WARDEN, PHLETE AND ONA (BOYER)

by Phlete and Ona Warden

Entry F442 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Phlete and Ona Warden 1977

Phlete R. Warden was born in Cherry
County to Jerry and Rosa Lee Warden. The
oldest of 8 children. He attended country
school through the 8th grade. Phlete made
one trip to Mullen with his Dad to learn the
way with 4 horses on the freight wagon, 43
miles distance, after the groceries and
supplies. When only 12 years old he began
making this trip alone, getting as far as the
Cherry Post Offide the first day and stayed
overnight with Colonel and Jennie Osborn,
then to Mullen after the load and back to
Osborn's. Returning home the next day on all
trail roads - opening many wire gates and
fording the North Loup river. They made 3
or 4 trips a year by wagon. Occasionally they
went to Laura Palmer's store 8 miles away
between freight trips after a few needed
groceries, and sometimes the mail man or a
neighbor brought smaller items out. The mail
came 3 times a week but since it was 4 miles
to the box they sometimes only went once a
week after the mail. The family's clothing was
ordered from the Sears Roebuck or Mont-
gomery Wards. They didn't have a car until
March 1928.

Phlete worked at the home place until
1938. He was a mechanic for Mathews
Chevrolet in Mullen from 1938 to 1941.
During the war years 1942-1945, he worked
at Fairfield Ship Yards for Bethleham Steel
in Baltimore, Maryland. In the spring of 1946
he returned to Nebraska and hayed at Big
Creek Ranch, shucked corn for different ones
and did other odd jobs that winter. April
1947, he began working for Lee Boyer,
helping care for turkeys at the turkey ranches
east and west of Mullen. Phlete and his
brother J.C. bought the Garrett place west of
Mullen and some Abbott land northwest of
Seneca in 1948.

December 1948 Phlete married Ona Boyer
and they lived on Lee's east turkey ranch.
Both helped care for baby turkeys, feeding
hens and gathering eggs, plus the ranch work.
Later Lee quit the turkey business. Phlete
and Ona bought the place from Lee in 1965,
where they continue to live and ranch.