Elmer N. Demaray [RG0944.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG0944.AM:  Elmer N. Demaray, 1887-1969

Blaine County, Nebraska
Papers: 1862-1961
Size: One folder

BACKGROUND NOTE

Born at Canton, Minnesota, on February 11, 1887, Elmer N. Demaray moved to Nebraska and was farming in Blaine County by 1910.  He married Ethel Norris in 1911.  She passed away in 1915.  Demaray then moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, for a time, where he married Renna Smithson on June 20, 1917.  He was working as a railroad switchman at Elmwood Place, Ohio, in 1920.  By 1930, the Demaray’s had moved back to Blaine County, Nebraska.  By 1940, the couple lived in Brewster, Nebraska, and Elmer was working as the county clerk.  The couple had two children, Maxine and Dorothy Ann.  Elmer Demaray died on October 17, 1969.  Renna Demaray died on April 4, 1970.  Both are buried in Brewster Cemetery at Brewster, Nebraska.

Ella Margaret (Treaster) Smithson, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Jane Treaster was born June 28, 1867, at Salona, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1871 she moved with her parents to Nebraska, living near Exeter. Here she attended school and was a member of the first class to graduate from the Exeter school in 1886. She also attended Business College at Lincoln, Nebraska. Later, she taught two terms of school at Shickley. On February 14, 1890, she was united in marriage to William J. Smithson, then of Shickley. To this union were born eleven children, two of whom preceded her in death. Baby Ralph at the age of two weeks and Roy Glenn at the age of 19 years died near Herington, Kansas.

The family lived near Shickley until March, 1911, when they moved to a farm near Delavan, Kansas. Here they resided until in 1943, when she and her husband went to spend the winter with their daughter, Renna (Smithson) Demaray, at Brewster, Nebraska. Here the husband and father passed away on January 16, 1944. In July, 1944, she went to Washington to spend some time with her children. Ella Margaret (Treaster) Smithson passed away in Cashmere, Washington, on January 31, 1946.  She is buried in the Delavan Cemetery at Delavan, Kansas.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists primarily of a photocopy of a handwritten booklet entitled, “In Days of Old,” by Ella M. (Treaster) Smithson, December 1938. She relates the James Treaster family history and pioneer life in Nebraska, particularly in Fillmore and Saline Counties through the 1870s-1880s. The basis for much of the booklet are the letters written by her mother, Elizabeth Treaster, with elaboration made by Ella – much of which she experienced as a child. Topics include homesteading, farming practices, schools/classroom activities, toys, social activities, and health concerns. Of particular note is the grasshopper infestation of 1874. Toward the end of the booklet she writes of the family life of William Smithson, Sr. The account ends with letters written by Ella in the 1930s, one of which is a memoriam to her sister, Verna Norris.

Also included in the collection are a military pass for Elmer N. Demaray (1918); an issue of “The Hatchet,” January 18, 1919, published on the U.S. Ship George Washington; and a listing of veterans buried in Brewster, Nebraska, Cemetery up to the Korean War.

INVENTORY

Folder including:

  1. Booklet, “In Days of Old,” by Ella M. (Treaster) Smithson, December 1938 (photocopy only)
  2. Military pass for Elmer N. Demaray, 1918
  3. Newsletter, “The Hatchet,” January 18, 1919
  4. Listing of veterans buried in Brewster Cemetery at Brewster, Nebraska

Subject headings:

Brewster (Nebraska)
Cemeteries — Nebraska — Brewster
Crete (Nebraska)
Davis family
Demaray, Elmer N., 1887-1969
Domestic life
Exeter (Nebraska)
Fillmore County (Nebraska)
Frontier and pioneer life — Nebraska — Fillmore County
Frontier and pioneer life — Nebraska — Saline County
Garvin, Ida Kate (Treaster), 1874-1925
Homesteading
Norris, Verna Mary (Treaster), 1872-1912
Saline County (Nebraska)
Shickley (Nebraska)
Smithson family
Smithson, Ella Margaret (Treaster), 1867-1946
Treaster family
Treaster, Elizabeth Jane (Poorman), 1842-1877
Treaster, James, 1841-1925


Revised TMM      10-14-2016

 

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

American Archives Month: 9 Types of Photographs

American Archives Month: 9 Types of Photographs

Nebraska History Spotlight: Burt County Museum

Nebraska History Spotlight: Burt County Museum

Marker Monday: Republican Pawnee Village

Marker Monday: Republican Pawnee Village

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.