BOYER, FIELDEN AND MARY ENICE (JAMES)

by Lessie Belle Ferguson

Entry F36 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Fielden and Mary Enice (James) Boyer

Boyer Family April 1953, L to R, Earl, Erma, Luceil, Romey, Mable, Bessie,
Robert, Roy and Lessie Belle.

Fielden Samuel Boyer, son of Robert and
Sarah Boyer was born March 14, 1886, at
Battle Creek, Nebr., and was united in
marriage to Mary Enice James, daughter of
Stephen and Virginia (Boyer) James on
March 6, 1908. To this union eight children
were born, Veva Idell, died March 22, 1909,
Luceil, Romey died March 10, 1973, Mable,
Bessie, Robert, Roy and Lessie Belle. Earl
and Erma, children of Enice by her previous
marriage also lived with them.

Their home was approximately 10 miles
northeast of Mullen, nearly straight north of
Kelso, a railway junction, park and spring,
located between Mullen and Seneca. Here
they farmed and raised cattle and hogs. Many
cows were milked with the help of the
children and each week cream was taken into
Mullen, usually in the wagon to help buy
groceries for the family. Corn, oats and rye
were the main crops farmed. With the grains
and many stacks of hay to keep the farm
animals, and the huge gardens raised, the
family lived very well. Each child was taught
his or her responsibility in helping to keep all
the work done. Hail storms, thunderstorms
and heavy rains, drought, grasshoppers,
diseases, rustlers, and thieves that went with
pioneering, were experienced by the family.

Fielden joined his brother Charley with the
singing for the funerals and other programs.
All of the children attended school at the
Virginia school-house from Kindergarten
through 8th grade. Luceil and Romey attend-
ed the school for the Deaf at Omaha, Nebr.
Erma, Bessie, Roy and Lessie Belle graduat-
ed from the Mullen High School. In the Fall
of 1934, Fielden and Enice moved into
Mullen, where they lived until their death.
Fielden bought the Sale Barn in Mullen,
which he and the boys operated for many
years. Enice boarded school children who
attended High School to help with expenses.
Enice passed away April 8, 1953, Fielden on
November 26, 1957.

Luceil helped her mother cook for boar-
ders, worked in the Hotel for 10 years, and
in the cafe kitchen for 3 years. In February,
1949, she attended the Beauty Academy in
Scottsbluff, Nebr., after which she returned
to Mullen and opened her own beauty shop.

Mable married Royalyn Lockhart in 1932,
to this union three children were born, Harry,
Raymond and Robert. Mable died October
20, 1954. Roy on January 31, 1954.

Bessie married Clarence Mink in 1934, to
this union two children were born who died
at birth. Clarence died June 1, 1942. She later
married Walter Prindle in 1944, to this union
two children were born, Delbert and Denise.
Walter passed away October 12, 1958. Bessie
married Jim Richey in 1963. No children. Jim
passed away Jan. 23, 1985.

Robert married Ruth Clardy in 1940, to
this union three children were born Carol,
Sharon and Joan.

Lessie Belle married Richard Johnson in
1943, to this union two children were born
Mary Belle and Samuel. Later she married
John Ferguson in 1955, to this union two
children were born Elmer Thomas and James
Edwin. John passed away May 24, 1976.
Luceil, Romey and Roy who are deaf mutes
have never married.

Earl married Jean Morrison in 1938, to this
union eight children were born, Leonard,
Connie, Viola, Mildred, Gladys, Willard,
Bonnie and Gary. Earl passed away Febr. 6,
1981 .

Erma married Glee Hampton in 1925, to
this union seven children were born, Wayne,
Stanley, Orville and Norman, Mary Luceil,
Erma Jean and Leta Mae. Glee passed away
June 25, 1983.