Story Family Sketches

I am adding information here about Story family members as it becomes available. If you have any information or stories about this family you would be willing to share, please let me know.

James Mason Story

PIONEERS CELEBRATE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Mr. and Mrs. Mason Story Observe Fiftieth Wedding at Their Home Near Lewiston - A Happy Day for Their Family and Many Friends.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Story, one-half mile south of Lewiston, was the scent (sic) of a happy occasion last Wednesday, when members of their family and a large number of friends gathered to celebrate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of this worthy pioneer couple.

Mrs. Story was Miss Harriet Farrell before her marriage, which took place at her home in East Springs, (sic) Ohio, half a century ago, where both lived and where the first five years of their married life was spent.

In 1880 they moved west and located on a farm near Pawnee City, where they resided for 20 years before moving to their present home in the Lewiston neighborhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. Story are enjoying reasonably good health and are very active, considering their years. Mrs. Story does her own house work and Mr. Story manages the farm work, and neither is ready to retire yet.

Their hospitable home was prettily decorated for the happy occasion. In the dining room and living room were golden festoons and white bells. Other rooms were decorated with golden snap dragons and jonquils. The center piece for the dining table was a huge wedding cake. Streamers of gold ribbon ran the full length of the table on either side and bouquets of golden calendula were at each end.

A bounteous dinner was served at noon to the near relatives and friends and a public reception was held from 2 to 5 in the afternoon. Many neighbors called to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Story and many left gifts as mementos of the day, which bespeaks the high esteem in which they are held.

Among the gifts they received were two envelopes, each containing five dollar gold pieces, the gift of their 10 children. They also received several other gold coins.

The guest book was in charge of their daughter, Mrs. Bertha Miller. Another daughter, Mrs. Ethel Haywood, and two sons, Charles and Harry Story, received at the door.

The refreshments, which consisted of fruit salad, ice cream and cake, were served by their daughters, Mrs. Florence Sisco and Mrs. Mary Wenzl.

During the afternoon the following program was rendered:

Then at the request of his children, the groom of so long ago played the "fiddle" they all loved so much. He was very reluctant to do so, saying he would start something he couldn't finish. But he finally consented to do so, and played with his old time zeal not one, but several selections.

Out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. I. Z. Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Pyle and Mrs. Maude Story, all of Pawnee City.

The affair was planned and executed by Mr. and Mrs. Story's 10 children, who are: William H. Story, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Lola Kelley, Coloney (sic), Kas.; Marion Story, Lewiston, Nebr.; Harry Story, Pawnee City; Mrs. Mary Wenzl, Vermillion, Kas.; Mrs. Bertha Miller, Hallem, Kas. (?), Mrs. Ethel Haywood, Ulm, Wyo.; Mrs. Florence Sisco, Lewiston, and Miss Hazel Story, Salina, Kas.

With the exception of the two eldest, William and Lola, all the children were present with their families. Mrs. Charles Story was also unable to attend. Charles is treasurer of Nemaha county, Kas., and Mrs. Story is his deputy and unable to leave the office.

It is truly remarkable that in rearing so large a family there has been no death as yet to break the group.

During the day the mother did not once think of herself, so great was her joy at having her children at home together again, but she sorely missed the two who were detained. The father shared his wife's sentiments. In addition to the children, there are 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

All together it was a very happy day, not only for those whom it concerned the most, but also to the whole Lewiston vicinity, for surely it is God's plan for wedded life to be as the journey which "Mason and Harriet" have taken together, sweeter as the years go by.<.p>

From "The Republican," Pawnee City, Neb. March 5, 1925

Lydia Story

Lydia Story, daughter of Harrison & Elizabeth (McClave) Story, she was from Madison, Indiana. Wife of Gov. David Christy Butler. Married Jan. 25, 1860. The Butler family moved to Pawnee City and entered the mercantile business with W.B Raper. The family lived in Lincoln from 1868 to 1874 when David was Governor. In 1874 he moved his family to the farm home 3 miles west of Pawnee City (320 acres) known as the "Upland Stock Farm".

They had eight children. Four of them lived to adulthood, and two died at an early age of typhoid fever. They were: Twins born 1863 and died of typhoid fever. Violet was born in 1864. Ozias and Olive, twins, were born in 1865. Ozias lived to be 16 years and Olive died at birth. Seth was born in 1869. Darius was born in 1873 and Paul in 1877.

(Note: This paragraph was from a pamplet from the Historical Site telling about the Butler family, the dates don't all match what the cemetery records have.)

Albert Smith Story

Albert Smith Story received his B.A. and M.A. from Hanover College in Hanover, IN in 1877 and 1878 and was admitted to the bar in 1880. He and his brother Walter Story formed a partnership, "Story & Story" in Pawnee City in 1883. Albert served as county attorney, mayor and postmaster in Pawnee City.

Ralph Walter Story

Ralph Walter Story graduated from Hanover College in 1880 receiving his B.A. and M.A. He and his brother Albert Story formed a partnership, "Story & Story," in Pawnee City in 1883.

Lola Maude Story

In 1880, Lola (along with her parents and older brother, William Harrison Story), traveled by covered wagon from Madison Township, Jefferson County, Indiana to a farm near Pawnee City, Pawnee County, Nebraska where the family settled for the next 20 years.

Many thanks to Find A Grave contributor Don Winfrey for permission to use this information.

If you have questions about any of the information found here, please contact me.

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