JAMES, WESLEY E. AND MAXINE (LOWE)

by Maxine James

Entry F222 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Wes and Maxine James, 1983.

Wesley, sixth child of Fay & Sallie James,
was born in Cherry Co. 11 miles NE of
Mullen, July 4, 1918. He attended Virginia
School in Cherry Co. & Mullen schools. He
rode horseback the 10 miles to MHS until his
Sr. year when he stayed in town & worked at
Arnold Feed Store after school. He graduated
from H.S. in '35 and helped on the ranch until
1939 when he enrolled in Oklahoma State
Uni. He was drafted into the Afmy, Feb. 1942
and commissioned 2nd Lt., Aug. 1942. During
WWII he was stationed in Hawaiian Islands
and Saipan.

Maxine Lowe, daughter of Louis & Lillie,
was born in Mullen March 31, 1919. She
attended school in Cherry Co. her first 3 years
while her family lived on their ranch. In
March, 1927, the Lowes moved to Mullen
where she was Valedictorian of H.S. Class of
1936. She taught first four grades at Van
Duesen Consolidated School in Hooker Co.,
receiving a salary of $50 a month. In the fall
of 1937 she entered UNL where she became
a member of Chi Omega Sorority serving 2
yrs. as Treas. and President one year. In June
1941 she received her B.Sc. Degree in Busi-
ness Administration. Her first job was Sec'y
in War Dept., Washington, D.C. with starting
salary of $1,440. a year. Her Transportation
Section was one of first to occupy the new
Pentagon Building in Va. She transferred
back to Sioux Ordnance Depot at Sidney, NE
in fall of '42 and worked until June, 1945,
receiving a salary of $2800 a yr. - an
exceptional amount for a female at that time.

Wes & Maxine were married June 26, 1945
and lived in El Paso, Tex. until Wes's
discharge from Army with rank of Capt., Jan.
1946. Wes reenrolled in OSU in Jan. 1946.
Maxine did Secretarial work in Extension
Division of the college. Their son, Kenny was
born August 26, 1947 in Stillwater, Okla. Wes
received his B.Sc. Degree in 1947 and M.S.
Degree in Animal Husbandry in Jan. 1948.

North Platte State Farm was their next
home where Wes was employed by UNL and
US Government. In Aug., 1949 they moved
back to Mullen to become partners with
Kenneth Lowe in Lowe Co. so Louis Lowe
could retire. They built a new home and
moved in June, 1950. Their daughter, Sherry
Rise' was born Nov. 18, 1950 in Alliance, NE
Hospital.

Wes purchased Kenneth's half of the
business in 1958 & continued to operate Lowe
Co. until 1971 when he sold the inventory. In
1967 they sold their home. Leonard Hauck &
Wes built a new home which they moved into
Jan., 1968. There was such a demand for
someone to do remodeling and building that
Wes constructed homes the next 12 years in
Mullen, Whitman & Hyannis area. His
transition to retirement has been hastened by
eye problems. He plans to fish and travel
some.

Wes served as Pres. of Com'l Club, Cub
Scout Leader, School Board, Village Board
and Sec'y & Warden of Episcopal Church
Bishop's Com. He has served on ESU #16
Board since 1966 and is Hooker Co. Veteran
Service Officer.

Maxine has been full time Mother, Home-
maker, helped at store, was Cub Scout Den
Mother, band Parents 8 years, Hosp. Auxilia-
ry and worked in Episcopal Church - Sun.
School Supt., teacher, Guild and Bishop's
Committee, a 56-yr. member of the Church.

Both of their children graduated from
Mullen H.S., Ken in 1965, Sherry in 1969.
Ken received his B.Sc. Degree from Doane
College & M.S. Degree from Iowa U. A Fellow
in the Society of Actuaries, he had been with
a Consulting firm in Lake Forest, Ill. since
1976. He is married and has 2 daughters,
Amanda, 8 and Lacey, 3 1/2 .

Sherry attended Doane College & UNL
and is 1973 graduate of Bryan School of
Nursing. She is an RN, working part time at
Bryan Mem. Hosp. in Lincoln, NE. Her
husband is an Anesthetist, also at Bryan.
They have a son, Jared and daughter, Jaime,
4 1/2 year old twins.