VAN DEUSEN, GEORGE AND CYNTHIA

by Gladys (Van Deusen) Furrow

Entry F432 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

George and Cynthia Van Deusen, Wedding April 29, 1908

George Van Deusen, son of Festus and
Ellen (Gordon) Van Deusen, was born on
Sept. 28, 1867 at Madison, Wis. In 1871 he
came to Hamilton county, Ne. with his
parents. He spent his early years on the farm
near Stockham, Ne. In 1900 he came to the
Sandhills where he did some cowboying but,
for the first few years most time was spent as
chief cook for the UBI or 101 ranches.

Since land was available he filed on a
homestead fourteen miles southwest of Mul-
len and three miles down the valley from the
Frasier homestead. He built a three room
house and prepared to establish a home. On
April 29, 1908 he hitched his fine team of
horses to the new top buggy and took Cynthia
Frasier, whom he had been courting, to
Mullen where they were married at the home
of Dr. and Mrs. David Walker.

Nine children were born in this home;
Edith Ellen, Gladys Grace, Ralph Festus,
George Gerald, Keith Ronald, Thelma Ruth,
who died in infancy, Ida Elizabeth, Ona
Marie, and Norma Lucille. As the family grew
new rooms were added to the house.

The main road to Mullen for ranchers in
southwest Hooker county passed by the Van
Deusen home. Consequently, it became an
overnight stopping place as they were doing
their freighting. About 1912 a school house
was built on the Van Deusen property. Many
of the teachers boarded with the Van Deu-
sens. The school house was not only used for
educational purposes but also served as a
community building and a church.

About 1915 the neighborhood formed a
company and built a telephone line to
Mullen. It was a real thrill when the tele-
phones were all installed and everyone
assigned "Rings". "Listening in" was a
common practice and sometimes proved
useful in times of trouble as all were always
ready to give a helping hand.

Everyone in the family was kept busy with
farming, milking cows, raising chickens and
turkeys, and a large vegetable garden.
Cynthia aimed to raise 400 chickens each year
and usually canned 500 or more quarts of
vegetables and fruit. In winter Cynthia liked
to use her sewing skills, and pieced and
quilted well over one hundred quilts. George
liked to show off his ability to cook so
sometimes cooked dinner and baked a large
batch of bread while Cynthia was busy with
her sewing. One story he told of his days as
Ranch Cook was that he cooked doughnuts
in a large iron kettle, cut them with a No. 2 1/2
size tomato can and the centers with a smaller
can; and would have a tub full ready when the
cowboys came in for chow.

There was a time for pleasure as well. Both
loved to read. George played the violin and
organ, Cynthia could sing; and many ev-
enings were spent in family "sings" or just
listening to the violin. The family attended
Sunday School every Sunday and church if
there was a minister at the school house.

In 1945 George and Cynthia moved from
the homestead to a ranch six miles north of
Seneca where they lived till George died in
1963. Cynthia lived in Mullen for a time, then
with her daughter, Ona, until her passing in
1979. They were among the early settlers in
Hooker county so shared in the many changes
as the country grew into a productive commu-
nity.