Eliza was the daughter of Norbert Edward Vilmur and Dina Prince. As a young girl, she went to work for Michael Collins on his farm near Hansen, Nebraska. She ended up marrying his son, William Mason Collins, on 19 Nov 1896 in O'Neill, Nebraska. They settled on an 80 acre homestead on the Ponca Indian Lands in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. William built a sod house and later a frame house. They raised crops and animals. Sometimes they had unexpected visits from the local Indians. While there, they had three children, Arley Oliver, Clara Belle and Belle. Only one survived, Clara Belle. In 1902, they sold the homestead and moved back to Adams County, Nebraska. They had one more child, Mabel Ada (later known as Edith Mabel) who is the baby in the photo here. William became ill and was hospitalized shortly after Mabel was born. He never recovered and spent the rest of his life in the institution. Eliza placed her two daughters in a boarding school near Madison, Nebraska so she could work as a midwife in a hospital near her husband to support her family. After her daughters were married, she took turns living with them and helping them to raise their families. Her last years were spent living in Federal Way, Washington with her daughter, Edith, and son-in-law, Albert Kaus. She enjoyed watching the western TV show called "Wagon Train" every day. Eliza was a devout Catholic and said the rosary daily.
Eliza was the daughter of Norbert Edward Vilmur and Dina Prince. As a young girl, she went to work for Michael Collins on his farm near Hansen, Nebraska. She ended up marrying his son, William Mason Collins, on 19 Nov 1896 in O'Neill, Nebraska. They settled on an 80 acre homestead on the Ponca Indian Lands in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. William built a sod house and later a frame house. They raised crops and animals. Sometimes they had unexpected visits from the local Indians. While there, they had three children, Arley Oliver, Clara Belle and Belle. Only one survived, Clara Belle. In 1902, they sold the homestead and moved back to Adams County, Nebraska. They had one more child, Mabel Ada (later known as Edith Mabel) who is the baby in the photo here. William became ill and was hospitalized shortly after Mabel was born. He never recovered and spent the rest of his life in the institution. Eliza placed her two daughters in a boarding school near Madison, Nebraska so she could work as a midwife in a hospital near her husband to support her family. After her daughters were married, she took turns living with them and helping them to raise their families. Her last years were spent living in Federal Way, Washington with her daughter, Edith, and son-in-law, Albert Kaus. She enjoyed watching the western TV show called "Wagon Train" every day. Eliza was a devout Catholic and said the rosary daily.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
