100 YEAR HOOKER COUNTY RANCH FAMILIES

Chauncey Tucker came to what is now Hooker County in 1884, settling at the Forks of the Dismal River, living in a dugout on the south side of the river. Placer (Pete) Tucker was born October 4, 1886 in the dugout, the first son of Chaucey and wife Nancy and one of the first white children born in Hooker County. Chauncey filed on a tree claim that entitled him to 160 acres provided he planted 10 acres of trees. This he did and trees are still there after 100 years. Placer Tucker assumed control of the ranch after the death of his parents. He retired in 1943 and sold the ranch to his son Marvin. The ranch is presently operated by Marvin's son Jack. (Read the Chauncey, Placer and Marvin Tucker family stories.)

Esquire and Martha Crain acquired a ranch by a homestead and tree claim, 160 acres each in March of 1887. They came to what is now Hooker County with teams and wagons. Their first home was a dugout in the hillside with a sod front near a permanent water hole. In 1935, the ranch was sold to the youngest daughter, Pearl and husband Lester Harding. In 1950, they formed a partnership with their sons, Forrest and Frank, known as the Harding Cattle Company. In 1960 the partnership was dissolved when Lester died and then Crain's grandson, Forrest operated the ranch. After Forrest's death in 1985, the land was purchased by his son Michael Harding. (Read Esquire Crain, Lester and Pearl Harding and other Harding family stories)

The Tucker and Harding families were in attendance at the Hooker County 1988 Fair and were honored with the Ak-Sar-Ben Pioneer awards that indicated 100 years or more of a ranch being owned by the same family for several generations. The awards were presented by Bob Volk representing Ak-Sar-Ben.

Miss Jessie Shimmin, Mount Carmel Home, Kearney, Nebraska wrote that her parents, Robert Shimmin family came to Hooker County in the spring of 1887, south of the Dismal River. Jessie and twin brother Frank operated the ranch after the death of their parents. Allen Shimmin, now lives on the ranch. (Read the Shimmin family sto-ries.)