A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

W. A. AND MARY [SANDOZ] BRUCE

William A. Bruce was born on a farm five miles southwest of Verdigre on July 16, 1888, and died in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 14, 1941, at the age of 53 years and 29 days. Of Scotch-Irish descent, his parents were Mr. and Mrs. John (Lillie Tarpenning) Bruce.

He was a life-long resident of Knox County and in Verdigre since 1889, with the exception of his last two years when he resided in Lincoln. He received his education in the Verdigre Public School and graduated from the high school in 1905. One year he taught in a rural school in the county.

After the year of teaching, Mr. Bruce was engaged in railroad work for five years for the C&NW Railway Company as a brakeman, and he resigned from this work after he was promoted to a conductor.

On October 2, 1918, he was married to Miss Mary Sandoz of Verdigre. The wedding took place in Creighton. To this union was born one daughter, Norma Doris.

In 1928 Mr. Bruce was elected County Supervisor of District No. 4. He was re-elected for two additional terms and served in this capacity for 11 years. In February of 1939 Mr. Bruce was appointed by then Governor Cochran to the State Board of Control for a term of six years. He took office on July 1, 1939. He was serving his third year in this important post which came to a sudden end by his untimely and wholly unexpected death. His term was to expire on July 1. 1945.

Prior to his election as supervisor, Mr. Bruce served as justice of the peace in Verdigre Township. For 17 years he was a member of the Board of Education of District 83 and served most of that time as chairman. He was a charter member of the Verdigre Volunteer Fire Department, serving 17 years of which he was secretary for 15 years.

William had been a member of the Ionic Lodge No. 87 AF&AM of Niobrara since early manhood, and he was a member of the Scottish Rite and Shrine of Lincoln, having been a member of the class taking degrees in May of 1941.

Mr. Bruce was a member of the ZCBJ Lodge, White Mountain No 5 for 31 years. He held the distinction of being the first non-Czech to join this large Czech organization. No one could join this organization unless he was of Czech extraction. Having been reared in Verdigre, he learned to speak and write fluently the Czech language and thereby was admitted to the order.

In 1936 Mr. Bruce was elected president of the Nebraska Association of County Commissioners, Supervisors, and Officers. He had been re-elected to this office for three consecutive terms.

Such was the esteem in which he was held that after a prominent funeral in Lincoln, attended by then Governor Griswold, there was an overflow funeral in Verdigre described by the Eagle:

“Significant of his memory, people from high to humble stations in life attended the last rites held here Sunday afternoon for William A. Bruce, Verdigre’s first citizen and prominent state official.

“Not one single man has accomplished as much for his own community as did Mr. Bruce. After he reached his first public office, that of Knox County Supervisor, he strove consistently for those things which would improve the lot of his fellowmen.

“Kind, sympathetic, Mr. Bruce looked after the welfare of those who came to him for counsel. He was good to his family, considerate of his neighbors and admired alike by friend and foe. His personal trait was one of speaking out on matters of right or wrong, and he didn’t mince words either, holding tenaciously to his convictions. For this fact alone, Mr. Bruce was looked up to by his opponents and won them to his side.

“His death was a distinct shock to the community, and his passing on leaves a vacancy that will be difficult to replace.”

Pages 210