CLEMENS, ELMER AND ‘MINA’ GORSUCH

Elmer Benjamin Clemens was born in Hennepin Co., Ill. on April 26, 1863. When a young man, he worked in the forest or lumber in Michigan; so he was a regular lumberjack. After a few years he moved to Kenesay, Ne. where he met and married Almina Roretta Gorsuch, fifth child of John and Mary Welch Gorsuch, on October 8, 1889. They had two children: Edith May who married Louis L. Wiese and Earl LaVon who married Myrtle Rose Klinert. Almina or `Mina' as she was always known, was born in Hilldale Co. Mich. on February 6, 1868.

In the fall of 1894 they, with Mina's brother Jess, moved on a homestead fifty miles northwest of Mullen, where George Younkin now lives. In 1902 they moved into Mullen, buying lots 6 and 10, building a home on Lot 10 located on First and Laird Street. This location was later known as the Louie Neal place. The Clemens' and Mina's father, John Gorsuch, spent a year in California where he worked in the fruit orchards. None of them liked Calif. so they returned to Mullen. Elmer worked on the railroad and did carpentry. Mina worked for Mrs. Greenberry Cleaven-ger in the old Evergreen hotel; this property now owned by Wayne and Janet Gorsuch. It was during this time they joined the Mullen M.E. Church.

In late 1913 Mr. Clemens exchanged with Elmer Wickham the house in town for Mr. Wickham's ranch in south Cherry Co. They owned this ranch until they moved to Pine River, Minn. in Nov. 1938. At this time they sold it to Wilkie Coble.

In Oct. 1919 Elmer traded a Rio automo-bile to David Speck for the east half of Block 8 in the Original Town of Mullen on First and McShane. The Marshall's home is now where Mina had her garden and currant patch. The present Trackwell house sets where the Clemens' house set. By this time daughter Edith had married. Clemens' moved into the Speck house and the Wieses moved onto the Wickham. Wieses moved to Burwell in 1920 and Will moved there. Wills lived there a year. When they left, Clemens went back.

Their son, Earl was married Dec. 28, 1921. They lived with his folks until early fall of 1922 when Earl and Rose moved to Scotts-bluff to work in the sugar beets. Earl became ill the last of November and passed away Dec. 2, 1922 from complications following gall bladder surgery and pneumonia.

Clemens moved back into Mullen after Earl's death. Mina's nephew, Jack Eastwood and bride Peggy, moved onto the Wickham. They lived there until Wieses moved back to this ranch. Grandchildren Tillie, Leona, and Nellie stayed with their grandparents and attended high school. There always seemed to be numerous young people around. Elmer enjoyed making popcorn balls and Mina candy. Claudia Machalan says she first learned to pull taffy at Grandma Clemens' home.

Elmer and Mina took one more hitch in the country remaining until it was sold. They spent 6 months traveling before moving to Minnesota the fall of 1938. One day in the spring of 1939, Elmer decided to chop wood while Mina and Edith went to town. When the ladies returned, they found that he had had a stroke and lived but a few hours. From then until the time of her passing, Grand-mother's time was spent living among her grandchildren.

She always wished to return to Mullen for one more visit. Her wish was granted in the fall of 1954. She lived in Alice Pool's Nursing Home until she passed away January 24, 1956. They are both buried at Pine River, MN.