BOYER, JOE AND VERDA

by LaVerna Keller Paul

Entry F39 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Verda and Joe Boyer 1955

Joe Boyer was born to Johnson and Mary
Boyer in Galax, Virginia on February 5, 1884,
the seventh of eight children. At about the
age of 12, Joe came to Oklahoma with his
aunt's family - the Hampton's. In return for
cash, he did babysitting for them. In 1903,
(age 19), he came to Nebraska and home-
steaded in Cherry County.

Lydia Alverda Long was born on August
14, 1888 in Grayson County, Virginia. When
she was about 7 years old (1895), their family
moved to NE. On January 6, 1909, Joe
married Alverda Long, daughter of Calvin
and Mary Long who had a homestead just
east of what was to be Joe's ranch.

Joe's homestead (now known as Lucien
Andrews place) had a 26' x 30' frame house
where the first four children were born. Marie
was born on February 14, 1910, Bertha on
October 11 , 1912, Winnie on August 14, 1914,
and Joseph LaVern on October 23, 1916. In
December 1916, Joe put the farm up for sale
and homesteaded at the ranch. LaVern was
6-7 months old at the time they moved. They
lived in an old bunk house until Joe finished
building their house. Later that year, they
bought a house in Mullen, where they lived
and Joe did carpentry work for 2-3 years.
After that, they were back on the ranch.

Kenneth was born March 12, 1919 and
Callona on November 12, 1927. In about 1925,
Verda and the children moved into a rented
house in town for school purposes. In the fall
of 1941, Joe built his house in Mullen. Winnie
lived in the house and kept Ken and Callona,
and Marie's three children - Lenore, Tom,
and John while they attended school. In 1948,
when Winnie was married, Verda moved to
town permanently and in the fall of 1949, Joe
also moved to town.

Marie was married to Paul Thomas Roseb-
erry in 1930. Born to them were Lenore, Tom,
and John. Bertha married Jack Cerruti in
1938 and they had one daughter, Jacquelyn
and one foster daughter, Louise. Winnie was
married to Joe DeChaine in 1948. LeVern was
killed in WWII in 1944. Kenneth married
Maude Anderson in 1944. Their children are
Kennetha, Rosalie, Shirley, and Kenny Joe.
Callona was married to Ray Keller in 1947.
Their children are Sid, Dan, LaVerna, and
Andy.

In 1949, Ray and Callona moved onto the
ranch. Joe maintained an active interest in
the ranch for many years and with the
assistance of hired help continued to run the
ranch until his death.

Joe and Verda celebrated their 50th wed-
ding anniversary in January 1959. Verda
passed away on January 12, 1961 and Joe died
on May 6 1971.