Volume 9 , Issue 51

Pioneer Omer Schnoebelen - Mooreland, OK

Some of you out there in Northwest Oklahoma near Mooreland, Oklahoma might remember the surname of Schnoebelen connected with the Mooreland Leader newspaper. Here is what we found in a 1916 history book of Oklahoma, A Standard History of Oklahoma, by Joseph B. Thoburn.

Omer Schnoebelen was an active participant in the life of Mooreland, business and civic, since his arrival in 1903. Schnoebelen made himself a necessary factor in the development of this thriving Oklahoma community. As a publisher of the Mooreland Leader he was foremost in advancing movements of a beneficial character, while in various official capacities he had rendered his fellow citizens signal service. In 1916 he was in the office of postmaster, handling the Mooreland mail.

Omer Schnoebelen was born February 10, 1884, at Riverside, Iowa, and was a son of Nicholas and Mary (Bouquet) Schnoebelen. Nicholas Schnoebelen was born December 8, 1833, in Alsace Lorraine, France (now Germany), and was 3 years of age when brought to the United States by is parents, the family settling at Riverside, Iowa. There Nicholas grew to sturdy young manhood, receiving a public school education and learning the trades of a blacksmith and mechanic, lines i which he built up a good patronage.

In 1865 the lure of the West, with the promise of large fortune, called Nicholas and he made his way to Omaha, Nebraska. During the days of the frontier, with its hostile Indians, its outlaws and hold-up men, and various other dangers, he conducted a freighting outfit between Omaha and Denver, colorado, and in the five years he was so engaged met with numerous thrilling experiences.

Nicolas Schnoebelen was married in 1868 to Miss Mary Bouquot, who was born August 28, 1844, at Burlington, Iowa, daughter of Joseph and Mary Bouquot, natives of France. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schnoebelen:

Rose, a nun in the Order of the St. Vincent de Paul, with mother house at Emmitsburg, Maryland;

Crescencia, who was unmarried and resided at Riverside, Iowa, with her parents, a musician of unusual talent;

Anna R., who was the wife of Judd Brown of Lincoln, Nebraska;

Marcella, who was the wife of George d'Autremont, a Canadian farmer;

Omer, was born February 10, 1884, at Riverside, Iowa;

Marietta, who was the wife of Oscar d'Autremont, a merchant of Portland, Oregon;

Celestine and Hugh, who were deceased before 1916;

Clair, who was editor and publisher of the Quinlan Advance of Quinlan, Oklahoma;

Lillian, the wife of Bert Tilford, of Waynoka, Oklahoma;

Herman, resided with his parents in 1916.

In 1870 Nicholas Schnoebelen disposed of his freigting business and returned tohis home at Riverside, continued to be engaged in the blacksmithing business for many years. In 1916, Nicholas was living in quiet retirement, in Riverside, Iowa.

Omer Schnoebelen was educated in the public schools of Riverside, Iowa, when he was 16 years he entered the vocation which he was to make his life work by starting to learn the trade of printer. At the age of 19 years, Omer took up his residence at Mooreland, April 18, 1903, where he founded the Mooreland Leader. In 1916, Omer had a plant paper plant modern in every respect, his equipment including up-to-date presses, a linotype machine and other machinery for the publishing of a twentieth century paper, while his circulation and advertising had grown by leaps and bounds.

The Mooreland maintained an independent policy in regard to political affairs, and it was the aim of the editor to not only give his readers all the news in an authentic way, but to publish each side of every of question of public importance that may arise. Schnoebelen had never been backward about supporting the movements or men whom he had believed to be beneicial to his community.

Schnoebelen was also a democrat and had been active in county and state politics, frequently attending county, state and congressional conventions as a delegate and giving his staunch support to his party's condidates. Omer was a member of the first board of trustees after the town was incorporated and had since served as a member of the town council, his services on which had been of an energetic and helpful character. On July 26, 1914, Omer was appointed by president Wilson to the position of postmaster of Mooreland, and was acting in that capacity in 1916. During 1911 and 1912 Omer was employed as assistant cashier of the Security State Bank of Mooreland.

On January 12, 1904, Omer was married to one of Mooreland's young ladies who had served for two years as assistant to the postmaster, Miss Edna Knittel, who was born at Riverside, Iowa, November 17, 1883, a daughter of F. J. and Louise (Kortzborn) Knittel, the former a native of France and the latter of Iowa. Omer and Edna were the parents of 3 children:

Rita, born May 11, 1907;

Omer, Jr., born November 5, 1912;

Hugh, born December 13, 1914.

  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---