My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT SCHNELL, deceased, was one of the substantial citizens and enterprising farmers of Woodson County, and his death, which occurred in 1900, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for such citizens the community can ill afford to lose. His was an honorable and upright citizen and thus his memoir merits a leading place in this volume.

Albert Schnell was a native of Germany, born March 15, 1849, and a son of Henry Schnell, who was twice married, his first wife being the mother of our object, and brother, John. The surviving members of that family are all residents of Du Bois county, Indiana.

During his youth Albert Schnell accompanied his parents to the new world and was reared in Du Bois County, Indiana. His education was acquired in his native tongue, and before attaining his majority he left home in order to earn his own living as a farm hand. He was employed in that way for a number of years, but after his marriage rented land and began farming on his own account. It was on the 27th day of February, 1872, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Lucy Sawyers, a daughter of James Sawyers of Scott County, Illinois, but formerly of Tennessee, her mother bore the maiden name of Rachel Davis, and by her marriage to Mr. Sawyers she had two daughters and a son, the latter being Joseph Sawyers, of Scott County, while the sister of Mrs. Schnell is Angeline Sawyers. There were, however, some half brothers and sisters, three of whom are yet living.

Mr. and Mrs. Schnell began their domestic life at Oxville, Scott County, Illinois, renting the Sawyers’ farm for six years, after which they came to Kansas, settling in Center township, Woodson County, in February, 1878. Here Mr. Schnell purchased eighty acres of land and began its cultivation and improvement. His resources then were quite limited, but as the years passed his labors brought to him a good financial return, and he increased the boundaries of his farm by the additional purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land. He engaged in the raising of grain and stock and placed his farm under a high state of cultivation. He also made many excellent improvements in the way of buildings, and while at a neighbor’s barn raising on the 18th of May, 1900, he was killed by a falling beam, his death coming as a great shock, and an irreparable loss to his family.

Four children had been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Schnell, namely: Rachel, the wife of Filmore Withers, of Yates Center, Kas.; Mary, John and James, who are still with their mother, the family yet occupying the old homestead left them by their father. Mr. Schnell was well known as a staunch Republican, attended many of the conventions of his party and did all in his power to secure the adoption of its principles. In business he was energetic, reliable and progressive, and in all dealings was the soul of honor. His prosperity resulted from his persistency of purpose, his indefatigable industry and his honesty, and the untarnished name which he left to his family is more desirable than the wealth of the millionaire.