My grandmother

Nora Oleva (Mattley) Williams Brockmoller

By Vicky L. (Williams) Winfield (2005)

Daughter of Loren Otis Williams

 

 

       Grandma was born to Luke and Elizabeth Jane (Erridge) Mattley on 23 Dec 1886 near Ord, Valley Co., NE. on the farm.  She was born with flaming red hair and snappy black eyes.  Her hair later turned to a deep red and then almost pure black before it turned gray.  She wore it in a bun on the back of her head but when she let it down it went almost to the floor.   Grandma was raised on the farm outside of Ord in the Elyria area of Valley County and attended school nearby (the school has been made into a little country restaurant named the Country Neighbor). 

 

        Nora was the 3^rd child of five.  Her siblings were: Stella [who married William T. Mclain – Photo right - Nora & Stella], William Eustice [who married 1^st Maude (_____) and 2^nd Mary Josephine (Corcorn) Corcoran], Edith Pearl [who married Dean L. (Dan) Moser] and a little brother named Orville who died in infancy.  She had memories of going to Fort Hartsuff with her family during Indian uprisings and remembered her dad giving sacks of potatoes to Indians that stopped by the farm so they would leave the family alone.

 

       She married Grandpa (Bert Earnest Williams – Photo left - Bert and Nora on their wedding day) 27 July 1904 in Ord, Valley Co., NE. (which just happens to be the birth date for Grandpa - 27 July 1883 in Iowa).  They were living in Ord when (3 children) Walter Lee Williams, Isla Pearl (Williams) Ferguson and Glenn Charles Williams (we called him Uncle Red) were all born.  Grandpa was a telephone worker in the Ord vicinity at the time.  They moved to Burwell, Custer Co., NE. where (2 children) Elma Oleva (Williams) Kaelin and my father (Loren Otis Williams) were born. (Photo below - Bert & Nora’s family with first 5 children.) 

 

     They then moved to Ansley, Custer Co., NE. where (2 more children) Dale Dwaine Williams and Elizabeth Arlene Williams (married - also, goes by the name of Arlene) were born.  (Photo below left – Arlene & Dale – youngest William’s kids)

      

     Grandma and Grandpa had a farm outside of Ansley.  (Photo below right - Bert & Nora at Ansley farm)I believe only Dale and Arlene were still living at home.  During this time period my dad met my mother (Laura Elenor Jones).  Mother was a teacher for the school that Uncle Dale and Aunt Arlene attended (a one room rural school house with a coal burning stove) and was living with Grandma and Grandpa Williams.  Daddy was in California working in a barrel factory.  He had left his car at the farm (in the barn) while he was gone and Grandpa had allowed Mother to use it.  So when Daddy came back to Nebraska, he attempted to sell my mother his car which (according to Mother) was a piece of junk.  The story goes that they deeply disliked each other when they first met.  Daddy supposedly thought Mother was arrogant and Mother thought my dad was cocky!  Turned into a "great" love!

 

       Grandma and Grandpa later moved to Chapman, Merrick Co., Ne. for a time.  Grandma was the telephone operator there and I believe Aunt Arlene assisted her.  Grandpa worked for the telephone company as a lineman and farmed while they lived in Chapman.

 

       Grandpa died (02 August 1944) while they were living in Chapman.  He had gone to Oregon to visit with my Aunt Isla and her family.  Had climbed a cheery tree and was picking cherries when he fell.  He punctured a lung and injured his spine.  Grandpa developed pneumonia and died (Enterprise, Wallowa Co., Oregon).  His body was brought back to the Solt Funeral Home in Central City, Nebraska by train for his funeral and burial (06 August 1944).  He was buried in the Chapman Cemetery.

 

       Grandma Nora remained single for many years and lived in Grand Island, Hall Co., Ne. (my Uncle Dale and family were living there).  *Photo to left – Dale & Edna, Daddy & me, Arlene, Red, Carol, Grandma, Mother, Sharon – believe taken on or near Dale & Edna’s wedding day)  Then in about 1950 she married Wilhelm (Bill) Brockmoller.  They lived between Ogallala, Keith Co., NE. and Big Springs, Deuel Co., NE. on Bill's farm.  I often think of the wonderful strawberry bed they had on the side of the house and the great pool table Bill had in the basement.  Loved to go visit them!

 

       She died 25 March 1960.  Grandma had gone shopping in Julesburg, Sedgwick Co., Colorado (just across the state line) and died of a cerebral hemorrhage.  All I remember of her funeral was the rain.  In my memory (age 13) it rained and rained and rained - also was very cold.  Of course, I was upset so it might just be a false memory.  Her funeral was held Thursday, 31 March 1960 at the First Methodist Church in Big Springs, Nebraska.  She is buried in Big Springs, Deuel County, Nebraska (Bill Brockmoller is buried there also).

 

       Grandma was a very strong woman.  She raised seven children, lived through the 'great depression' and catered to a man who (according to family stories told by all of his kids) was a wanderer at heart.  Grandpa would often go off alone to visit with his many relatives and be gone for months at a time leaving Grandma with the kids, the farm and the chickens.  Each time he came back home another child was born nine months later. (that's the story my dad used to tell me)

 

       All of my Aunts and Uncles are gone now (including their wives and husbands) except for Aunt Arlene (the youngest).  My mother is still alive (she is now 84 and counting).

 

*  Photo belongs to Cousin Ron Williams (son of Dale and Edna) – he may have the full information concerning it.

 

 

 

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