ZACHRY, EDWARD C. AND BESSIE M. (JOHNSON)

by Ruth Barnebey

Entry F466 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Ed and Bessie Zachry 50th Anniversary 1967

Edward C. Zachry was born in Merna,
Nebraska on September 24, 1888 to Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Zachry.

He attended schools in Custer County and
graduated from the Fremont Business Col-
lege. He was married to Bessie M. Johnson
of Broken Bow, Nebraska at Lincoln on June
5, 1917 and the couple observed their 50th
Wedding Anniversary on June 4, 1967.

Mr. Zachry was a member of the Methodist
church for over 50 years. After several years
of farming he became a meat cutter and
owned several meat markets. He and Bessie
located in Mullen in 1931. He also served as
a rural mail carrier in Hooker County for
several years.

He was elected Hooker County Judge in
1949 and served for three terms. He would
chuckle as he told this story of a little friend
whose father was a minister. One day as she
visited with him in the office he asked her
where her father worked. She replied, "He
doesn't work, he just preaches."

Ed's wife Bessie was born to Jacob and
Nellie Johnson, in Custer County, on January
2, 1891, and received her schooling in that
area.

Bessie taught school in Custer County for
eight years. The couple moved to Seneca to
operate a cafe and then on to Mullen,
Nebraska.

Bessie was a member of the Methodist
Church, a member of the Ladies Aid and
Womens Societies of the church, a member
of the Rebekah Lodge for over 60 years and
a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She was a lovely pianist and played the piano
many times for these organizations.

After Ed's death on June 21, 1970 Bessie
moved to the Pioneer Memorial Rest Home
in Mullen, where she resided until her passing
on Jan. 21, 1973.