BREWER, JULIA LYDIA REGINA (NEAL)

by Regina L. Brewer

Entry F51 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

I was born 6/11/1915 with Dr. Carter in
attendance. Other children in the family were
Joseph Luther, Francis Albert, Alois Win-
slow, Anna Marie, (Alicia & Peter who died
at birth), James Zikmund and Mary Dorothy.
I was the fourth child & eldest daughter. Our
parents were John Luther Neal, Jr. 2/7/1875
and Mary A.R. Herncall 3/24/1882 were
married at Alliance, Nebr. 1/1/1907.

My father was born in Iowa & came to
Nebr. when approximately 12 years old. He
lived in McPherson County and surrounding
area until he was old enough to file on a
homestead, which he did just across the
county line in Hooker County. His brother
filed on adjoining land just east of his. My
mother was a teacher in Dist. #6 when she
met & fell in love with my dad. I went to that
school my first 4 yrs. My teachers were
Nancy Haney Frost, Olive Neal Fuller, Vera
Kerns and Hattie Cox Shimmin.

Gathering cow chips in the fall of the year
for winter fuel & heat was a yearly chore.
Gathering wild fruit was something we
children enjoyed. First came the Sand-
cherries growing in the pastures and along the
edges of `blow-outs', pockets of sand where
the wind had eroded the topsoil. Later trips
were made to the Dismal River for Rasp-
berries, about July 4th, Chokecherries,
Currants & several varieties of wild Plums,
also wild Grapes. I well remember seeing my
father bury Plums in a clean gunny sack
under ground for about a week. When dug up
the unripened fruit had ripened and were
deliciously sweet.

We moved to Mullen, Nebr. the fall of 1923
so my older brothers could attend high
school. I graduated from Hooker County
High School in May 1932, and immediately
made arrangements to go to Chadron State
Normal. I had been assigned the Fuller school
to teach that fall. I taught 5 years in Hooker
County and spent some time summers help-
ing on ranches. I met my husband, Stanley
E. Brewer, at the Felix Taylor Ranch where
he worked for 2 years.

Stanley went to Salt Lake City, Utah in
hopes of finding work so we could get
married. We only lived in Salt Lake City
about 2 1/2 months after being married June
11, 1937, moving to Dove Creek, Colo. to the
Fred E. Brewer homestead. Staney helped
his father that winter working for money
away from home whenever he found work. In
the spring we started buying a home of our
own, 320 acres.

Our first son, Francis Edwin, was born May
4, 1938. The following 2/21 he was injured in
an accidental fall and died before we could
get medical help. We then acquired another
320 A. from the same landlord, paying for it
as we could. 1940 our son Neal James was
born in Dove Creek. Moving to Bingham
Canyon, Utah for work during World War II,
twin daughters, Barbara Ann & Betty Alicia,
were born 1942; Regina Karen also born in
Utah 1944. We returned to our farm. Jerry
Stanley arrived 1945.

Then really began a series of moves, back
to Nebr., Colo, again Nebr. where we spent
the next 19 years working in the hayfields in
Cherry Co. Stanley contracted with ranchers
and his family was his principal crew. During
the winter for several years Stanley was
employed at Lowe's Shop as a mechanic.
Again back to Colo. where our daughter
Nancy Marie was born 1947.

In 1967 we moved back to our far in Colo.
with the idea we'd stay. However, we did
spend the next two summers in the Nebr.
hay fields before retiring permanently.?? We
did a lot of clearing of land, fencing and
Stanley built us a beautiful log house and
rented out our farm ground. We hope to have
a grand reunion with our 6 children, 24 grand-
children and 3 great grand-children this June
13, l987, our 50th Anniversar.

I did considerable substitute teaching and
teacher's Aide work, along with Extension
Club work. I was awarded Homemaker of the
year for the District IX of Colorado in 1975.

Our hobbies are dancing and rock hunting.
We belong to Ute Mt. Gem and Mineral
Society and assist with their yearly shows.
Stanley is an accomplished silversmith and
Gem-maker.

We'll always find something of interest to
do it seems.