Phoebe Predmore Rittenhouse wrote the following: My Father, John Christian Predmore, was born at Atlantic, Iowa, in Cass County December 10, 1872. He came with his family to Custer County, Nebraska when he was eight years old, grew up in that vicinity and on February 16, 1895, he married Minnie Lee Stallings. They were married at Genet which later became Milburn. And from what I hear there isn't much of Milburn left.
Dad always kept several greyhounds and the winter months were spent hunting coyotes and other wild animals.
Their first child was born December 15, 1896. They named him Gerald Vivian, but everyone called him Guy. You will probably remember he and his wife, Bernice (Lovitt) Predmore, operated the Model Market for a number of years.
It was located in the North part of Gering. Their oldest daughter Dahlman worked for several years in the Model Market and later married John Bartlett and moved to the South part of Gering and opened Bartlett's Grocery and ran itfor 35 years.
John and Minnie's second child, Grace Ellen (Predmore) Mackrill was born March 14, 1899.
In 1900 John and Minnie moved with their two kids to Gering in a covered wagon. They homesteaded in Creighton Valley. They lived in a dugout for several years. I, Phoebe Delois, was born July 22, 1902 in Gering and my brother Delmer was born January 29, 1905. When Delmer was 8 months old, my Mother and my Aunt Susie Capper and we four kids took the train to Custer County. We stayed at
my grand parents, William and Mary Stallings until Dad came. After Dad got his crops out, he and my uncle Ben Predmore drove to Custer County. It took them two weeks in the wagon. That was in 1905.
From then on they farmed in several places, including Custer, Loup and Blaine counties. We grew up there and went to school at Sandy Ridge, and went to dances at Milburn and at family homes.
Dad spent most of his life farming. I remember him putting up hay in the fall and sometimes I helped him. I drove the rake and did we ever make hay! Between 1905 and 1916, my folks had four more children, Altha (Predmore) Kline; Lovell Predmore; Johnnie Predmore and Minnie Dimples (Predmore)Britton.
On March 19, 1938, my husband Ray Rittenhouse and I moved my folks to Gering where they bought a place at 1150 11th Street, where they lived until their deaths. Dad died in 1955 and Mother in 1961.
Ray and I raised six children, four boys and two girls. In 1966 our youngest son, Leray, was drowned in Lake Minatare.
Six of my parents eight kids are still living and every summer we have a Predmore Family Reunion and some of the old-timers come from all over.
Although we had some sad times, I figure God has been good to us.
Phoebe Rittenhouse
Written another member of family:
He came to Custer Co, NE with his family when he was 8 years old. Married 16 Feb 1895 at Genet, NE which is now Milburn, NE. In 1900 they came to Gering, NE and home-
steaded in Creighton Valley where they farmed until 1906 when they went back
to Custer County. On March 19, 1938 they moved back to Gering, NE and bought a home at 1150 11th St. where they lived until their death. He farmed most of his life. Always kept several greyhounds and the winter months were spent hunting coyotes and rabbits. He and Minnie raised a family of four boys and four girls. They were married by Ira Sturdavant. Witnesses were Jim Swan and Dee Swan, Minnie's cousins. Note: He came to Custer Co in a covered wagon.
In their 60th anniversary writeup:
To those who remember John as one who liked to hunt coyotes, he still has one "ole" hound and though he probably isn't as fast as the dog he used to have when he hunted with Mike Laughran, it is due to lack of practice, but drop in when you are at Gering and he will beat you at a game of pitch.