FOLK, JAMES AND RUBY (YOUNKIN)

by James Folk

Entry F143 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Lewis Folk and Inez Carpenter summer of 1935.

Theodore Folk served in the Spanish
American War in Cuba, as a member of
Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. He ran a
grocery store in Okla. - There he met and
married Anna Ruzek of Okla. on July 28,
1900. In 1905 they moved to Nebraska where
they homesteaded 27 miles northwest of
Mullen. In 1923 they moved to Mullen. For
a short time Theodore and Harry Mathews
operated a business, which was later called
Mathews Chevrolet Company (now Schmok-
er Chev. and Olds.) He established the
Farmers Elevator Co. around 1925. He was
active in the business until retiring in 1949.
Theodore and Anna celebrated their 50th
anniversary July 28, 1950. Theodore passed
away in 1955 and Anna in 1966.

Lewis Folk, the oldest of the Folk children,
ranched on the Theodore Folk homestead
until 1929. He married Velma Glause in 1925.
She was a school teacher and taught at the
Prentice School. In the early 30's they moved
to Mullen, where Lewis hauled freight for a
short time with Otto Pearson. Velma died of
child birth with twins in 1931. In 1932 Lewis
went in partnership with his dad at the
Farmers Elevator Co. He was the first one to
introduce butane to the business and later
propane. In 1936 he married Inez Carpenter
(daughter of George and Gertrude Carpen-
ter.) They made their home in Mullen, which
is still their present home. They have four
children: Lewis Don born in 1938, twins,
James and Jacquline, 1940, Marion 1944.
Lewis stayed active in the business until his
death on July 28, 1972. Lewis Don and Jim
now run the business. Inez is currently
residing at the Pioneer Nursing Home in
Mullen.

James Folk graduated from Mullen High
School in 1959. He married Ruby (Younkin)
on August 27, 1961 in Valentine, Nebraska.
Ruby, (the oldest daughter of George and
Rana Younkin,) graduated for U.N.S.A. at
Curtis, Nebraska in 1959. They have four
children: Terry born 1962, he is
a respiratory therapist at Childrens Hospital
in Omaha, Nebraska. Shane, was born
1964, and is employed by the Farmers
Elevator Company in Mullen. Mendy, was
born 1970 and is a Junior at
Mullen High School. Lori, 1971
is a Freshman at Mullen High School.

Jim and Ruby lived in Valentine, Nebraska
for a year, where Jim was employed by Reese
Skelgas. In 1962 they moved to North Platte,
Nebraska where Jim worked for Blue Flame
Propane. In May of 1964, the family moved
to Mullen where Jim associated with his dad
in the propane business. The Farmers Eleva-
tor is among one of the oldest businesses, 63
years, which has been operated by three
generations of Folks. Jim and Shane are now
both active in the business.