Mabel Archer Werner

Mabel was born May 22, 1898 in Trumbull, Nebraska the daughter of Taylor and Dora Harmon Archer. The family moved to Burwell Nebraska when Mabel was about two years old. Taylor got a homestead where they built a sod house, and a life on the prairie. Mabel loved school and would liked to have completed high school, but after she graduated from the eighth grade her father believed that was enough. So, at the age of 14 he took her to town, to be a maid and waitress at the local hotel. It was then that Mabel decided to further her education by her own means. She went to the Burwell Library and studied. It wasn't long before she passed the Nebraska State Teachers Exam. She taught school for several years in Nebraska, and one year in Kansas. There were times when she had students older than she. Once she enrolled a teenage boy who had never been given a name. His parents just called him boy. When she insisted he must have a name to be enrolled the parents told her to name him, and she did.
Her family sold the farm and moved to Norton County, Kansas in 1919. It was there that Mabel met Chester Werner. They were married February 14, 1920.
Chet and Mabel tried to build a life in Norton County, but times were hard and in the late 20's and early 30's there were droughts and dust storms that made it impossible. So they packed up and moved to Harvey County where Chet had grown up. Chet got a job with the County building roades, and they buildt a life in newton. Chet and Mabel had eight children; Violet, Ruby, Althea, Russell, Dixie, Norma, Dorothy, and Midge.
After Mabel's children were grown, she spent time as a volunteer teacher at Northview Opportunity School. Mabel loved to read, she had an interest in family history,and she had an interest in local government. she could sew up a storm, she always had beautiful roses, she baked the best cinnamon rolls in the world, and she always had time for family and friends.
by Karen Wall