CLEAVENGER, CHARLES EDWARD AND MARY ANN (MAYME) TOTTEN

by Mary Elliott

Entry F73 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Charles Edward (Chuck) Cleavenger/
moved to Mullen, Nebraska in 1898 with his
parents and family from Moorhead, Montana
at the age of ten. His wife Mary Ann (Mayme)
Totten, a graduate of Wayne Teachers
College, came to Mullen from Elgin, Nebras-
ka near 1907 as a young school teacher at the
age of twenty three.

Chuck was born August 19, 1888 at Wash-
ington, Kansas to George Monroe Cleavenger
and Arminda Isabelle (Belle) Lavering. His
wife Mary Ann (Mayme) was born November
25, 1884 at New Sheron, Iowa to Jonah
Gleason Totten and his wife Alice Mae
Cratty.

As a young man Chuck did some cowboying
for the U.B.I. and Dumbell ranches. When
Tom Woods came to the Sandhills from
England to check on the U.B.I. operations
Chuck showed him around the Sandhills. He
made many trips with Dr. Walker as his
special guide. He worked for the Telegraph
Company when they built their lines through
the Sandhills. The Cleavengers owned sev-
eral acres of land, some of it acquired through
the Homestead Act. They owned cattle and
work horses. Chuck used the horses in his
Dray Line business, delivering freight in
Mullen and the surrounding area. When the
gravel roads were first built in the Sandhills
he and his horses were contracted to help
move the many tons of dirt. When the Rio
automobiles were first built he was a Mullen
dealer for their cars and trucks. Chuck was
an expert hay contractor, putting up hay for
many years on the Big Creek, Carver and
Pullman ranches. His work horses were used
to pull the machinery used in putting up the
many tons of hay. In later years Chuck owned
and operated a truck line between Grand
Island and Alliance.

Mayme. Chuck's wife taught school for
several years until her license expired. She
then had a position working in a local general
store until her marriage to Chuck June 1,
1912 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at
Grand Island, Nebraska. To this union three
Children were born. Jack Monroe born
September 4, 1916, Ruth Audrey (Mrs.
Duard Brantley) born August 12, 1919, and
Mary Alice (Mrs. Almond Elliott) born May
18, 1924.

Charles was seriously injured when he was
hit by a train while driving a truck four miles
east of Mullen in 1944. He spent many
months in the Hospital and never fully
regained his health. He passed away in
September 1953 at Lincoln, Nebraska at the
age of 65. He wife Mayme passed away May
1, 1967 at North Platte, Nebraska at the age
of 83. Charles and Mayme were both mem-
bers of St. Joseph's Episcopal Church Mul-
len, Nebraska. They are buried in the
Cederview Cemetery in Mullen.Nebr.