Front row: John N. Delahamet and wife Mary.
Back row, left to right: Mike, Margaret, Anna, Catherine, Mary.

   Approximately ten years prior to the incorporation of Bellwood, Jacob DeMuth moved to Butler County. Born January 26, 1849, the son of Michael and Margaretha (Reisdorff) DeMuth, he emigrated from his birthplace, Sandweiler, Luxembourg, in 1868. He married Elizabeth Schmit in Fremont, Nebraska on November 2, 1873. Born in Luxembourg on January 6, 1855, Elizabeth, like Jacob had previously lived in the Cascade, Iowa area before moving to Butler County. In 1870 Jacob homesteaded on one hundred and twenty acres of section thirty, Bone Creek Township. In 1873, he purchased two hundred forty acres of section thirty. In 1880, he purchased forty acres on section thirteen of Savannah Township.
   Jacob came to this area with four of his brothers: Nicholas, Michael, Peter, and John who later returned to Luxembourg. He was a charter member of St. Mary's (Luxembourg) parish east of Bellwood. Jacob, his three brothers, their wives and many of their descendants are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Bellwood. Jacob died on October 27, 1928, being preceded in death by his wife on September 2, 1912. Their children numbers [sic] twelve, two of whom died in infancy. The others listed in order of their birth are: Anna, Peter J., Hiller, John, Henry, Margaret, Mary, Michael, Jacob and Nicholas. Mary (Mrs. Joseph Nicholas), of Shelby, is the sole surviving child.
   Peter J. had four children: Sylvester, who died in 1969, Loretta of Omaha, Harold of Seal Beach, California, and Isabelle (Tomek) of David City. Sylvester's widow, Arnola (Judevine) resides in Bellwood, as does one of their six children, Mary (Romshek).

   Michael was born in Bavaria, Germany. He came to the U. S. on a sail boat at the age of 18. He married Catherine Miller in New York State and they lived in Rochester, N.Y. until 1870. Catherine was born in 1834 and died on Nov. 7, 1902. They homesteaded in Butler County on the northeast corner of section 8 in Alexis Township on Dec. 4, 1874. The land is now owned by Lucille Kelly. They later moved to the family home in about 1883, which is now owned by Leon Ebel. Farming was their livelihood. Children born to this union were: Anna Ebel Kurt, Lucy Ebel Linden, Mary Ebel Capesius, Frank, Henry and Julia Ebel Klein.

   Miles J. Enyeart, born February 16, 1882, Keytesville, Mo., the fourth of nine children, was the son of Hiram and Mary Hunter Enyeart. At the age of nine months he came with his parents to a farm seven miles southwest of Bellwood. He married Clara Drawbaugh in 1906. She was born Jan. 6, 1882, Lenox, Iowa, the fifth of seven children, daughter of Armstrong and Sarah Grisinger Drawbaugh. As a small girl she came with her family to a farm west of Bellwood. Clara had one sister, Gertrude, married to William Fluharty. They lived for many years in Bellwood, also their daughter, Ada Baer.
   Both Miles and Clara received their education in the Bellwood area schools. He often talked about Hamp Hall, an outstanding and much admired teacher who taught in a rural school he attended. Miles graduated from Fremont Normal

College, Fremont. Clara attended Fremont Normal also.
   They farmed six miles west of Bellwood. Miles owned a threshing machine and harvested grain for many farmers in that area. In the winter he sold Buick cars for Guy Walling, David City. In 1918 they rented out their land and moved into town. He started a general insurance agency which he owned and operated for nearly sixty years. For a number of summers the family travelled extensively, visiting every state, capitol city and national park in the United States.
   In their latter years they lived at Crowell Memorial Home, Blair, Nebr. Miles died in 1967, age 86; Clara in 1975, age 92. Both are buried in the Bellwood cemetery.
   They had three children. Wayne married Bessie Stalnaker and lives in Boynton Beach, Fla. They have a son, Jon. Lois married Milton Ebers and lives in Fremont. Their children are Jerry, and twins, Joann and James. Lucille married Clarence Woerth and lives in Los Angeles. They have a daughter, Carol.

Miles and Clara Enyeart (August 29,1906).

 

 

John Fohl

   John Fohl was born in Gostingen, Luxembourg and came to this country in January of 1892 at the age of 19. He went directly to Bellwood to the home of his aunt, Mrs. Henry Schmit.
   He worked for Conrad Meister one year for five months for board and room and another year for seven months board and room. In the winter time he attended the country school. He also worked for the Demuth and Zeilinger families.
   On May 3, 1899, he was married to Anna Delahamet, the daughter of J. N. Delahamet. They had two sons who died in infancy, and one daughter, Mrs. Nick (Loretta) Schmit.
   On September 24, 1906, he became a citizen of the United States.
   He spent his entire lifetime as a farmer and cattle feeder. He fed cattle until the age of 85.
   Mrs. Fohl passed away in 1955 at the age of 77 and Mr. Fohl passed away in 1963 at the age of 92.

John and Anna Fohl (May 3, 1899).

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred J. Hanus

   Alfred was born on February 11, 1939 in Brainard, Ne. Rita was born on July 4, 1939 in Columbus, Ne. They were married on August 18, 1959. Seven children were born to this union: Richard J. was born in 1960, graduated from Platte Technical Community College in Columbus, Ne. in 1980 and is presently employed by the First National Bank & Trust in Columbus, Ne. Michael L. was born in 1961 and is currently attending school at Southeast Community College in Milford, Ne. Patrick M. was born in 1962 and graduated from Aquinas High School in David City, Ne. in 1980. He will also attend Southeast Community College in Milford, Ne. William P. was born in 1965. He will be a sophomore at Aquinas High School in David City, Ne. Diane M. was born in 1966 and will be a freshman at Aquinas High School in David City, Ne. Daniel M. was born in 1968 and will be a 7th grader at St. Mary's Grade School in David City, Ne. Brian J. was born in 1969 and will be a 5th grader at St. Mary's Grade School in David City, Ne.
   Alfred is the son of Leo A. and Kristine (Polak) Hanus who are formerly of Bellwood and are now living in Columbus, Ne. They are also the parents of seven other children: Sr. Josita Hanus, Abbot Jerome Hanus O.S.B., Leo E. Hanus, Ernest Hanus, Dorothy Hanus (Hain), Marilyn Hanus (Haerr), Loretta Hanus (Masur).
   Leo A. Hanus is the son of Leo and Mary (Mach) Hanus. They were also the parents of seven other children: Joe, John Ludmilla, Mary, Ann, Emily, and Sr. Marietta.
   Kristine is the daughter of Adolph and Josephine (Ratkovee) Polak. They were also the parents of seven other children: Joe, Lewis, Lad, Ivan, Agnes, Sr. Pauline and Sr. Loretta.

   Leo Hanus was the son of Jon and Josephine (Groulik) Hanus. Mary (Mach) Hanus was the daughter of James and Ann (Truller) Mach.
   Adolph Polak was the son of Frank and Pauline (Novacek) Polak. Josephine (Ratkovec) Polak was the daughter of John and Frances (Tomek) Ratkovec.
   Rita is the daughter of Marlin and Mary (Hiller) Scholz. They are also the parents of five other children: Frances Scholz (Mick), Joseph Scholz, Patricia Scholz (McCafferty), Kenneth Scholz, and Gregory Scholz.
   Marlin Scholz is the son of Frank and Emma (Engel) Scholz. They were also the parents of three other children: Clarence, Milton, and Harold.
   Mary is the daughter of Peter and Rose (Hilger) Hiller. They were also the parents of 10 other children: Ed, Chris, Tony, Paul, Harry, Franz, Eva, Florence, Veronica, and Rose Ann.
   Frank Scholz was the son of Anthony and Anna (Ohlrich) Scholz. Emma (Engel) Scholz was the daughter of John and Wilhemina (Ernst) Engel.
   Peter Hiller was the son of Jacob and Anna (Reisdorff) Hiller. Rose (Hilger) Hiller was the daughter of Henry and Anna (Victor) Hilger.
   Alfred began working at Farmers Co-op Grain Co. in the fall of 1959 and became manager of the firm after the death of Raymond Kimble in 1962. At the time of this writing, he has been manager 18 years. Both Alfred and Rita have lived in or around Bellwood all their lives.

   Among the many people calling Bellwood home, although living away, is Mrs. Ida Hayek of Los Angeles, California.
   This spry "young" lady of 96 still flies back for a yearly visit to the farm south of town, where she was born on August 25, 1883. She inherited the farm from her father, the late Carl Jacob in 1928, and loves to talk about "way back when".
   From 1910, until mid 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Hayek lived abroad. Upon their return to the States, they purchased a bakery and confectionery store in Bellwood. This they operated until 1924, when they moved to Omaha and opened a confectionery there.
   The Hayeks moved to Los Angeles in 1937, after their three daughters, Gertrude, Eva and Rose received their education in Nebraska.
   Until a few years ago, Mrs. Hayek worked as a housekeeper and baby sitter for several families in the Hollywood Hills area. She gave up her jobs to become housekeeper for her teenage granddaughters, when their mother died.   
   She has no drivers license so she depends on public transportation to get her where she wants to go in the greater Los Angeles area.
   Until the racial upheaval began several years ago, she used to attend Saturday night dances at the Palladium and according to her family, didn't sit out too many numbers.
   Her seventy-fifth birthday was spent touring the Hawaiian Islands, but her greatest delight, however, is the annual trip to the little town of Bellwood, where she can get outdoors and wander to her heart's content.

    Edna Peck Hiller    Harry Hiller

   Harry Hiller was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hiller, born on the third of February, 1906, at Bellwood.
   He married Edna Peck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Peck on August 25, 1936. To this union were born four children. Donald Edward was born on September 21, 1937. He was married to Linda Sorensen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Sorensen of Bellwood, on November 23, 1960. They have two children, Ann Marie and John Paul and live in Seattle, Washington.
   James Peter was born April 21, 1940, and was married to Edna Mae Berniklau, daughter of Mrs. Antoinette Berniklau of Seward, on September 15, 1962. Four sons were born to them, Bruce James, Brian Joseph, Bradley Paul and Bret Thomas. They make their home in Seward, Nebraska.
   Richard Alfred was born on July 28, 1942, and was married to Patricia Platz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Perry