BREWER, JULIA LYDIA REGINA (NEAL)

I was born 6/11/1915 with Dr. Carter in attendance. Other children in the family were Joseph Luther, Francis Albert, Alois Win-slow, Anna Marie, (Alicia & Peter who died at birth), James Zikmund and Mary Dorothy. I was the fourth child & eldest daughter. Our parents were John Luther Neal, Jr. 2/7/1875 and Mary A.R. Herncall 3/24/1882 were married at Alliance, Nebr. 1/1/1907.

My father was born in Iowa & came to Nebr. when approximately 12 years old. He lived in McPherson County and surrounding area until he was old enough to file on a homestead, which he did just across the county line in Hooker County. His brother filed on adjoining land just east of his. My mother was a teacher in Dist. #6 when she met & fell in love with my dad. I went to that school my first 4 yrs. My teachers were Nancy Haney Frost, Olive Neal Fuller, Vera Kerns and Hattie Cox Shimmin.

Gathering cow chips in the fall of the year for winter fuel & heat was a yearly chore. Gathering wild fruit was something we children enjoyed. First came the Sand-cherries growing in the pastures and along the edges of `blow-outs', pockets of sand where the wind had eroded the topsoil. Later trips were made to the Dismal River for Rasp-berries, about July 4th, Chokecherries, Currants & several varieties of wild Plums, also wild Grapes. I well remember seeing my father bury Plums in a clean gunny sack under ground for about a week. When dug up the unripened fruit had ripened and were deliciously sweet.

We moved to Mullen, Nebr. the fall of 1923 so my older brothers could attend high school. I graduated from Hooker County High School in May 1932, and immediately made arrangements to go to Chadron State Normal. I had been assigned the Fuller school to teach that fall. I taught 5 years in Hooker County and spent some time summers help-ing on ranches. I met my husband, Stanley E. Brewer, at the Felix Taylor Ranch where he worked for 2 years.

Stanley went to Salt Lake City, Utah in hopes of finding work so we could get married. We only lived in Salt Lake City about 2 1/2 months after being married June 11, 1937, moving to Dove Creek, Colo. to the Fred E. Brewer homestead. Staney helped his father that winter working for money away from home whenever he found work. In the spring we started buying a home of our own, 320 acres.

Our first son, Francis Edwin, was born May 4, 1938. The following 2/21 he was injured in an accidental fall and died before we could get medical help. We then acquired another 320 A. from the same landlord, paying for it as we could. 1940 our son Neal James was born in Dove Creek. Moving to Bingham Canyon, Utah for work during World War II, twin daughters, Barbara Ann & Betty Alicia, were born 1942; Regina Karen also born in Utah 1944. We returned to our farm. Jerry Stanley arrived 1945.

Then really began a series of moves, back to Nebr., Colo, again Nebr. where we spent the next 19 years working in the hayfields in Cherry Co. Stanley contracted with ranchers and his family was his principal crew. During the winter for several years Stanley was employed at Lowe's Shop as a mechanic. Again back to Colo. where our daughter Nancy Marie was born 1947.

In 1967 we moved back to our far in Colo. with the idea we'd stay. However, we did spend the next two summers in the Nebr. hay fields before retiring permanently.?? We did a lot of clearing of land, fencing and Stanley built us a beautiful log house and rented out our farm ground. We hope to have a grand reunion with our 6 children, 24 grand-children and 3 great grand-children this June 13, l987, our 50th Anniversar.

I did considerable substitute teaching and teacher's Aide work, along with Extension Club work. I was awarded Homemaker of the year for the District IX of Colorado in 1975.

Our hobbies are dancing and rock hunting. We belong to Ute Mt. Gem and Mineral Society and assist with their yearly shows. Stanley is an accomplished silversmith and Gem-maker.

We'll always find something of interest to do it seems.