SIMONSON - STEWART FAMILY

by Jean Simonson Harding

Entry F388 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Nels and Marguerite Simonson. 50th Anniversary June 24, 1964.

Nels Marcellus Simonson and Marguerite
Alice Stewart came to the Mullen area in the
early 1900s.

Nels was born November 21, 1889 near
Newman Grove, Nebraska to Simon O. and
Sarah Daagsland Simonson, both of Norwe-
gian descent. He homesteaded in Hooker
County. His father and step-mother lived on
the Middle Loup River 5 1/2 miles northwest
of Mullen.

Marguerite was born May 30, 1893 in
Denver, Colorado. On June 24, 1914 she and
Nels were married at her parent's home in
southern Cherry County. They moved to the
Simonson ranch on the Loup River, which
they purchased from his parents. Ten chil-
dren were born to them, including premature
twins.

They ranched and farmed in Cherry and
Hooker Counties until January 1952, when
they moved into Mullen where they built a
house and retired.

Their children are: Jean (Mrs. Forrest
Harding), Robert (deceased), Stewart (Jim,
deceased), Jack, Margaret (Peggy, Mrs. Rod
Garner), Lois (deceased), Thomas, and Donn.

Nels died May 22, 1981 and is buried at
Cedarview Cemetery at Mullen. He was a
member of the Masonic Lodge, Order of the
Eastern Star and the Lutheran Church. He
served on the Hooker County School Board,
as a County Commissioner, and Agricultural
Conservation Committees.

Marguerite lives at their home in Mullen.
She is a member of the Episcopal Church,
Order of the Eastern Star and the Grand-
mother's card club. She has 26 Grandchild-
ren, 50 Great-grandchildren and one Great-
great-grand child.