William and Gertrude Fablinger
William
Russell Fablinger, eldest son of Nicholas and Margaret Blake Fablinger was born March
14, 1876, in Jo Davis County near Hanover, Illinois. In 1881 a few months after his mother’s
death, his father took two of his sons, Will and George, to live with a relative, Mrs.
Johns
Schlect of Auburn NE., while he went on west to homestead. In 1886 Mr.
Fablinger returned to Logan County by covered
wagon to their new home (where Beryl Frosh now lives).
Will
received his schooling in the rural schools. He first attended “High Point,” a sod school
about a mile east of their sodhouse. He also attended “Red Brick” located
southeast of the Logan County Co-op Station. His last school
was Frolkey School located 1/2
mile northeast of Jack Smith’s home.
As
well as helping his father and neighbors, he did freighting out of North Platte. He served
as the Director of the Farmer’s State Bank of Gandy.
Minnie
Gertrude was the eldest daughter of Gus and Minnie Hughes. She was born on August 23,
1894, on Garfield Table and attended the Garfield School. The Hughes family moved to
Tabor, Iowa, and in the fall of 1911 Gertie enrolled in the 9th grade.
The following January she came down with Typhoid Fever
and was bedfast for 6 weeks. Later that year the family moved
back to the homestead on Garfield Table.
On
June 16, 1915, Will and Gertie were married. The couple went by buggy
(about 8 miles), to a friends home who took them
in his auto to North Platte for their wedding. The newlyweds
made their home with Gerties parents, helping with the work. It was here their daughter
Alice was born in 1916. In 1921 they moved to the old Fablinger Place. 1922 brought two
special events; another daughter Elsie and the purchase of and moving to a farm just south of
the limits of Gandy. Here two more daughters joined the family, Lucy
in 1924 and Esther in 1930.
All four daughters attended the Gandy Grade School. Following graduation from Logan County
High School they taught school and attended Kearney State Teachers College during the summer.
Alice
and Walter Rockwell of Gandy, were married at the First Methodist Church of North Platte.
Elsie married Edgar Hubbell in Bend, Oregon. Lucy and Russell
Johnson were married in Stapleton United Presbyterian
Church. Ester married Byron Blevens at the Gandy Methodist
Church. Rev. Edward Holub of Stapleton Officiated at the weddings of Alice, Lucy and Esther.
Will
and Gertie knew what the “Depression” of the ‘30’s was the banking closing government buying
of cattle. Along with farming to supplement income, they milked twelve to sixteen
cows shipping some cream, churning and molding butter delivered to a store in exchange for
staples, eggs were also “traded” at the stores. Gertie always had a large garden and the family
assisted with its care and harvest. When possible Will, using one of his larger teams worked
on the road construction for a few dollars a day.
Through
good times and bad there was always room and food for family, friends, neighbors, and
the stranger. All the family were active in the Methodist Church and community affairs.
In
1944 they sold the farm and bought a house and several lots in Gandy (The John Fletchers now own the
house). There was no retirement with garden, flowers, chickens, and two cows,
and borders. Will was a high school custodian for a few years.
On
January 4, 1963, Will died at home after several
weeks of poor health. Gertrude died September 29,
1973, at St. Mary's Hospital in North Platte.
They are both buried in McCain Cemetery.
From
the History of Logan County Nebraska, pg 145
Copied by Tracy Johnson Summerville September 2001
