| Burwell Tribune Reading, Writing and Rhythm by
Mrs Hazel Mattern
This is a story about Gerald L Dearmont, who has spent 50 years of his
life in or near Burwell, and how it all began.
He was born in Missouri, Sept 6,1896, and at a very early age met Grace
Heck, whom he courted for a long 4 years before she consented to become
his wife.
He now smiles coyly, as he admits he knew he wanted to marry her after
the first 6 months but she thought he had some growing up to do and recalls
he must have proposed at least a thousand times. She had a deep religious
faith, so in order to improve his chances, he became a member of her church.
Finally, came the letter from Grace, saying yes. But Gerald was still
only 19, and needed his mother’s approval and signature so that they could
get married. Thus, on July 3,1917 at Craig, Mo, this was accomplished and
the ceremony was performed by a preacher holding a revival meeting since
the one they had wanted found it necessary to take his sick wife to St
Joseph.
In 1923 G L ‘s Brother had made a trip to Burwell, driving a new Star
automobile, and he had come along to see the country. Their mother’s relative
had a bank in Iowa who held a mortgage on a Garfield County farm, so they
had come hoping to do some business or make a trade. He liked what he saw
here, so in 1927 he boarded an emigrant train, loaded with Jacks and jennies
and came to Burwell, a 4 day trip. He arrived here just after the elevator
had burned to the ground, and the ashes were still smoldering.
Mrs Dearmont and their 5 children had remained at home in Rae, Mo, and
had their tickets bought to join him as soon as he found a home. 2 weeks
later, they came, John, Nelson, Helen, Alvin, and Viletha, with their mother,
to locate southwest of Burwell on what was then known as the Seaman place.
The house had been used to store corn, so it took some work to get in
order for a family to live in. They lived there for 2 years while he worked
for Carl Treptow, and rode horseback back and forth each day. GL broke
stallions to drive to a spring wagon, so in 1928, he returned back to the
old home at Rae, Mo, and drove back a team, the trip taking him 14 days.
He recalls he came through Lincoln, on gravel all the way, and had to stop
only twice to shoe his horses.
The family then moved to Valley County and lived on the Joe Stupka farm
for the next 17 years. Ruby, Iva and Charles were born and as the family
grew, they learned to work and each to accept his or her own responsibility.
G L says Grace raised the family, and she taught them well. He recalls
that when the family sat down to supper, he always read to them, or mother
would take her turn while he ate, their favorites being the Saturday Evening
Post, the local newspaper or a library book. He is still an avid reader,
as one can see by the large collection he has, he tells me he has read
all of Zane Grey’s books in the Burwell Library. The old books are the
best, he says.
I asked him how he managed through the Hard Times of the thirties, and
he smiles and replies, I got along good. He managed to buy some good sized
pigs for a quarter a piece, and sold them later at a good profit. During
one drought year he went out to Scottsbluff to pick up potatoes and when
returned home he brought back a supply for his family, some dry beans,
and enough cabbage to fill a 55 gallon barrel of saurkraut.
Later he went to Mo to shuck corn for his brother, worked previously
for a cattle feeder, helped with whatever he could find to help earn what
he could while the family kept things going at home.
In 1948 they moved to town, and the boys took over the place, G L boasts
of his first new tractor, purchased during the War, soon after Nelson went
to the Army. It was an International with agriculture lug and bright yellow
painted steel wheels.
As you sit in his living room of his home here in town, it is very evident
that this man likes horses, for there are pictures of them everywhere.
He tells me that he used to purchase horses for Art Watson at the Packing
Plant in North Platte, and in his lifetime, has owned over 25,000 horses.
For a period of 5 years, he had 1000 head, and was always aiming for
the figure 1100 but instead, kept decreasing. At the present time he still
has 78,and just recently, at this years rodeo, sold one to a clown.
He also has made himself a record holder in attending every one of Nebraska’s
Big Rodeos, and in the 2 years they were not held during the war, they
held 5 free ones out in the country, and I think it should be mentioned
that he said he never picked up a beer can afterwards.
He says horses were entertainment for his children, and they had one
special one they could count on to buck if any of them felt an urge to
cowboy. Today, if he wants to call his horses, he will whistle, and they
respond to it, just as he used to do when the children were small and he
wanted their attention.
In this years Rodeo parade, G L couldn’t resist the urge to hitch up
a team to his wagon Friday and loaded up his sister, visiting here from
St Louis, a cousin and a few great grandchildren and they were off and
driving. And I wonder which of them were enjoying it the most?
The truck he used as a business from 1948 until about 3 years ago, when
he decided it was time to retire, He says, he had never had an accident
and he wanted to quit before he did.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t find something to do, when I talked
to him, he had been tearing down a small house, near where he lives, and
admitted he didn’t remember when he had been more tired. He has most of
his family nearby and enjoys the visits of his children and grandchildren
and as he sits in his comfortable easy chair, he can look to the wall and
see a large picture of Grace smiling and he is not alone.
50 years of life make quite a mark on the pages of time, and he has
lived and enjoyed every bit of it, and as you drive by at night you are
most likely to see him still reading when others are asleep. He keeps busy,
his mind occupied, and he is content and when he gets restless there is
still the horses and the truck parked outside. Life is good. |