Mrs. Dora Bell House has Interesting Life

Mrs. Dora Bell House has Interesting Life

Location:
Cambridge, Nebraska
When:
November 13, 1947

Description:

The Cambridge Clarion, newspaper, Cambridge, NE, Nov. 13, 1947
     Microfilm Roll No. 9648, copied by Audra McGee Sept. 1988
     at the Butler Memorial Library, Cambridge, NE

MRS. DORA BELL HOUSE HAS INTERESTING LIFE
     The following is an autobiography of Dora Bell House Runkle,
and will no doubt prove interesting to readers, as she was one of
the early settlers near Cambridge.
     I came to Nebraska in the spring of 1885 in a covered wagon
from 15 miles south of Chillicothe, Mo., sleeping on the ground
under the wagon for two weeks.
     My father, Eli Runkle and I had the sum of $2.45 when we
started from Missouri, and only $0.45 when arriving here.  We
lived in an old sod house with no windows and no floors for about
a month, after which our abode was and 8 x 10 frame building with
a one half window and a dirt floor.
     Father borrowed an old cook stove from Rube Finch's mother,
and it wouldn't bake, so I went one mile and a half to bake my
bread all summer twice a week.  Father and Albert slept in the
bed and I slept on chairs.  We ate off of a box, and lived all
that summer.  Then father built a sod house, using lumber from
the little frame house for the roof.  He then returned Mrs.
Finch's stove and bought a new one, but we lived all winter on a
dirt floor and the following summer he put in a floor, with floor
boards 12 inches wide.  The inside walls were plastered with clay
and straw, then I papered it with newspaper.
     I can recall the time when the Bohemians drowned.  We could
see it raining over there where they drowned, but it wasn't
raining at our place.  Father's brother, Albert saw all of them
at the undertakers and I remember the blizzard we had here.  We
lived here until 1890, then moved to Dorchester, Nebr., and in
March 1891 moved to Lincoln, Nebr.
     I have sold lots of eggs at 8c/ a dozen and butter at 8c/ per
lb.  At that time there were no fences between Cambridge and
Wilsonville, Nebr. having rode horseback over the old trail to
Wilsonville.
     Holding Down your Claim
     Come west young man, And take some land
     And make yourself a name
     Be tried and true to dare and do
     A holding down your claim
     As life is rough, It will make you tough
     Is very neat and hard to beat
     Come and show yourself a man
     In years you will look blue
     But this land you will refuse today
     Some others will fill his pockets full
     Opportunity lost you will say,
     With nothing to eat but bread salt and meat
     It is as much as anyone can stand
     It is your wish to get rich in land cattle and such
     It will emence you in the end.
                         Dora House

The Cambridge Clarion, newspaper, Cambridge, NE, Nov. 13, 1947
     Microfilm Roll No. 9648, copied by Audra McGee Sep. 1988
     at the Butler Memorial Library, Cambridge, NE

                            OBITUARY

                        DORA BELL RUNKLE
     Dora Bell Runkle, daughter of Eli and Lydia Ann Runkle was
born June 13, 1869 at Colimer, Whitley County, Indiana and
departed this life at Cambridge, Nebr., Nov. 3, 1947 at the age
of 78 years.  She was the only child left of the family of 10
children.  She was united in marriage to Henry Lincoln House,
July 1, 1891, who preceded her in death Aug. 3, 1938.  To this
union were born six children, James F. of Cambridge, Harley E. of
New Point, Albert P. and Walter L. of Stanberry, Mo., two
children, one boy and one girl who died in infancy.  She leaves
to mourn her passing four sons, eight grandchildren, ten great
grandchildren besides a host of relatives and friends.  She came
to Cambridge with her father the year of 1885 where they home-
steaded south of Cambridge now known as the Austin Hayes farm
leaving there in 1890 and moving to Dorchester and Lincoln,
Nebr., where she resided until her marriage to Henry L. House and
coming back to Cambridge in 1892.  She lived most of her life in
and around Cambridge.

     Be good and kind to one another,
     We may not long be here
     This weary one is free from pain,
     The one we loved so dear.
     The angels they are calling me
     and beckon me to go,
     So I must go to the promised land,
     Where sorrow is no more.
          Composed and written by Dora House

                         CARD OF THANKS
     We wish to thank the friends and neighbors for the floral
offerings and the many deeds of kindness and sympathy shown us in
our time of sorrow.
                              Jim House
                              Harley House
                             Albert & Walter House

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Collection: Audra McGee's Collection - Transcriptions

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