CHARLES H STALLBAUMER

Charles H. Stallbaumer, who carries on general farming on seclion 16, Richmond township, Nemaha county, was born on the 3d of January, 1862, in the township which is still his home. His father, John Martin Stallbaumer. was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to America, making his way direct to Missouri. From that state he removed to Richmond township, Nemaha county, and after his marriage he located on a farm, where he continued until his death, which occurred August 24, 1881. A communicant of the Catholic church, he aided in organizing the congregation of St. Benedict. In politics he was a liberal Democrat, who served as a member of the school board, yet was never an aspirant for political honors. His wife was, in her maidenhood, Miss Mary H. Van Brook, a native of Holland. She came to Kansas when a maiden of fourteen summers, and is still living in this state. Her eight children were all born in Richmond township, and with one exception all are yet residents of Nemaha county, and six of the number are living near the old home: Rosa, the eldest daughter, is now deceased ; John is living on section 32, Richmond township; Albertina M. is the wife of Henry A. Welp, who cultivates land on section 17, Richmond township; Ida M. is the wife of James Carlin, who is living on section 27, Nemaha township; Anna S. is the wife of Peter J. Rettele, whose home is on section 8, Richmond township; and W. E. and J. G. reside with their mother on section 19, of the same township.

Charles Henry Stallbaumer obtained his preliminary education in a little log schoolhouse on section 8. Richmond township, but his school privileges were quite himited, as at the early age of fourteen years he was obliged to put aside his text-books and assume the management of the home farm, his father having died. As soon as old enough to handle a plow he began work in the fields, and the various duties connected with the raising of grain were familiar to him. In his youth he worked as a farm hand and to his mother he gave his wages until twenty-one years of age. He was married in Richmond township to Anna M. Schneider, who was born in Waukesha county. Wisconsin. At the age of two she was taken to Nebraska, and when twelve years of age she came to Nemaha county with her parents, Matthew and Elizabeth (Birkhauser) Schneider, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, however, came to this country when only five years of age. Mrs. Stallbaumer is the second in their family of eight children, and by her marriage she has five living children, Claude, Veronica, Lawrence, Aloysius and Rudolph. One child, Eugene, died in early life.

Mr. Stallbaumer is the owner of seventy–nine acres of rich land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and the many improvements on his farm indicate his care and attention. For three terms he served as trustee of Richmond township, and in 1898 he was elected the county commissioner for the third district, which position he is now filling, his incumbency covering a period of three years. A prominent member of the Catholic church, he is now serving as the president of the St. Joseph society. He represents one of the oldest families of Nemaha county, the name having long been interwoven with the history of agricultural interests in this locality. He has a wide acquaintance in northeastern Kansas, and as a result of his genial manner and sterling worth his friends are legion.