REVERE, CLARENCE AND BERTHA (FRASIER)

by Evelyn Revere Elliott

Entry F358 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Clarence and Bertha Revere, Golden Wedding December 14, 1960

Clarence Revere was born April 1, 1883 at
Cambridge, Nebraska and came to Grant
County in a covered wagon, 1891 along with
his parents, Gilbert and Mary Revere and
sister, Medea. They resided on a ranch north
of Hyannis for a number of years. Gilbert
rode for the pony express in his earlier career.
Bertha Frasier was born November 4, 1889,
in Hamilton County and moved with her
family to Hooker County in 1902. She
married Clarence Revere December 14, 1910
in the Evergreen Hotel and began their
wedded life in the 18x10 frame house on
South prong, 17 miles northwest of Mullen.
This was their home for nineteen years and
their four children came to them there:
Ralph, Evelyn, Bernice and Mary.

Clarence was one of the first ranchers in the
area to feed cotton cake and people laughed
at him for using it, but he said he sold heavier
cattle.

A team of horses hitched to the buckboard
afforded early transportation to Hecla with
the cream can, and a case of eggs to purchase
necessary supplies. Early neighbors were J.G.
Cooley, H.M. Canida, Joe Herncall, and
others.

The first year of school was held in the
bunkhouse and later it was moved south to
accomodate other families 1 1/2 miles. The
teacher boarded in the homes and they
carried their lunch and drinking water. Most
of the clothing was sewn at home or ordered
out of the mail order catalog.

Vince Wrobliski, also Roy Bradley carried
the mail on the Hecla to Hyre route. One
summer, Bill Brennan, "The Well Man" built
a bridge across the creek. This turned into a
family project. Everyone stood out in the
creek and dipped water and thought it was
fun to get to use the pumps on the well rig.

The family had the opportunity to attend
church and Sunday School when Rev. C.E.
Thurmond moved into Hecla and was depot
agent for a few years.

The Reveres' sold to Marston Greathouse
in May 1929 and purchased the Adam's place
seven miles northwest of Mullen. The follow-
ing summer was spent remodeling the house.
The first winter on the Adams place ushered
in sickness, and hard times. The family was
quarantined about six weeks with Scarlet
Fever, then were sick with the German
measles. Clarence spent most of the winter
recovering from blood poisoning in a finger.
Lee Cooley done the work that winter, then
stayed on a few years and sometimes pre-
ferred a few head of cattle in preference to
wagons. These were the years of the Depres-
sion, and money was scarce.

The dry years and the trains made prairie
fires a hazard. When the fires jumped the fire
guards, they usually burned several acres of
rangeland before they could be put out.

Clarence served six years on the Hooker
County Board of Regents and represented
Mullen precinct when he lived on the Adams
place, along with Ike Haney, and Fred
Meidell on the County board.

Clarence and Bertha moved to the Perkins
place south of Mullen in April of 1940. They
moved to town in October 1954 and he retired
in 1964, due to failing eyesight.

Ralph passed away at home June, 1965.
Clarence and Bertha were residents of the
Mullen Rest Home when they passed away
in 1974. She died July 31 and Clarence died
November 29 of the same year. They are
buried in Cedarview Cemetery. The three
living members of the family, Evelyn Elliott,
Bernice Teter, and Mary McConnell are
living in Mullen.