Hazel Gertrude (Holmes) Noel

"William and Cora Holmes Family" The ancestors of William Archibald Holmes originally came to the United States in 1817 from Paisley, Scotland. They settled in the state of New York. William was born in Delhi, New York on January 29,1861. William at the age of 4, traveled with his father's family, by steamboat to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he went to school and college, then he moved to Furnas County, Nebraska. In 1893, William met Cora Caroline Nelson. Cora was born in Union Grove, Missouri on February 13,1874. She was the daughter of Nicholas and Milly (Bryson) Nelson, the youngest of five children. At the age of two, her mother passed away. When Cora was 13, her father and one sister moved to Beaver City, Nebraska. William and Cora had four girls and two boys. Nellie (Holmes) Goosic, Hazel (Holmes) Noel, Marjorie (Holmes) Klipp, Helen (Holmes) Carbah, Oscar Holmes and William Holmes. William and Cora spent their entire married life on farm with the exception of six years they lived in Southwick, Idaho. With work being scare, William traveled quit a bit while Cora cared for the children. Sometimes at night an old trapper would blow smoke from his pipe through a knot hole in the door, frightening Cora and the children. One day William returned home to surprise everybody. Cora had made a mince meat pie and gave William a piece. After he had ate it she said, "Do you know what kind of meat that was?" Knowing that he wouldn't eat bear meat. With a raised eyebrow he looked at her. "Ha," She said its bear meat. They finally returned to Beaver City in 1906 and settled o the farm that belonged to his family, which in 1923 became theirs. William was one of the first, early pioneers to invest in the gasoline powered transportation - the automobile. They had their own generating plant for electricity for their home, long before any farm houses were wired for electricity. He was very supportive to any progress for the future on the country. One of the experimental drillings for oil was located on their farm. Cora was always by his side, busy running the household and caring for the children. William passed away, February 12,1937 and Cora 10 months later on December 23,1937.

William's parents, Harvey and Etta Noel were brought to Beaver City at a very young age by their own parents. William was born November 9, 1896, on a farm of his grandfather's, Henry Noel, east of Beaver City. He attended school in the farming community surrounding Beaver City. He worked for their friend, William Holmes when he wasn't helping his father. That is when he meant Hazel Holmes, born August 26, 1896. Courting Hazel was a touchy situation. William would call the evening that he wanted to take Hazel out to see if she could go. Hazel would then ask her father's permission at which times he often would not allow her to go. Bill, as he was known, proposed to Hazel and she accepted. Bill had gotten the marriage license and they planned to be married on February 7,1915, but when he called to ask Hazel out, her father would not allow her to go. So William hid the license uder the buggy seat, since neither set of parents knew of the impending marriage and waited until February 14,1915. Hazel's father allowed her to go and needless to say they were married that night and she did not return home. Bill and Hazel lived on a farm all of their married life except for 16 months spent in California. They had 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy. Two daughters passed away in infancy. The first years of marriage were spent on Bill's great-grandfather, Henry Noel's farm east of Beaver City. About 1927 they bought a farm south of town where they lived for about 4 years. Then they moved as neighbors to Hazel's parents. In 1940 they moved to Los Angeles, California. After their son Willis was drafted they moved back to Beaver City and opened a seed and creamery store. Before long they were able to buy a 40 acre farm west of town known as Horton's Park, where they raised black angus cattle. Bill passed away unexpectedly, December 13,1963. Hazel sold the cattle and the farm and moved into town. Hazel and William enjoyed nearly 50 years of marriage.