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

THE HAZEN FAMILY

[pg 259 PHOTO Dr. and Mrs. William Haven]

Doctor William Hazen was born near Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, on April 13, 1848. He began the study of medicine at the age of 15 under the tutelage of an uncle with whom he moved to Iowa and located near Early in Sac County. Later he practiced for short periods at Odebolt, Iowa.

Doctor Hazen settled on a homestead at Walnut Grove, Knox County, Nebraska, in 1876. His first dwelling there was a dugout built in the side of a bank with a front of logs, filled with a window and door. Furnishings included an elevated oven stove, bed, table, and practically nothing else. He at once began the practice of medicine through the country and soon became famed as a practitioner, particularly in cases of diphtheria. In the fall of 1884, he went to Creighton, Nebraska, where he had a wider field of practice. No conditions of weather or roads kept him from answering a sick call. He came from a sturdy race and was almost beyond physical fatigue. He walked from Walnut Grove to Yankton, South Dakota, a distance of 65 miles, in a day.

Since coming to Nebraska, Dr. Hazen acquired considerable property, proving up on a homestead, and was then one of the prosperous and successful men of his state. His original homestead contained considerable good timber and an abundance of fine water from the east branch stream. He had two acres laid out in a garden and on the lot next to his home planted over 400 rose bushes (of 40 or more varieties) and many other flowers, making it one of the most beautiful spots imaginable during the season.

Dr. Hazen was married to Emma Ann Walsh in Niobrara in 1887. Five children were born to them: Floyd Orrin, who ran his father’s farm 10 miles northeast of Creighton, Elsie May, Elmer, Waymond, and Edythe Honor. The latter was born November 23, 1902, and married Leonard J. Kocina on June 30, 1926. To this union were born two daughters, Ardith Lorraine and Nepha Zoe. Leonard and Edythe lived most of their lives in the Verdigre and Creighton area until Edythe’s death in 1986. Her husband Leonard still lives in Creighton, Nebraska.

Floyd Orrin Hazen was born April 15, 1889. He married Lillie Madge Young on March 30, 1910. They moved to the Dorsey area of Holt County in 1914 and lived there until 1934 when they moved to a farm four miles west of Verdige. Lloyd, Lillie, and family lived here until 1938 when, because of the poor economic times, they moved to Marsing, Idaho, with children Elsie, Robert, Kenneth, James, Edythe, and Leslie. Four of the children stayed behind. Dallas Dean stayed in Creighton with his wife, Jane Boelter, whom he had married in 1931. To this union were born Edythe (who died as an infant), Donna, and Leroy. They moved to Idaho in 1939. Dean ran a filling station and owned a fleet of school buses. Later he was divorced, remarried and is now retired. They presently live in Homedale, Idaho.

Helen and her husband, Jesse Hiatt, who were married in June of 1931, stayed here until the late 1930s when they moved to Marsing, Idaho. Their children are Jesse Howard, Ona Jean, Zoella Arlyne, and Kelly Lorel. Helen and Jesse still live in Marsing. He is a retired postmaster.

Jarvis and his wife, Gertrude Woodworth, whom he married August 15, 1931, stayed in Verdigre where he was a trucker and manager of the Farmers’ Union Store. In 1943 they moved with their children, Vernon and Janet, to Ketchum, Idaho, where they later had another son, Floyd. Today Jarvis and Gertrude live in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he bought a sporting goods store (which is still in the family).

Elsie Mae married George Christensen in Creighton on February 28, 1938. That year they moved to Idaho with the rest of the Hazen family. The following children were born to them: Georgia, Connie, Lillie, George and Joyce. George passed away in Idaho and Elsie still lives in Marsing. They owned a dry cleaning establishment.

Robert married Ethel Spitzerberger on June 26, 1945. They had two children, William and Sharon. Then they moved to a farm near Creighton, Nebraska, for several years in the early 50s. While in Nebraska, LeAnn and Donald were born. After they returned to Idaho in the late 1950s, Gene, Dianne and Alyce were added to the family. Today, Robert and Ethel live at Marsing, Idaho. Robert worked for many years in a potato chip factory and now is farming for himself.

Kenneth was married to Evelyn Bertsinger in September of 1944. To this marriage the following children were born: Roberta, Richard, Judith and Suzanne. Today Kenneth and Evelyn live in Nampa, Idaho, where Kenneth is retired from his railroad career.

James Hazen was first married to Josephine Dunning and they had two sons, James and John. James later married Neva Hague and they had three children: Leslie, David, and Waneta. James and Neva now live in Boise, Idaho, where he is working as a security guard.

Leslie married Betty Hrris in Idaho and their two children are Lynda and Terry. Leslie is presently married to Shirley Perkins and lives in Twin Falls, Idaho. He has always worked in a furniture business and now owns a large store of his own.

Edythe married Joe Goodson, Jr., and bore one child, Dorthy. Then she divorced in April of 1952. She married Everrett Clark and they had three children: Mary, Patricia, and Marguerite. They live near Marsing where they had a dairy industry. Now he is retired and cuts rock and makes jewelry.

Errol Galin Hazen, born June 11, 1915, married Ruby Louise Woodworth at Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 11, 1937. They had three children: Gail, Garry and Elaine. Errol was in the gravel-trucking business in Lincoln. After Gail was born in living, they moved onto a farm southwest of Verdigre where Errol farmed and did livestock trucking. On this farm in living, Garry was born and in living Elaine joined the family. In the spring of 1948 the Errol Hazen family moved to a farm 10 miles northeast of Verdigre where he continued to farm until his death on November 20, 1958. On September 9, 1959, Ruby married Donald Darnell. They remained on the farm for one year, then moved to Columbus, Nebraska, where they stayed until 1962 when they returned to the Verdigre area. They lived in this part of Nebraska and for a short time in Iowa. They returned to Verdigre where they remained until Donald’s death in March of 1977. Before they were married Donald spent many years designing and painting the interiors of churches in five states.

Gail Hazen and Marceline Kotrous were married June 16, 1959, and to this union five children were born: Errol of Norfolk, David and his wife Lori, recently discharged from the Navy, Shari and her husband Kent Kruger of Randolph, Nebraska, Eugene and Linda of Norfolk. Gail is presently teaching welding and farm management at Northeast Tech at Norfolk, Nebraska.

On September 11, 1965, Elaine Hazen married Franklin Uhlir. Their children are Kevin, who is a student at northeast Tech, Norfolk, Darin and Brian, who are attending Verdigre school and living with their parents southwest of Verdigre in the Walnut area.

Garry Hazen and Teruko Tonaka were married in Japan on July 12, 1965. They lived in Florida and Omaha before returning to Verdigre in September of 1972. Today they are the owner-operators of the Verdigre Implement Company, the John Deere dealership, in Verdigre, Nebraska. Their children are Darlene, who is at home attending Verdigre High and Donald and Doyle, who are both enrolled at Wayne State College. Doyle is engaged to marry LaDonna Herbert, daughter of Marvin and Lola Herbert, May 30, 1987.

There have been members of the Hazen family continuously in this area since 1876.

Pages 259, 260