NELSON, MAUDE (HAM)

by H.C.H. Society

Entry F311 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Maude Nelson, showing a room in Pioneer Memorial Hospital

Maude Ham was the daughter of Steve and
Florence Ham, born September 2, 1892. She
and William `Bill' Schooler were united in
marriage and had one son, Kenneth, born
October 15, 1914. Maude married Reuben
Nelson, January 20, 1951. Reuben died April
6, 1964. Maude died January 4,1973 at age 80.
She was awarded a plaque postumously for
her untiring efforts to beautify the Cederview
Cemetery in Mullen, Nebraska, with ever-
green trees and flowers.

Maude was named to the Nebraska's
Women's Hall of Fame by the Nebraska
International Women's Year Coalition. An
article taken from the Omaha World Hearald
was as follows: "Maude was known as "Mrs.
perpetual Motion of the Sandhills." She
successfully campaigned for a city park, a
community hospital and Nursing Home and
Cemetery improvements. She outlived and
outworked three husbands. She was a cattle
rancher from 1920-'27; owner of Women's
ready-to-wear store for five years; a traveling
saleswoman during the depression. She own-
ed and managed the Commercial Hotel in
Maullen from 1941 to 1953 and an apartment
house 1953 to 1954. Maude secured land from
Hooker County supervisors for a City Park,
then helped build it. At age 66, she shoveled
sand, poured concrete, hung doors, painted
and did landscaping. She also helped recruit
the doctor for the Hospital's opening, March
1, 1959."