GILES, GROVER STANLEY FAMILY

by Alice A. Giles

Entry F161 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Grover Stanley Giles married Alice Ayde-
lotte August 7, 1927.

Grover (Dode) as he was known was a
service man of World War I. When he was
discharged from service he came to Arnold,
Nebr. and made a home for his parents. Alice
Aydelotte was a teacher in the rural schools
at that time.

They lived in Arnold the first year of
marriage. Alice taught the Finchville school
and Dode farmed land adjoining the town. In
the spring of '28 they drove to Seneca, Nebr.
having been told the Stockmens Bank in
Seneca was offering 800 acres for sale. The
bank held the mortage on the above land.
Dode & Alice put a down payment on the land
& returned to Arnold, Alice to teach & Dode
to make preparations to move.

Dode had a good corn crop picked, shelled
& sold, 6 head big mules, sold 1 team of mules.
His older brother, Wallace, was unemployed
so he agreed to help move. The men loaded
farm equipment & furniture on 2 wagons and
started for across the hills north of Arnold to
Dunning, Nebr., then up what is now known
as Highway 2. It took 3 days to make the trek
to Seneca & out to place which was known as
the Buck Pearman place.

The dwelling had been empty for some
time, only 3 rooms were habitable. Dode
being handy with tools made it temporarily
possible to live in. Alice & her sister Margaret
drove up alter school was out on Fri. & swept
& scrubbed. Dode put in some windows. We
all went back to Arnold. Alice & Margaret
had schools to complete. Dode picked up his
Mother & took her to the hills with him. We
had some chickens, 7 head of cows, 2 sows
with pigs & the mules.

Then came the collapse of economy in '29.
Also the first child was born, Stanley A. Giles
1928. Patricia Giles was born the
following year, 1929.

Picking chips, burning soap weeds &
anything for fuel. The chickens & cows
supplied a small amount of cash. Joe Dode
Giles was born 1932.

Alice churned butter & molded it to eke out
the income to sell in town. The years of '32
& '34 were difficult years. The Stockmens
Bank in Seneca agreed to clear the mortage
if we would sell all the cows but 10 head. It
looked like thin pickings.

A neighbor, Frank Wilde, decided he would
leave and go into Mullen, Nebr. to make a
living, if we would keep 10 of his milk cows.
We could have the milk & calves for the care.
With 14 cows to milk the finances improved
as the work increased. Dode had a hay
contract from home so from Sun. eve until
following Sat. eve Alice milked the 14 cows,
cared for 3 small children & various other
chores. Harley Carrier, a neighbor joining us
came by once a week & picked up the cream
to ship. A 10 gallon & 1 eight gallon were
ready to go.

James Richard Giles was born 1940
and David Lee Giles was born 1944.
The children all attended the local school.
Sometimes the teacher boarded at Giles.

Stanley A. lives in Vacaville, Ca. is a crane
operator in construction firm after 7 yrs. in
the service. He has 3 sons. Joe Dode lives in
San Jose, Ca., he is married has 5 girls all live
near him in Ca. Joe works for Lockheed. He
served in Korean War. Patricia Giles married
Howard Mitchell from Los Angeles, Ca. They
met in Wyo. They have 3 children, Dianne
Hess, Tom P. Mitchell & Steven H. Mitchell.
Dianne lives in Salt Lake, Utah, Tom is
married & living in Berkely, Ca., Steven is a
senior in high school.

Richard Giles has 3 children, Lancon,
Michael & Joan. Lancon is out of school.
Michael in Voc. Tech. & Joan a senior. David
Lee Giles had 2 children, a son Raymond
from 1st marriage & daughter Laurie from
2nd marriage. David is working for Lockheed
& located in Austin, Tex. He is married to
Laura Meley who also works for Lockheed.

Grover (Dode) died in June 1959. Alice
with David stayed on the ranch until David
had completed high school. Alice went back
to teaching rural schools. Richard came home
to run the ranch. Alice is retired and living
in Thedford, after 12 years of teaching.