Sunday's Obituary - Louis Schneider

PIONEER, AGED 83 YEARS, DIES

Louis Schneider, Head Of Large Family, Resident Here 58 Years

Louis Schneider, 83, one of the few remaining pioneers of this city and a resident of Yankton and Bon Homme counties for 58 years, died at his home at 705 Pine street here at 11 o'clock yesterday morning following an illness of only three days complicated by old-age infirmities.

Louis Schneider, Yankton
Press & Dakotan, Yankton,
South Dakota, 20 August
1934, p. 6, col. 4

Schneider, who had been quite active despite his advanced years, had been in failing health nearly all summer, but had been working about his yard and attending to other duties until Thursday when he became ill.  He rallied Saturday and members of the family were hopeful he would recuperate.  Yesterday morning he was much weaker and after a brief rally passed away about 11:30 o'clock while members of the family were at his bedside.

Was Homesteader

Schneider was born Jan. 2, 1851, in Washington county, Ia. and came to Dakota territory in 1876.  He homesteaded in Bon Homme county and a year later was married to Mary Egan.  The couple lived on the homestead in Bon Homme county until 1898, with the exception of two years when they lived in Yankton.

In 1898 they moved to Yankton county, purchasing a farm near Utica.  They resided on that farm until 1914 when Mr. and Mrs. Schneider retired, constructing a new home at 705 Pine street where he lived until his death.

Schneider was well known all over this section of the country and after his retirement devoted most of his time to his hobby of cultivating a large garden and raising broom corn and tobacco.  He was quite successful with the latter crops despite the fact this climate is not conducive to their production, and he raised enough tobacco for his own use.  This year, however, he did not cultivate as large a plot as formerly.

Large Family

He is survived by his widow, four sons, two daughters, 23 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.  One son died in infancy.  One sister and five brothers also are living.

His sons are Edward, Robert and Martin of Yankton and Charles of Casper, Wyo.  Daughters are Mrs. Margaret Tester of Sioux City, formerly of Yankton, and Mrs. Alice Lanctot of Yankton.  Mrs. Hugh Gunn of Scotland is a sister and brothers are William of Tyndall, George and Frank of Washington, Ia., and Eugene and Joe of Seattle.  All but Eugene and Joe are here for the funeral, which is to be held from Sacred Heart church at 9 a. m. Tuesday.  Kabeiseman and Donohoe mortuary is in charge.

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