Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Bommer, Harry 1864 - living in 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 10:46 pm Author: B. F. Bowen HARRY BOMMER. Harry Bommer, the owner of two hundred and forty acres of splendid land in section 26, Oketo township, Marshall county, and one of the successful general farmers and stockmen of the township, was born in Benton county, Iowa, on September 24, 1864, the son of Henry and Christina Bommer, who were born in Germany, the former in 1823 and died in February, 1889, and the latter born in 1828 and died in August, 1914. Henry and Christina Bommer received their education in the schools of their native land, and there they grew up and were married. After their marriage they established their home in their native land. They later decided to come to America, where they might have a better opportunity of obtaining a home for themselves and those dependent upon them. On their arrival in the United States, they located in the state of Illinois in the early fifties. They continued to reside in that state for some years and then located in Iowa, where they remained until 1879, when they came to Kansas. They first located four miles north of Marysville, after which they moved to Oketo township, where they purchased the farm now owned by J. W. Gibson. Here Mr. Bommer engaged in general farming and stock raising with success, for many years. He and his wife were among the highly esteemed people of the township and were held in high regard by all who knew them. They were the parents of nine children, six having died in infancy. Frank died in October, 1905, and William and Harry are residents of Oketo township. Harry Bommer received his education in the common schools of Iowa and Kansas and grew to manhood on the home farm, where he remained with his father until he rented his present farm, which he later purchased in 1905, and has lived on the place since May, 1887. He has placed all the present substantial improvements and his house is one of the good farm residences of the county, and his barn, granary, corn cribs and hog houses are substantial structures. He takes the greatest interest in the upkeep of his farm, which is one of the best in the county. He believes in the highest standard of modern farming and the keeping of good stock. Harry Bommer was united in marriage in May, 1887, to Nolia Helms, who was born in the county in March. 1868. She is the daughter of William and Nancy Helms, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents received their primary education in the schools of their native state and later located in the state of Nebraska, where they were married. Shortly after their marriage they came to Oketo township, Marshall county, where they homesteaded their home farm in 1868. They established their home in a log cabin that they erected, and in which Mrs. Bommer was born. They were true pioneers and had much to do with the growth and the development of the district. Mr. and Mrs. Helms were born in 1834 and 1841, respectively, and the former died in 1905 and the latter in 1895. They were the parents of four children as follow: Mary, Sophronia, Nolia and William. Sophronia Bommer is a resident of Oketo township: Mary is now deceased and William is a resident of Norton county, Kansas. Mr. Helms was a stanch Democrat and took the greatest interest in the civic life of his home township. Fraternally, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Oketo. Mr. and Mrs. Bommer are the parents of four children as follow: Henry, who was born on October 13. 1888: Myrtle, now the wife of Mr. Howes, a successful young farmer, residing west of Marietta, and Ernest and Ethel at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bommer are among the prominent people of Marshall county, and have long been prominent in the social life of their community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. Their lives have been active ones and they have accomplished much that is worthy the highest commendation. They have always taken much interest in the physical, the moral and the educational development of the township. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/bommer53bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb