MALLORY, J0HN M. AND FAY (PATTERSON)

by John and Fay Mallory

Entry F276 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

John and Fay Mallory. Wedding Picture July 7, 1917

John Melvin Mallory was born in Fairbury,
Nebraska; August 14, 1891. He is the oldest
son of William S. and Laura Mallory. He was
a farmer until he with his parents moved to
Thedford, Ne. It was there they established
a homestead.

John married Fay Patterson on July 7,
1917 at Broken Bow, Nebraska. Fay was born
in Bloomfield, Iowa July 9, 1893. My parents
were Pollard and Cora (Hackersmith) Patter-
son from Bloomfield, Iowa.

My Dad had asthma so we came to
Cambridge, Nebraska to live close to his
sister and family. We lived there five years.
When the Kinkade Act came in, we filed and
lived on a 640 acres of land on the Sandhills.
After 5 years of living on the land, the land
became ours. They lived there the rest of
their life.

Dad and friends helped him build a sod
house 12 X 24. By the time our belongings
came on the railroad, Dad made room for our
furniture. I remember that my brother Bert,
my sister LaRue, My Mother and I went to
Thedford on old train #39 during a snow. At
first, we didn't want to stay but after we got
settled we were happy. We all attended
country school. There were 47 students in a
one room school house plus one teacher.

On Sunday a Preacher and his wife would
come out and we had Sunday School and a
sermon.

I went to Business College for 2 years,
because my Mother didn't have good health,
I stayed home and helped her on the ranch
until I married John, July 7, 1917.

Fay enjoys playing bridge, sewing and
knitting. Each child and grandchild has
received a handmade afghan. She was featu-
red as "Cook of the Week" in the Telegraph
paper - North Platte. Fay is a member of the
United Methodist Church.

John and Fay have been married for 70
years.

The United States being in World War I,
John joined the service, took his boot training
at Fort Dodge, Iowa, from July 23, 1918 to
December 12, 1918. John was delayed a
month to help with the fiu patients and the
deceased, he arrived home on train 39. He was
discharged with an honorable discharge.

John being an ambitious young man
worked at anything that was available to
support his family - from trapping muskrats
in the winter to putting up hay in the
summer.

John served on the school board for 15
years, held town offices for many years and
served as a County Commissioner.

In 1934, John started the Gravel Business
east of Thedford. In 1948, they sold their
home in Thedford during World War II and
moved to Mullen, In 1946 John began
pumping gravel North of town. Then in 1950,
Don went in partnership with him until he
retired in 1958. Don then bought the busi-
ness. John and Fay have traveled, spending
many winters in Mesa, Arizona, where they
enjoyed the baseball games and other activi-
ties. In 1975, he was compelled to remain at
home because of ill health.

John and Fay have 4 children and 12
grandchildren:

Children: Twyla Day Canaday and Betty
Carol Meisinger, Omaha; Donald F. Mullen
and Stanley A., Grand Island

Grandchildren: Jean Noblitt, California;
Joan Canaday, Paris, France; Janet Canaday,
California; Gail Steinacher, Lincoln; Alan
Mallory, Lincoln; Jan Taafe, Arlington,
Texas; Johnny Meisinger, deceased; Carol
Ann Fettin, Omaha; Kim Mallory, Lincoln;
Cheryl Carmachael, Colorado Springs, Colo-
rado; Steve Mallory, Lincoln; Mike Meising-
er, Denver, Colorado

Great-grandchildren: Ashley and Lindsay
Steinacher, Lincoln; Melissa and Mara
Brown, California; Chris and Sarah Fettin,
Omaha; Kelsey and McKenzie Aarin Carma-
chael, Colorado Springs; Mallory Elizabeth
Taafe, Arlington; Adam and Aimee Mallory,
Kearney

John was baptized in the Christian Faith
July 7, 1979.

John was a successful business man, a
faithful husband and family man and friend-
ly to all he meets.