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939

of Boone, Iowa, and F. Howard Jr., in the United States Army. Charles and Elizabeth Whaley Gruenig have three children, Charles Jr., Anne, and Sally Gruenig.

Howard Whaley was known as "Jap" to his many friends. He possessed a tenor voice of exceptional clarity and charm, and during his lifetime was a member of several Columbus quartets. He took an active part in all of the home talent theatricals of his era, and was a member of the Grace Church choir.

He held memberships in the Masonic Order, the Shriners, the Elks, and the Knights of Pythias. Among the civic organizations, he was a member of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and socially of the Wayside Country Club.

F. Howard Whaley died on December 20, 1924, in Columbus.

OSWALD V. WHITE

Oswald Vernon White, known as "O. V.," was born April 19, 1884, at Ebley Villa, Stroud, England. He was the son of Richard and Sabina Pearce White. His father, an architect, was born October 12, 1850, in Randwick, England, and died October 7, 1935, in Ebley Villa, Ebley, England. His mother was born August 19, 1851, at Randwick, England, and died September 18, 1931, at Ebley Villa. His grandfather was John White. Oswald White had two brothers and two sisters: Horace Gladstone, Lillian Gertrude, Violet Ethelind, and Ralph Orlando, all of whom lived in England.

Horace and Ralph White, both of England, are married. Lillian lives in the old family home at Ebley Villa, Stroud, England. This home is now over two hundred years old. Violet Ethelind died May 6, 1928, at Ebley Villa. Horace is the mechanical engineer for Daimler Automobiles. Ralph is the manager of a large water softener manufacturing company.

Oswald V. White received his formal education at the Ebley and Marling School for Boys, and Wycliff College, in England. He visited in London, Paris, and Dublin, and for several years has been engaged in salesmanship, managerial, and revenue work in the United States.

He came to this country on June 6, 1906, from England. Upon his arrival he landed at New York, and from there went to Rockford, Illinois, to visit his aunt, Mrs. Lewis Brown, and his uncles, Robert and Frank Pearce. After spending six months with them, he returned to England for a short stay before locating at Rockford, Illinois.

On November 27, 1913, at St. Joseph's Church, at Platte Center, Nebraska, Oswald V. White was married to Margaret Mary Regan, the daughter of Dennis and Margaret Holland Regan. Dennis Regan, who was engaged in farming and stock raising, was born September 8, 1836, in County Kerry, Ireland, and died February 23, 1928, in Columbus. Mrs. Regan was born in County Cork, Ireland, December 5, 1839, and died at the old Regan homestead, near Platte Center, Nebraska, on March 3, 1911. Margaret Regan White had five brothers and four sisters. Richard, Daniel and Honora are deceased.

Oswald V. White for several years has been a deputy internal revenue collector, with offices in Columbus.

He enjoys traveling and has crossed the Atlantic Ocean fifteen times. His hobbies are baseball, football, golf, horseback riding, music and reading. Politically, he is affiliated with the Democrats.

COLONEL MICHAEL WHITMOYER

Michael Whitmoyer, a soldier and a lawyer, was born on February 12, 1836, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. He died on June 7, 1919, in Columbus. He was the son of Simon Whitmoyer, a blacksmith, who was born on March 9, 1810, at Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and who died on June g, 1849, at Pine Summit, Pennsylvania. Michael Whitmoyer's mother, Sarah Kisner, was born on February 3, 181 1, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and died on April 8, 1885, at Charlevoix, Michigan. In addition to Michael, Simon and Sarah Whitmoyer had five sons and one daughter: Leonard, Clark, Richard, Rebecca, Gaylord, and Amos. Leonard was born on June 5, 1834, and died on May 31. 1907. Clark was born on April 22, 1838, and died on June 25, 1905. Richard was born on September 18, 1840, and died on July 24, 1919. Rebecca was born on July 6, 1843. Gaylord was born on December 30, 1846, and died on April 10, 1863. Amos was born on March 17, 1848, and died in March, 1936.

Michael Whitmoyer's early schooling and professional training were completed while he lived in Pennsylvania. He attended Greenwood Seminary in Millville, Dickinson Seminary in Williamsport, and the Pennsylvania State Normal School in Millersville. After finishing his studies at the Normal School in 1860, he began the study of law with Robert E. Clark, an outstanding lawyer of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

In August, 1862, he undertook the formation of Company E of the 132nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. At the time of its organization, he was elected Captain of the Company. He took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, as well as in several skirmishes. He was wounded during the war, but later returned to active duty.

After he had been mustered out of service at Harrisburg on May 24, 1863, Michael Whitmoyer resumed his study of law. He was formally admitted to the practice in 1865, in Bioomsburg, Pennsylvania. Governor John W. Geary of Pennsylvania appointed him aide-de-camp in 1866, and granted him the rank of Colonel in the Pennsylvania National Guard. As a result of this appointment, he was afterwards known as "Colonel" Whitmoyer.

Colonel Whitmoyer was first married in Philadelphia to Hannah Waller, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1872. Hannah Waller Whitmoyer died in Columbus in November, 1873, shortly after her arrival here. There was one daughter from this first marriage, Laura Claire, who was born on May 7, 1873, and who married Doctor J. C. Reifsnyder. Hannah Whitmoyer was


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The History of Platte County Nebraska

the daughter of David J. Waller, a Presbyterian minister. She attended Elmira Seminary, in Elmira, New York, and a finishing school in Brooklyn, New York.

Colonel Whitmoyer's second marriage was to Emma Peckham, of Bradford County, Pennsylvania. On October 23, 1877, they were married at Troy, Pennsylvania. Emma Peckham Whitmoyer was the daughter of Peleg Peckham, a farmer, who was born on September 10, 1817, at Bristol, Rhode Island, and who died on July 17, 1887, in Russell, Kansas. Her mother was Louisa F. Wentworth, who was born on May 2, 1822, at Richfield, New York, and died on July 31, 1900, in Kansas City, Missouri. Emma Peckham Whitmoyer had one brother and one sister: Lowell I., who was born on March 3, 1855, and who died on February 26, 1936; and Harriet Maria, who was born on May 17, 1847, and who died on May 5, 1921.

Michael Whitmoyer and Emma Peckham Whitmoyer had three children: Florence, Gertrude, and Maurice. Florence was born on October 18, 1880, in Columbus. She attended Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and married Doctor William S. Evans in 1908. Gertrude, the twin sister of Florence, attended Doane College at Crete. Nebraska, and married Francis Howard Geer in 1905. Maurice was born on July 12, 1889. He attended Kearney Military Academy in Kearney, Nebraska, and saw service in France with the 145th Field Artillery. He was a film salesman in Ontario, California, and Chicago prior to his death in Chicago on June 11, 1928.

In 1872, the year before his arrival in Columbus, Colonel Whitmoyer was elected a delegate to the National Republican Convention in Philadelphia that nominated General Grant for President. In 1873, on his arrival in Columbus, he entered into partnership with Leander Gerrard in the practice of law. In 1877, the partnership was enlarged and became the firm of Whitmoyer, Gerrard & Post, Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Members of the firm were active throughout Platte and the adjoining counties, and, from time to time, through western Nebraska. They also practiced in the United States Courts at Omaha and at Lincoln.

Colonel Whitmoyer was regarded as a conservative and conscientious lawyer and counselor. His professional career was characterized by dignity, integrity, and a never-failing care in the performance of his duties. His sense of understanding and his humanity made him a valuable guide to younger men who were getting their start in the practice of law.

He was a member of the Congregational Church, the Republican Party, the Knights of Pythias, the Commercial Club, the Nebraska State Bar Association, and the Grand Army of the Republic.

CARL H. WHITAKER

Carl H. Whitaker, the son of Walter W. and Elizabeth Schalatuer Whitaker, was born in Columbus on November 22, 1897. He attended the Columbus schools and after finishing school, learned the plumber's trade. From 1917-1925, he worked for the Dussell and Son Plumbing Company in Columbus.

In 1925, he was appointed City Water Commissioner, and served in that office for six years. In 1931, he was elected City Water Commissioner, and has served in that capacity for nineteen years.

On December 14, 1922, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, Carl H. Whitaker was married to Marie Webb, the daughter of Edward Webb. After their marriage, they established their home in Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker have one son, Maurice, who attended the Columbus schools.

Carl Whitaker holds membership in the Columbus Fire Department, the Izaak Walton League, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he served, as secretary, and the B.P.O.E. (Elks). His hobbies are fishing and baseball. Politically, he is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker are members of the Methodist Church in Columbus.

SYLVESTER L. WHITNEY

Sylvester L. Whitney was born February 29, 1884, at Georgetown, Ohio. He came to Platte County in September of 1910, from Chicago, to become secretary of the Columbus Y.M.C.A.

He had three brothers and five sisters.

S. L. Whitney was educated at Montpelier Height School; Marion, Indiana, Business College; and the Y.M.C.A. Training School in Chicago, Illinois.

Through the years he has worked at painting, telephone construction, as a rural mail carrier, in boy's work, and as a Y.M.C.A. secretary.

On July 31, 1912, he was married at Columbus to Mary Louise Echols, the daughter of Jackson C. and Sarah Hudson Echols. Her father was born at Culloden, Georgia, January 9, 1862, and died February 27, 1938, at Columbus, Nebraska. Her mother, Sarah Hudson Echols, was born April 28, 1863, in Platte County and died December 14, 1918, at Columbus.

Mrs. Whitney had three brothers: Daniel Jackson, Philip Henry, and Francis Hudson.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have three children: Sarah Jackson, born September 2, 1913, in Columbus; Philip Echols, of Columbus, born February 23, 1915; and Susan Louise. All are Kramer High School graduates. Sarah attended Wesleyan University. Susan attended Wesleyan University and the Lincoln School of Commerce.

Sarah Whitney Strickland, was a stenographer for one year at the Equitable Building Loan and Savings Association, and later was a home economist demonstrator, at the Northwestern Public Service Company.

Philip Echols Whitney worked as a stenographer and bookkeeper for eight and one-half years at the Speice, Echols and Boettcher office, and for the Equitable Building Loan and Savings Association. He was married to Elizabeth Ann Sheldon. They have a daughter.

During World War II, Philip was in the Sea Bees from October 6, 1943, to February 26, 1946, and was then transferred to the Navy. He became a member of


Biography
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Sino-American Cooperative Organization, and was stationed in Calcutta, India, from February, 1945, to January, 1946. He was discharged from the Navy at St. Louis, Missouri. He is entitled to wear the following ribbons: American Theatre of Operations, Pacific Theatre of Operations with one Star Victory Medal. He is in civil service and works at the Columbus post office. He is a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. S. L. Whitney is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a past master. He is a Methodist and belongs to Methodist Brotherhood, the War Dads, and is a Democrat. For twenty years he was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, and a Y.M.C.A. secretary for three years.

His hobbies are stamps, coin and wood work, and he enjoys baseball, football and basketball.

AUGUSTIN WIDHALM

Augustin "Gus" Widhalm, prominent Granville Township farmer, was born March 12, 1872, at Gross Blain, Wisconsin. He is the son of Joseph and Theresa Weamer Widhalm, who came to Platte County in 1873. Joseph Widhalm was born at Ulrich, Kirchberg am Wald, Austria, June 26, 1841, and died at Humphrey, Nebraska, July 6, 1929. Theresa Weamer Widhalm was born at Ulrich, Kirchberg am Wald, Austria, September 10, 1844, and died November 7, 1886.

Augustin Widhalm had four brothers and one sister: Frank, married to Anna Korth, died February 28, 1945. Leopold, married to Walburga Roessler; Jacob, married to Katherine Zuerlein; Joseph, married to Margaret O'Donnald, and Mary, Mrs. John Sueper. Mr. Widhalm also had four half-brothers and four half-sisters: Henry, married to Margaret Keimig; Anna, Mrs. Joseph Loeffler; Rosa, Mrs. William Schaefer; Anton, married to Mathilda Schaefer; Agatha, Venerable Sister M. Agnittis, a Franciscan nun; Fred, married to Belle Nosal, died May 22, 1931; Theresa, Venerable Sister M. Germain, a Franciscan nun; and Lawrence, also married.

On March 1, 1897, Augustin Widhalm was married to Miss Helena Lohaus, daughter of Henry and Maria Elpers Lohaus, at St. Francis Catholic Church at Humphrey. They had nine children: Agnes, born December 19, 1897, is married to Peter L. Waszgis. She is a graduate nurse and worked as assistant superintendent of the Maternity Ward at St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha for several years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Creighton University. Cecelia, born March 29, 1899, is married to Andrew J. Weis. Bernard, born May 15, 1901, is married to Ida Goodwater, and is a boilermaker for the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha. Albert, born March 17, 1903, is married to Agnes Billerbeck, and is in the life insurance business. Vincent, born April 25, 1905, is a Franciscan Priest known as Reverend Father Christian. Margaret, born January 16, 1907, is married to Leo Dondlinger and lives on a farm in Wisconsin. Bertha, born December 22, 1908, is a nun known as Venerable Sister M. Helen Francis. She is a teacher in the Order of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph at Denver, Colorado. Arnold, born January 1, 1911, is married to Theresa Goodwater, and farms at Meadow Grove, Nebraska. Esther, born May 22, 1913, received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Creighton University. She also attended Duchesne College, and is married to Steve Polityka. All of the children attended the St. Francis elementary school and were graduated from the St. Francis High School.

Augustin Widhalm is a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. Among his early memories he recalls the prairie fire of 1879 that destroyed their homestead and seven other homesteads in the Granville Humphrey Community.

LEOPOLD WIDHALM

Leopold Widhalm was born November 12, 1874, at St. Mary's in Grand Prairie Township. His parents were Joseph and Theresa Weamer Widhalm, natives of Ulrich, Kirchberg am Wald, Austria, who came to Platte County in 1873 from Wisconsin. Leopold had four brothers and one sister: Frank, August, Jacob, Joseph and Mary. Frank died in 1945. Mary is the wife of John Sueper.

After the death of Theresa Weamer Widhalm in November, 1886, Joseph Widhalm married Anna Lohaus. They had four sons and four daughters. After Anna Lohaus Widhalm died, Joseph Widhalm was married to Johanna Baumgartner.

Leopold Widhalm lived with his parents in Grand Prairie Township on the homestead later occupied by the Tony Heinan family. In 1882, the Widhalm family moved to the southwest quarter of Section 16, Granville Township, where Leopold has since made his home and engaged in farming and stock raising.

Leopold Widhalm attended St. Francis School in Humphrey. Two of his outstanding recollections are a prairie fire which completely destroyed their original home, and a siege of grasshoppers. Besides farming, Mr. Widhalm has worked as a telephone lineman.

On October 23, 1900, at St. Francis Church in Humphrey, Nebraska, he was married to Walburga Roessler at a double wedding ceremony. The other couple was his brother Jacob Widhalm and Catherine Zuerlein.

Mrs. Leopold Widhalm's parents Ferdinand and Anna Bendar Roessler, natives of Austria, who homesteaded at Spalding, Nebraska, in 1887. Her father. died there April 1, 1905, and her mother died June 16, 1939. Mrs. Widhalm was one of a family of thirteen children. Seven are deceased. The others, besides Walburga, were: Frank; Theresa, Mrs. Caldwell; Mary, Mrs. Clyde Chriss; Hattie, Mrs. Frank Van; and Anna, Mrs. Julius Sullivan.

Leopold and Walburga Roessler Widhalm had ten sons and four daughters:

Anthony, born January 13, 1902, attended St. Francis School, and was married to Frances Fruend. Anthony and Frances Widhalm had two sons, Raymond


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and Thomas. Anthony is engaged in dairy farming at McHenry, Illinois.

Edward, born February 29, 1904, attended St. Francis School, and was married to Adeline Bruckner. They had five children: Dorane, Gerald, Corrine, Carolyn, and Shiela. He is a farmer at Pierce, Nebraska.

Lawrence, born September 3, 1905, attended St. Francis School, and is a farmer and construction worker.

Ferdinand, born June 29, 1907, was educated at the Sacred Heart and St. Francis Schools, and at the Franciscan Seminary, Teutopolis, Illinois. He was married to Margaret Cusek. They had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Ferdinand, a Union Pacific boiler attendant at Portland, Oregon, was a chef and Coast Guardsman during World War II.

Edwin, born December 1, 1908, attended Sacred Heart School. In World War II, he served three years in the European Theatre of Operations. He is an attendant at the County Farms in Troutdale, Oregon.

Richard, born August 26, 1910, attended Sacred Heart School, and was married to Roma Quinn. They had two sons, Jess and John. Richard is a Union Pacific Railroad foreman at Elkhorn, Nebraska.

Leander*, born December 15, 1913, attended Sacred Heart School, and was married to Wilma Shaffer. In World War II, he served three years in the Pacific Theatre. He is a landscape gardener.

Lee Francis, born March 21, 1919, was educated at Sacred Heart and St. Francis Schools, and was married to Magdalene Mausbach. They had one son, Russell. Lee F. spent three years in the China-Burma-India Theatre of Operations in World War II. He is a farmer.

Cletus, born June 1, 1926, was educated at Sacred Heart and St. Francis Schools, and is a farmer.

Dennis, born April 22, 1929, was educated at Sacred Heart and St. Francis Schools, and is a student and farmer.

Angela, born March 29, 1912, was educated at Sacred Heart School, Cornlea; St. Francis School, Humphrey; Creighton University, and St. Joseph's Hospital. As a nurse she practiced her profession in Nebraska and Oregon.

Loretta, born October 8, 1915, attended Sacred Heart School, and is the wife of Eugene Hemmer. They had one son, Eugene Jr.

Viola, born July 11, 1917, was educated at Sacred Heart and St. Francis Schools. She is the wife of Thomas B. Wright and is a stenographer and housewife.

Annastasia, born December 23, 1922, was educated at Sacred Heart and St. Francis Schools and the National Business Institute at Lincoln Nebraska. She is the wife of Victor C. Keller. During World War II, she was a secretary at the Nebraska Defense Plant.

Leopold Widhalm is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Cornlea, Nebraska. His hobby is music, and he and his brothers are violinists of note in Granville Township.

HENRY WILKE

Henry Wilke was born at Sage, in Oldenburg, Germany, on July 29, 1849. He attended school there and resided there until he was twenty-two. In 1871, accompanied by his mother, sister and aunt, he immigrated to the United States. They came directly to the farming community in the middle west, and selected a homestead in Sherman Township, thirteen miles north of Columbus, where he remained for forty-five years, until 1916.

On December 7, 1875, Henry Wilke married Elise Asche, of Columbus. Henry and Elise Asche Wilke had one son and three daughters: Emil H.; Mrs. August Loseke; Mrs. Mathilda Grotelueschen, who died May 12, 1907; and Clara, who died at the age of thirteen.

In 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wilke retired from active farming and moved into Columbus. At that time, they turned the farm over to their son, Emil. Mrs. Wilke died on May 12, 1925.

Mr. Wilke was a successful farmer and a prominent resident of Sherman Township. He held many public offices there. When the Christ Lutheran Church was formed many years ago, he joined as a charter member, and served as both an elder, and treasurer of the church.

In Columbus, he was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Henry Wilkie died in 1937.

ALFRED WILLIAMS

Alfred Williams, a pioneer of Joliet Township, was born December 21, 1869, at Blaenavon, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. When a small boy, he immigrated to the United States with his parents, John and Mary Williams. Soon after their arrival here, in the early 1870's, they came to Platte County, settling on a home stead in Joliet Township.

Alfred Williams attended District School 51 in Joliet Township. When the Blizzard of 1888 struck, he and the other pupils, with their teacher E. B. Dannals, took refuge in the new school building.

In 1894, Mr. Williams joined the Palestine Baptist Church in Joliet Township. He was a pioneer in pony express and carried the rural mail for three years before rural mail routes were established in the township. At that time the post office was at the farm home of Thomas Jones.

In 1900, Mr. Williams bought a farm of his own, and in 1903 he rented it to a tenant and returned to South Wales with his brother, Edwin, to help settle an estate.

While there, both Alfred and Edwin met their brides, who were cousins. They were married on June 16, 1903, at a double wedding ceremony at Bethel Plahshet Church near Laugharne, South Wales. Alfred was married to Mary Ann Phillips.

Two weeks later, Alfred and Edwin Williams and their brides left for America. Back in Joliet Township, they moved into a house together until Alfred's farm was vacated by the tenant. Alfred and Mary Ann Wil-

_____

*11 Oct 2006 - email from Kathleen Widhalm Cohen < PsychedelicKat22@aol.com > (descendent) Maiden name of Leander Widhalm's wife was Schaeffer.


Biography
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liams lived on this farm until 1941, when they moved to Monroe, Nebraska.

Mary Ann Phillips, daughter of John and Caroline Phillips, was born March 11, 1875, at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. The eldest of six children, she was eleven years old when her mother died, and she took over the care of the other children. She attended school at Brook, South Wales, and was a member of the Baptist Church there.

Alfred and Mary Ann Phillips Williams had three children: Carolyn, Mrs. Ross Warner, of Hollydale, California; Fred, of Platte County; and Margaret, Mrs. Orley Miller, of Genoa, Nebraska.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams celebrated their forty-fourth wedding anniversary at Monroe June 16, 1947.

WILLIAM DOUGLAS AND IDA BODMER WILSON

Ida Bodmer Wilson was the daughter of Jacob and Caroline Spoerry Bodmer. The Bodmers arrived in Columbus from Stillwater, Minnesota, just before Christmas in 1872. The family settled on Steam's Prairie, now known as Grand Prairie Township, where the Luehrs, Hellbusch, Hoeffelmen, and Kunneman families were their neighbors.

Ida Bodmer Wilson taught school in Steam's Prairie when she was just sixteen years of age. She also taught in Districts 21, 35 and 36.

She later taught school near Jackson, Nebraska, now called Duncan. The school was the one which is now known as District 16. The school house stood a mile or more east of its present site. The school teacher then boarded at the John Bredehoft home. This home still stands in the same place, and is occupied by the son of John Bredehoft, Jr.

Ida Bodmer Wilson also worked for Mrs. Jacob Ernst, the mother of Jacob and William Ernst. She and her father, Jacob Bodmer, were at the Ernst home at the time of the Blizzard of 1873 and were snowed in for three days.

At Steam's Prairie, Ida Bodmer met and was married to William Douglas Wilson. Mr. Wilson's brother, Sam, married a girl from Tracy Valley. W. D. and Ida Bodmer Wilson had one daughter, Mrs. George Johansen, of Columbus.

ERVIN FILLMORE WILSON

Ervin Fillmore Wilson was born February 17, 1884, in Polk County, Nebraska. He came to Platte County, March 1, 1893. His parents were Nelson D. and Sybilla Schmidt Wilson. Nelson D. Wilson was born June 6, 1856, in Vandalia, Indiana, and died June 12, 1937, in Miles City, Montana. Sybilla Schmidt Wilson was born October 7, 1860, at Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Ervin Fillmore Wilson had four brothers and two sisters: Hillyard, married to Edna Snyder; Myron, married to Marguerite McKelvie; Arthur, married to Velma Covert; Verner T., who died February 20, 1920, in Rosebud, Montana; Mary, Mrs. Lee Hopper; and Esther, Mrs. William Nichols.

Ervin F. Wilson attended the Platte Center schools, and was graduated from the Columbus High School and the University of Nebraska. His hobbies are golf and fishing. He has worked as a painter and chemist.

On August 28, 1913, in Columbus, Nebraska, he was married to Elizabeth May Reed, daughter of Harry B. and Elizabeth Erb Reed of Columbus. Harry B. Reed was born in New Hampshire February 17, 1862, and died at Columbus in August, 1921. He was a postal employee and a farmer. Elizabeth Erb Reed was born November 22, 1862, in Shell Creeks Township and died May 15, 1929, in Omaha. Elizabeth Wilson had one sister, Catherine, married to Paul Bostwick of Omaha.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had one daughter and one son. Delphine May, born September 22, 1916, in Chicago, was graduated from York Community High School and Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. She did secretarial and personnel work. She was married to Ralph J. Hendrickson and they had one son, James Boyd, and one daughter, Judith May. Ervin Fillmore Wilson, Jr. was born February 17, 1920, at Elmhurst, Illinois, and was graduated from the York Community High School and from Northwestern University Law School. He is an attorney.

Mr. Wilson Sr., a business man and farm owner, is a member of the Congregational church, the Masonic Lodge, and the Executives Club of Chicago. He served as a member of the city council of Elmhurst, Illinois, for eight years, and is a Republican.

ARTHUR P. WILSON

Arthur P. Wilson, representative of the Midwest Life Insurance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, was born March 22, 1890, in Polk County. He came to Platte County March 1, 1893. His parents were Nelson D. and Sybilla Schmidt Wilson. Nelson P. Wilson was born June 6, 1856, in Sullivan County, Indiana, and died at Miles City, Montana, June 12, 1937. Sybilla Schmidt Wilson was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 7, 1860.

Arthur Wilson attended the Columbus schools and was graduated from Columbus High School. In World War I, he was in the chemical warfare service and was stationed at Camp Dodge, Iowa.

On November 10, 1917, he was married to Miss Velma Covert, daughter of Albert Marion and Nell Naylor Covert, in Chicago. Mrs. Wilson is a descendant of the Naylor-Covert families, who were prominent in early day Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had two sons:

Arthur P. Wilson Jr., known as "Phil," was born July 19, 1922, in Elmhurst, Illinois. He is a graduate of Kramer High School in Columbus and attended Salinas Junior College at Salinas, California, and the Southern Methodist University. He was married to Miss Catherine Burge of Dallas, Texas, daughter of Kemp S. and Martha Smith Burge.


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