Person:Jacob Neidhardt (1)

Neidhardt Rites Set Funeral services for Jacob Neidhardt, 81, are set for Wednesday, 1 p.m., at the Rose Garden Chapel of H.W. Seramur Co., 407 Estudillo Ave [San Leandro, California]. He died Monday.

Mr. Neidhardt resided at 533 Delores Ave. He was born in Germany and is a retired farmer. He had lived in San Leandro about 10 years. Survivors include his wife, Mary, and nine children, Lydia, Jacob Junior, Arthur, Albert, Theodore, and John Neidhardt, Hulda Prideaux, Hattie Morris, and Katherine Froelich. He is also survived by a brother, Henry Neidhardt of North Dakota, and a sister, Mrs. Johanna Steingrueber of Montana, 18 grandchildren and four great - grandchildren. Services will be conducted by the Rev. William Peters of St. Paulus Lutheran Church, Oakland. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Oakland.

Memories for this 20th of June 1948-

This being Father's Day, where all our children are in California and their 12 grandchildren gathered, excepting only Albert who also has four children, but still living in North Dak. so I will make these remarks:

We have nine children in all; Katherine is the oldest as No. 1. She was a strong Baby-healthy. After was about 6 years old, she began ailing. No doctor seemed to know what was wrong. Finally had her operated for chronic appendicitis, even had a crooked back and could not grow. After that she picked up and got better, but had to have an operation for a goiter also. Then she got very low, but finally pulled through, and now she is as straight as any person-even good enough to act as a police officer.

No. 2 is John: was a tiny baby at birth, but was sound in body and spirit. I can still remember the first surprise he gave me one November day when it was very foggy and wet with a strong N.West wind. I was just coming home from Antelope on horseback when all at once my horse was frightened and shied. I had turned my face away from the wind and was not looking to see what the horse saw. However, then I noticed about 100 yards away in the field, something moving through the high weeds, and when I got close enough, found little Johnny, less than two years old, wet and cold as a fish, who had run away from home to look for his Daddy. Well I picked him up and hurried home where his Mama was all excited because she could not find him. I guess this was Johnny's first ride on horseback, but we thanked God for letting me find him.

No. 3 is Hulda, born on April Fools day-could say quite a lot about her also, but don't want to drag this out too long. Remarkable, and still clearly in my mind is what happened the night just before she was born. Mama chased me out of bed claiming she had pains and said, "Go quickly and get your sister Johanna." Well, there were no cars in those days, so I rushed to the barn where I kept a good Hamiltonian driving team, harnessed them up, hitched them to our buggy, and started out, as if I was running to fight some prairie fire. It was pitch dark, although full moon, but there were heavy clouds in the sky; the horses had to give me about all there was in them. Just as I was ready to cross a bridge, something happened. The team stopped short as the buggy plunged into their rear. I got in a hurry to find out what happened to my true team. I found that the pole had slipped out of the neck yoke and was laying on the ground. Well I soon got that fixed but when I wanted to hitch them, I found that one of the hooks on the double tree was lost. Then I grabbed around on the ground to find that hook, but could not find it, but finally did grab something. I had to pull hard to pull it out of the dried ground, but it was not my hook, but I thrust it into my pocket. Anyway, in that pocket, I found some strings with which I could tie up that trace, and then started out on my mad race again. I got sister Johanna out of bed soon and got home with her safely without any more trouble. The next day Hulda was born. Several days later I put on the same coat I wore that night, and all at once, reaching into my pocket, found something there which reminded me again of what had happened. That night I had in my hands an old pocket book over which I and many others had probably traveled often before, as it was bent and broken up, and when I got it open, found there was $3.51 in it, also a money order slip from some post office in Minn. But I could not make out any name of the town or owner so did not know what to do about it. But the thought came to my mind, I will drop the money into the collection plate when I go to our church again. Then I am sure it will go to the right place. It may be that this was the only and right way to do. It seems as if Hulda also inherited that spirit because I know it gives her much pleasure to make others happy with gifts. Again, we thanked God for this all. Will must make it short as I have to report on a half dozen more. The next is...

No. 4 Hattie, another girl-tiny and small at birth, but wiry like a boy. But she had a big sister who took pretty good care of her. I was then so busy with my work that those minor little acts of the baby did not make a big impression on my mind then, so please pardon me for being short on these, but I must state that in later years Hattie showed that she could substitute very well in the household, and even in handling our boys.

No. 5 is Theodore. That year had started out very dry, but finally turned wet and we got such an excellent crop we could build up our new place on Sec. 5, house and barn, and paid for it all. We even had enough money left to buy a surrey, all covered with glass, like our present day cars are, which we needed very bad as the family kept on growing. We had to drive seven miles to church, and by the time we arrived there, Mama was through getting the kids all dressed up. The only thing I remember as peculiar about Theo is that he was often sickly, and then would pull his own ear, and the more it hurt, the more he cried. But God was merciful; Theo finally got over this. But his ears are still sticking out a little. Then comes. . .

No. 6 Albert came and grew up. Just another boy. Before he could even walk he went along with the rest on four legs, of course. And as soon as he could swing a hammer and find nails he would just sit and drive the nails into the ground, or anywhere else. I could never keep any nails at home anymore, and finally had to keep our workshop locked. Then he would stand and kick at the door and yell, "I want my hammer and Nagely (nails). Well all was O.K. so far. We often thanked God for the healthy kids. And now comes . . .

No 7. Arthur, a full boy in every way, would be right there where the rest were, even on four legs, after he was six months old. He had plenty of capable teachers, anyway, and could not fail to learn their tricks. Just as soon as possible, he learned to walk before he was eight months old. One day when I came home late from Hebron where I was building a new house, the others stayed up to tell me Arthur could walk, and when they woke him up to show it to me, he would not do it because he was too sleepy. Well, Arthur grew up to be quite a strong young man and helped me a lot around the farm. But he got hurt one time when he was working on the road for himself and started ailing. The doctors did not seem to understand his case, and after a while arthritis got so bad he got as stiff as a post. This is one reason which brought us finally out here to California. Thanks to God, Arthur finally got strong again, is now married and happy, and we all are happy over it also. He is now building his second house. The next:

No. 8 is Jacob Jr. Just another boy. The family really was getting big. Mama always had to work hard and she often said, "He should have been a girl," so she would have some help from her. Well Jake grew up in town. I don't think he got to be any better than his brothers. Mama had plenty of trouble to keep him home. Yes, I remember one time I was riding a young new horse as I was coming home through town. Some little fellow yelled to me, "Papa be careful, or Charlie [the horse's name] will throw you off." This was right close to the railroad track near the depot while Mama was looking for him all over at home. Well he always was a boy-and a rather big boy who caused a lot of concern and worry, especially for his mama, after he was drafted into the Army and knocked from one corner of the globe to the other. But the Dear God was merciful and protected him. He is now also married and is father of two lovely children and I say here again, Thanks and Praise be to God for it all. Then comes. . .

No. 9 Lydia--yes a real girl. Mama finally got her wish fulfilled. She could now dress up her little doll who she loved so much. Well Lydia grew up also, was everybody's pet. If she got a little spoiled, it was probably not her fault alone. When she went to school, she brought home good marks on her report card, and school was just everything to her. I don't know whether Mama got more help from her than from the boys, but she was quite important at school. She even became a cheer leader. I guess I just don't understand enough about such matters to fully appreciate its value. She never needed to milk a cow because we had enough boys to do it, and when Hattie came home from California on a visit, Lydia went along with her. Through her letters we learned that she was well contented and happy. I think she is now just about like the average of American ladies.

So I say, we are happy God has made everything well, and now I thank you for your kind attention. If I said something wrong, I am sure Mama will correct me on it. You all know that we are getting older every day. Some day, some of us will not be here. But no matter when we will be called upon to leave this world, let us all hope to meet again in that World Without End.

This was a grand idea, to meet here today again. I thank you all for this opportunity. It is much nicer to receive the flowers while we live and do the knocking when we are dead.

25th wedding anniversary

All work and no play!

Jacob's Obituary