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William Alva Schneider

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Birth	:	2 Nov 1867
Death	:	26 Sep 1930
Burial	:	Homestead Township Cemetery, Homestead Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.6119003, -85.9972000
Description	:	WILLIAM ALVA SCHNEIDER An enumeration of those men who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the locality where they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of the one whose name forms the caption to this sketch. A life of earliest and persistent endeavor has placed Mr. Schneider in fairly comfortable circumstances and his life has been so ordered as to win the earnest esteem of all who know him. He has on at least one occasion demonstrated personal bravery of the highest order–an incident which will be... Read More	WILLIAM ALVA SCHNEIDER An enumeration of those men who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the locality where they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of the one whose name forms the caption to this sketch. A life of earliest and persistent endeavor has placed Mr. Schneider in fairly comfortable circumstances and his life has been so ordered as to win the earnest esteem of all who know him. He has on at least one occasion demonstrated personal bravery of the highest order–an incident which will be referred to in a later paragraph. William A. Schneider is a native of the township in which he now resides, his birth occurring on November 2, 1867. He is the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Burch) Schneider, the latter having been a daughter of Elder Burch, the first settler at Oelwein. The subject's father was born in Alsace-Lorraine, which now belongs to Germany, though at that time it was a part of France. He came to the United States and here followed the pursuit of farming. The subject was reared on the paternal farmstead and was early inured to hard work. The family sometime later moved to Harlan township, this county, where the father had bought a farm. The subject attended the common schools, which in his early days were in session but about three months each year. After completing his education he was variously employed for some years, but at the age of twenty-three years he engaged in the livery business on his own account at Oelwein, but did not long continue in that line. After his marriage, which occurred in 1899, he located on a farm which he had bought and which was located near Oelwein, and during the following four years he was engaged in its operation. At the end of the period noted he sold his farm and moved into Oelwein, where he was engaged in the dairy business for two and a half years. He and his family then went to California on an extended trip, and remained there about six months, at the end of which time he returned to Oelwein and entered the employ of the Chicago Great Western railroad, being employed in the shops for about fourteen months. In March, 1908, Mr. Schneider entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Stanley county, South Dakota, to which he now, has a clear title. In June, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Schneider returned from their residence on this homestead and now make their home in Oelwein. Mr. Schneider owns a total of five hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota, and is extensively engaged in the business of buying and selling land, in which he has met with splendid success. He is a good judge of land values and is a shrewd and successful trader. He is also the owner of some valuable real estate in Oelwein. On January 4, 1899, Mr. Schneider married Hattie May Powers, the daughter of Henry and Livonia (McDougall) Powers. The latter was born in New York state, but in her young girlhood she accompanied her parents on their removal to Canada, where she was reared. Henry Powers is numbered among the honored pioneers of Fayette county, having located in Scott township in the spring of 1856. He was postmaster of Scott Center for twelve consecutive years, or from the founding of the office until its abolishment. His descendants are numerous in Scott township. He was the eldest of eleven children born to John L. and Melissa Ann (Farr) Powers, and John L. was the eldest of seven sons born to David and Hannah Powers, who lived near Meadville, Crawford county. Pennsylvania, about the beginning of the last century. The Farr family were also numbered among the pioneer settlers in Fayette county. To the subject and his wife has been born one son, Paul A. Fraternally, Mr. Schneider is a member of that great fraternal insurance order, the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Schneider is a member of the auxiliary order, the Royal Neighbors. They are both active in their respective orders and are popular among their acquaintances. Mr. Schneider is the holder of a bronze medal given to him by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission as a reward for an act of the greatest bravery and calling for personal courage and presence of mind of a high order. The inscription on the medal reads as follows: "Awarded to William A. Schneider, who saved Marian Sturgis from drowning, Hazleton, Iowa, July 24, 1906." The young lady referred to is the daughter of Hon. Lew I. Sturgis, postmaster at Oelwein, and the incident, as related in the report of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, award No. 177, was that Miss Sturgis was bathing in Otter creek, twenty feet from the bank, and in water ten feet deep, when she became panic stricken and helpless. She was struggling and about to sink for the third time when Mr. Schneider went to her rescue. In her excitement and semi-consciousness she grabbed him around the neck and head and pulled him under the water, but by presence of mind and herculean efforts he succeeded in getting her to shallow water. In addition to the award of the medal, Mr. Schneider was also given eleven hundred dollars in cash from the hero fund in further recognition of his courage and character, and in this connection it may be noted that an award of money is only made after the most rigid investigation by special agents as to the personal character and worth of the recipient. While modest in his reference to this event. Mr. Schneider is deservedly proud of his membership in this list of publicly recognized heroes.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Alva Schneider's memorial?
William Alva Schneider's memorial is located at: Homestead Township Cemetery, Homestead Township, Benzie County, USA.
When did William Alva Schneider death?
William Alva Schneider death on 26 Sep 1930 in
Where are the coordinates of the William Alva Schneider's memorial?
Latitude: 44.6119003
Longitude: -85.9972000

Family Members:

Parent

Michael Schneider

(1821 - 1889)

Elizabeth Burch Schneider

(1824 - 1886)

Spouse

Hattie May Powers Schneider

(1875 - 1952)

Siblings

Anna Maria Schneider

(1844 - 1926)

Lewis N. Schneider

(1856 - 1857)

Michael Salonius “Lone” Schneider

(1857 - 1934)

Luella Mariah “Louella” Schneider Bailey

(1859 - 1934)

Lydia Amanda Schneider Garrey

(1862 - 1944)

George Andrew Jackson Schneider

(1863 - 1953)

Sidney Lee Schneider

(1865 - 1926)

Laura Antoinette Schneider Blake

(1870 - 1936)

Eliza Eleanore Shelton Hanson

(1840 - 1916)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Homestead Township Cemetery
Homestead Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6119003, -85.9972000

2. Weldon Township Cemetery
Weldon, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5800018, -85.9982986

3. Champion Hill Cemetery
Honor, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6613998, -86.0382996

4. Countryside Memorial Cemetery
Homestead Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6589012, -85.9443970

5. Saint Philips Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
Beulah, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6434300, -86.0764600

6. Benzonia Township Cemetery
Benzonia, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6078835, -86.0904083

7. Brundage Wilderness Cemetery
Inland Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6516991, -85.9167023

8. Joyfield Township Cemetery
Joyfield Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5518990, -86.1057968

9. Thompsonville Cemetery
Thompsonville, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5138360, -85.9478260

10. Colfax Township Cemetery
Colfax Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5272200, -85.8777900

11. Inland Township Cemetery
Bendon, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6585960, -85.8334732

12. Stagecoach Memorial Cemetery
Bendon, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6590004, -85.8280029

13. Saint Raphaels Holy Family Cemetery
Nessen City, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5200005, -85.8679962

14. Springdale Township Cemetery
Springdale Township, Manistee County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4859050, -86.0429910

15. West Almira Cemetery
Almira Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7332993, -85.9194031

16. Mount Hope Cemetery
Interlochen, Grand Traverse County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6581001, -85.8131027

17. Crystal Lake Township Cemetery East
Frankfort, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6342010, -86.2067032

18. Platte Township Cemetery
Platte Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7602997, -86.0381012

19. Gilmore Township Cemetery
Gilmore Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6055984, -86.2102966

20. Lake Ann Cemetery
Lake Ann, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7263908, -85.8569412

21. Blaine Township Cemetery
Blaine Township, Benzie County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5586014, -86.2007980

22. Cleon Township Cemetery
Cleon Township, Manistee County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4829670, -85.8751820

23. De Lorme Cemetery
Karlin, Grand Traverse County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5817870, -85.7818000

24. Pleasanton Township Cemetery
Pleasanton Township, Manistee County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4805550, -86.1194440