ALBERT MINER CHAMBERS

Albert Miner Chambers was born on Jan 29, 1858 in Nashua, Chickasaw County, Iowa, and died April 15, 1927 in Walthill, Thurston County, Nebraska at the age of 68.

His first wife was -- Johnson. She was buried at Wakefield, in either Wayne or Dixon County, Nebraska.

His second wife was Dora Galbraith. She was born Mar 28, 1864, the daughter of William Galbraith and Mary Hannah Fleming. She died in Aug, 1887, and was buried in a pioneer cemetery called DeWitt, an early state stop located southeast of Beemer, St. Charles Pct., Sec 18, Cuming County, Nebraska.

His third wife was Mary Grier, his first cousin, whom he married on Mar 11, 1890 in West Point, Cuming County, Nebraska. The marriage record is on file at the Cuming County Court House, doc. 4, page 129. The marriage record states A. M. Chambers' age as 30 rather than his actual age of 31, and Mary Grier's age as 20 rather than her actual age of 18. Her parents were listed as James Grier and Emilie Jenkins. His parents were listed as Daniel Chambers and Hannah Bettie rather than David Lee Chambers and Henrietta Augusta Jenkins. Perhaps they didn't know that first cousins could legally marry in Nebraska then, and didn't want their mothers' last names of Jenkins to appear on the same document. Mary Grier's second husband was Floyd Halstead. She was born Jul 14, 1871 and died Apr 7, 1954 at the age of 82.

Albert and Mary were married in the Methodist Episcopal church parsonage by Peter DeClark, pastor of that church, at West Point.

There are no census records for 1890, as they were destroyed or badly damaged by a fire in Washington in 1921.

In the 1900 census for Thayer Precinct, Thurston County, Nebraska, the Albert Miner Chambers family consisted of the following:

NAME RELATION DATE OF BIRTH AGE

Chambers Albert M Head Jan 1858 42

Mary Wife Jul 1871 29

Cora Belle Daughter Jul 1891 8

Alta M. Daughter Aug 1893 6

Henrietta M. Daughter Feb 1895 5

Alberta M. Daughter Feb 1897 3

Leora M. Daughter Sep 1899 8/12

McRae Kenneth Brother in law Feb 1885 15

-- Rachel Sister in law May 1886 14

Albert's birthdate was shown one year earlier than other records, and Mary's age was listed for her upcoming birthday rather than her actual age. His occupation was listed as farming. Alta's middle initial was incorrectly stated as "M" rather than "E" (Emily).

Albert's birthplace was listed as Iowa, his father's birthplace as Indiana, and mother's birthplace as Virginia. Mary's birthplace was listed as Illinois, her father's as Ireland, and her mother's as Virginia. The McRae children were Mary's half brother and half sister.

The family moved to the Winnebago Indian Reservation about 1903, and rented 3000 acres of land at 50 cents an acre about 14 miles northeast of Pender. Most of the land was in pasture, but Albert hauled the first two crops nine miles to Thurston, making two trips a day with a four-horse team and wagon, beginning at 4 a.m.

Albert was elected as a Republican to the Nebraska unicameral legislature in 1914 and served in 1915 during its thirty-second session, representing Thurston and Dakota Counties.

The following resolutions passed by the Nebraska state legislature were read at the funeral and were also published on the front page of The Walthill Times on Apr 21, 1927:

"Whereas, the Honorable A.M. Chambers of Thurston county was a highly respected and honored member of the thirty-second session of the Nebraska legislature, and

"Whereas, his record was one of activity and service as a legislator in the interest of better government, not only for his own constituents, but for the whole state of Nebraska, and

"Whereas the Forty-fourth Session of the Nebraska State Legislature holds for him the highest respect and honor and wishes to share with his family in their bereavement, now, therefore,

"Be it Resolved, That in behalf of the House of Representatives of the Forty-fourth Session of the Nebraska State Legislature, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the members of the bereaved family, and that the Chief Clerk of this House be authorized to transmit a copy of this Resolution to them as an evidence of respect, and that it also be made a part of the records of this House.

"(Signed) C.G. Campbell, R.C. Regan, Troy L. Davis, "Passed by legislature."

His obituary stated, "Hon. A.M. Chambers. Albert M. Chambers was born in the state of Iowa, January 29, 1859 and died at the Picotte Memorial Hospital, Walthill, Nebr. April 15, 1927, aged 68 years, 2 months, 10 days. He was married to Mary Grier at West Point, Nebr., March 11, 1890. To this union ten children were born all of whom are now living.

"They are as follows: Mrs. Cora Van Cleave, Homer, Nebr., Mrs. Alta Cornwell, Pender, Nebr., Mrs. Henrietta Garner, Broadwater, Nebr., Mrs. Alberta Wilson, Walthill, Nebr., Mrs. Mabel Wilkins, South Sioux City, Nebr., Edwin Roosevelt Chambers, Homer, Nebr., Mrs. Myrtle Nelson, Homer, Nebr., Mrs. Ruby Maslonka, Walthill, Nebr., Dwight L. Chambers, Walthill, Nebr., Nellie Chambers, Walthill, Nebr.

"Mr. Chambers also leaves to mourn his death Leonard L. Chambers, a son by a former marriage, who lost his mother in babyhood, and who was reared to manhood by Mr. Chamber's mother, through whose Christian prayers and training he worked his own way through Wesleyan University and who is now a minister of the gospel.

"Nineteen grandchildren, two brothers and six sisters, and many nieces and nephews also survive. Mr. Chambers' father and mother died many years ago.

"To the time of his death the deceased had lived in Thurston county 23 years and 7 months in the vicinity of Walthill.

"Mr. Chambers was a man who was instrumental in many activities that were for the good of the people as a whole. He was strong in his convictions for the good of his fellowmen. He was converted and baptized in the Methodist faith in early manhood.

"Mr. Chambers served one term in the Nebraska Legislature during the administration of Governor Morehead. He was president of the Farmers Union, a member of the board of directors of the Farm Bureau and at the time of his death was president of Merry Precinct Community Club.

"Like all humanity he had his faults and made mistakes, but his heart was always in his undertakings. Merry Precinct never had a better neighbor. Someone must remain to take-up the cudgel where he laid it down in activities in which he was so interested.

"Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church in Walthill at 2 p.m. April 17th. Rev R.A. Richmond officiated.

"To the grief stricken wife and children the entire community extends sympathy ever realizing that 'their work do follow them.'"

According to another obituary printed in The Walthill Times on Apr 21, 1921, "Prior to the address Mr. Chambers' oldest son, Rev. Leonard L. Chambers, spoke to the congregation a tribute to the Christian character of his fathers' mother . . ." (who raised Leonard).

His death certificate is recorded as number 4298, on file in the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Nebraska State Department of Health, Lincoln. The cause of death was listed as "post-operative diabetic" and "acidosis," contributing were "hypertropied prostate gland and diabetes mellitus."

The son of Albert Miner Chambers and -- Johnson was:

i Leonard L., b. ca. 1881 or Jul 1883, d. Jul 3, 1962

The children of Albert Miner Chambers and Mary Grier were:

ii Cora Belle, b. Jul 19, 1891, m. John S. Van Cleave on Mar 9, 1910, d. Jan 17, 1937

*iii Alta Emily, b. Aug 4, 1893, m. William Ulysses Cornwell on Mar 8, 1911, d. Jun 3, 1972

iv Henrietta Mae, b. Feb 28, 1895, m. William Garner on Jul 3, 1912, d. Mar 27, 1928

v Alberta Mary, b. Feb 20, 1897, m. Christopher Wilson on Mar 6, 1918, d. Nov 25, 1982

vi Mabel Leora, b. Sep 9, 1899, m. Harry Wilkins on Dec 19, 1916, d. Jun 15, 1984

vii Edwin Roosevelt (Pat), b. Oct 20, 1902, m. Marie Jacobson on Jan 5, 1923, d. Oct 2, 1965

viii Myrtle Marie, b. Oct 23, 1904, m. Hans Marius Nelsen on Jun 20, 1923, d. Jun 1997

ix Ruby Estelle, b. Apr 14, 1908, m. Ted Maslonka on Sep 15, 1925, d. Sep 19, 1978

x Dwight Lee, b. Oct 6, 1910, m. Leona Sailors on Mar 11, 1930, d. Dec 17, 1962

xi Nellie Elizabeth, b. Feb 18, 1915, m. Herman Dais on Mar 13, 1933, d. Oct 13, 1962

Larry Patrick Cornwell, Jun 1, 1999