BOWERS, WEBSTER E.

Webster E. Bowers was born in Wheeling, West Virginia in July 1856 (died in Mullen Nebraska in 1933). After the Civil War his family moved to LaSalle County, Illinois for a short time. In 1869 they moved to Blue Springs, Nebraska then to Reynolds and on to Fairbury Jefferson County Nebraska.

In his travels as a young man he met Roxie Lane Ripley in Marysville, Kansas and they were married in November 1877. Nine chil-dren were born of this union – 7 boys and 2 girls. The boys (not in order) were – Hardy, Lou, Otho (Bob), James (Jim), Frank, Kent and Albert. The girls were Josephine and Margaret.

In the Spring of 1884 the family settled on the south fork of the Dismal River. At this time there were only two other families in this part of the country and what is now Hooker County. Also at this time there was no county organization.

Webster and family made their living cutting and hauling posts to North Platte, the closest trading place. It was an 8 to 10 day trip by wagon.

In 1889, he started his travel photography business, traveling in a buggy and team to ranches, roundups, etc.

In 1890 he sold his homestead and moved with his family to Mullen. In this period of time, internal domestic dissension caused a separation with his wife.

In 1901 Web married Martha Ellen Ripley, sister of his former wife. Two children were born of this marriage, Susan and Charles. In 1901 he established the first Photographic Gallery in Mullen. Besides this he had always been interested in Civic affairs and over the years became a Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, and County Judge; a strong Republican and active in the party politics until his death in 1933. We have been told he had been re-elected County Judge after his death.