent by Helen Hoskins Slade, the daughter of Elton and Clarice Hoskins.

Clarice died on January 1, 1986, lacking 3 months and 10 days of being 106 years of age.

Marian and Milton "Pretz" Krause. Krauses stopped at the Meetinghouse one day when the USFW was having a yard sale. They were looking for ???, and one of their daughters told them she had attended a Friends Meeting in the east and thought it might be the sort of thing they were seeking. They were invited to attend and they became regular attenders, driving from Albion on a very regular basis. They became members in 1978. Pretz and Marian moved to Central City, and a few years after Pretz's death, she moved to Tennessee, close to one of her daughters. She was a very active member and is missed.

Effie McConnell. Mary "Effie" and her husband, G. A. (Delly) McConnell joined the Friends Meeting in 1926. They moved to Central City from the Pierce Chapel neighborhood in 1921. Mr. McConnell was an invalid many of the years in town so he was not active, but Effie took part in the Thursday all-day quilting and helped with banquets to help earn money to help the college. She was a faithful attender at Meeting until her last years when age and health made it more difficult.

Written by Selma McConnell Mesner

Francis and Josephine (Holmes) McConnell and family. Francis and Josephine attended the District 50 Sunday School as long it was going. Francis and his family had attended there all their growing up years. Occasionally a minister would come and hold a church service. Quite often it was someone from Nebraska Central. When they didn't hold Sunday School there any longer, Francis, Jo, and family began attending the Central City Friends. The whole family has taken an active part in the Meeting. Francis served in different capacities, helping with maintenance whenever he could

(especially after Henry Schutz's death), as adult Sunday School teacher, and Recording Clerk for Monthly Meeting.
     Jo taught Sunday School for many years and helped with Bible School. She plays the piano for Meeting for Worship every other Month, is active in USFW and served for a number of years on the Social Committee of USFW and the Meeting.

Oscar and Grace (Miller) McHargue. Grace was a very faithful member of the Meeting. She became active with Friends when she was a teenager, and interested in all aspects of the Meeting. She is remembered by some as Cradle Roll Superintendent, some as teacher, and some as Adult Sunday School Superintendent. She was very active for years with the ACFIA, which oversees the Indian missions. Grace was also active with USFW. She served as Stewardship Chairperson of the National USFWI board, and worked very hard to make the John Sarin fund become a reality. Grace is now living at Integrated Health Services, a nursing home in the south part of Central City. Grace and Oscar had two children: Leslie and Mary Ann (Barnes).

Mary McMillan. Neil McMillan was born September 22, 1884, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. As a young man he came to Central City to visit a brother who managed the YMCA. He met Mary Reeves who had been born July 9, 1887. Mary graduated from Nebraska Central Academy and taught eight years in Merrick County schools. Following their marriage May 11, 1913, Neil and Mary farmed near Crete for two years before moving to a farm 5 miles west of Central City where they lived the rest of their lives.
     Mary was very involved with Nebraska Yearly Meeting activities where she cooked for many years. She accompanied a youth camping group to Colorado to cook during her last summer. One of her greatest interest was quilting at the Friends Church and at home.
     The McMillans had three children: Helen Mather Eriksen, deceased; Dale McMillan of Grand Island, and Jean (Walter) Nielsen of Polk. Both Helen and Jean are NCC alumni.
     Neil died October 13, 1955; Mary, September 8, 1962.

Sent by Jean McMillan Nielsen

Ronald Mattson. Ron's education was as follows: In 1966 he received an AB degree from Berea College; in 1974 an MA from Arizona State; in 1980 Ron earned Dr. of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN.
     1968-73, Ron Mattson served as the Ministering Secretary at the Minneapolis Friends Meeting.
     His involvement with Friends includes organizing the Friends Lesbian and Gay Committee, and attending the FWCC Triennial in Sweden in 1970; serving Central City Friends as Ministering Secretary the summer of 1973, and attending the FWCC Triennial in Sydney, Australia.. He attended the 1976 FWCC Triennial in Hamilton, Ontario, and the 1980 Triennial in Africa.
     In 1991, Ron was appointed to the Staff of Baltimore Friends Meeting, Stony Run.
     Ron Mattson represented Nebraska Yearly Meeting on the Boards of AFSC, FWCC and is currently assistant clerk of the AFSC National Board. He represented Iowa Yearly Meeting on the FCNL Board.
     Ron became a sojourning member of Central City Friends in 1978.

Information received from June Webb

Clifford, Kathy (Solt) Mesner and daughter, Amy. Cliff was one of the first interns at FCNL. It was while working with Ed Snyder that he decided upon a career as a lawyer. When the Meeting was involved in administering a loan program for farmers with help from the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, he gave legal counsel. He donated a lot of his time and use of his computer equipment to help make this book. He and his wife Kathy are very interested in improving our community.

Hugh and Lois Watkins Mesner family. Front row: Kenneth, Lois, Hugh, and Delbert. Back row: Phyllis Smith, Doris Brown, and Dorothy Dunovan. Hugh and Lois Mesner were members of the Central City Friends Meeting all of their married life with, the exception of the fist two or three years that they homesteaded in Colorado. They were very active members serving in many capacities. Lois was blessed with a beautiful voice and sang in the choir, for funerals and for weddings. Hugh served on the college board for many years and also as church treasurer for many years. Lois was an active member of Women's Society and helped to quilt many quilts. For several years she helped to cook for Yearly Meeting.

Kenneth and Mildred (McConnell) Mesner and family. Front row: Marty, Mildred, Kurt, Kenneth and Marilyn Grossenbacher. Back row: Bob and Janet.
     Kenneth and Mildred Mesner have been members of the Central City Friends Meeting all of their married life. Kenneth is a birthright member and Mildred joined before they were married in 1946. They have served in many capacities in church and Sunday School. Kenneth enjoyed singing in the choir for many years. Mildred has been active in Women's Society and has helped serve many banquets, Kurt still lives in the area and is now chairman of the Trustees and a member of Ministry and Counsel. He is very active in the Meeting.