| Note |
- Nina Ellen 'Ellen' Morris was born in a sod shanty, Utica, Atchison County, Kansas on April 20, 1892. In June when she was three months old,she came with her parents Mr. an Mrs. John D. Morris, four brothers and one sister by covered wagon train consisted of six wagons and two other families, the Dave Derricksons and a family by the name of Caudle. When they reached the Black Hills, the Caudle family settled near thepresent site of Rapid City. Morris's and Derricksons went on toSpearfish where Dave Derrickson operated a barber shop and Morris's livedon a ranch 2 miles west of Spearfish known as the 'Summer's Place.' Nina's father 'Bud' as he was known to his friends did carpenter work andas he was a violinist he played for dancing school, taught by Poseanskior 'Posey' as he was called and, Charley Pollack. In 1895 her father filed on a 160 acre tract of land at the foot of theBearlodge on the west side, where he built a five room log house. In thespring of 1896 he moved his family from Spearfish to their new home inWyoming,brining beside their household goods their stock which consistedof eight head of horses, a few cows, chickens, geese, pigs and Nina'sIndian pony 'Paleface' and her shepherd dog 'Zip'. Upon moving to their new home, and it was time for Nina to start firstgrade, the closest school was seven miles up Beaver Creek, known as theParkins School. Nina's mother taught her to read and write and when she was seven yearsold, she and her youngest brother, Berle, drove the seven miles to schoolwith a cart and horse and occasionally they rode horseback. The winterswere so severe that the school term was held three months in the fall andthree months in the summer. Her first teacher was Mae Bovell fromSpearfish, a sister of Mrs. John Mankin. Other teachers were: Mrs. A.A.Cooke, who drove from her home near Alva with a pony and a cart and Ninarode with as her brother, Berle, was no longer going to school; MamieTubbs (Mrs. Mert Cochrun) was also her teacher. Nina, later during theschool years boarded with the Andrew Parkins family who lived just ashort distance south of the school. At one time there were twenty-fivepupils attending school. She later attended school at Alva. One of herteachers was Mrs. Steve Morris (Gertrude), who at that time was hersister-in-law. (The schoolhouse in which she went to school is now theshop on the Rauth Ranch at Alva.) Nina loved the outdoors and nature, and as a child spent many happy hourswith her dog. She enjoyed hunting artifacts, which in those days werereadily found, and finding Indian beads on the ant hills which were usedin decorating her doll's clothes and in making necklaces. Nina Morris and Ben Mahoney were married at Belle, Wyoming, June 8, 1913by Reverend Coffey, their attendants were friends Inez (Coffey) Noonan,George William 'Bill' McAmis and Thomas Coffey. After their marriage they lived for a few years at Alva with Nina'sparents until their new home in Alva was built, where they lived andraised their family of three sons and three daughters. For many years she was the pianist for funerals at Alva, and having abeautiful voice was often asked to sing too. She was always the pianistfor the school functions and having one of the few pianos in Alva, it wasused many times for dances, being hauled over to the dance hall onSaturday afternoon or evening, whenever there was sufficient help inmoving it and on Sunday afternoon it would be brought home again. In 1941 Nina, Ben and their youngest daughter moved from Alva to Hulettto make their home. Again, Nina, with her music ability and her love of working withchildren, assisted many years with musical programs given by thecommunity. She always had time to do something extra for someone. Shehad so much love for her family and enough to share with others. Inlater years she did much crocheting of beautiful pieces which she gave toher family and friends. She was a fine seamstress, who sewed for herfamily and did sewing and altering for others. Nina Mahoney died April 9, 1969, and is buried in the Alva Cemetery.Children of Ben and Nina are Ben Blair, Harriett (Waugh), Margaret(Conklin), Lyle T., William K. 'Bill', and Dorothy (Razo). The above statement is found on pages 305 and 306 in the book, 'PioneersOf Crook County 1876-1920' Copyright 1981, Crook County HistoricalSociety, Sundance, Wyoming.
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1892 - 1969 (76 years)
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