HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG3666.AM: Rudolph B. Schneider, 1853-1913
Papers: 1895-1912
Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska: Businessman; Republican National Committee
Size: 0.5 cu.ft.; 1 box
BACKGROUND NOTE
Rudolph B. Schneider was born on February 25, 1853, in Beardstown, Illinois, to B.W. and Elizabeth Schneider. At the age of seventeen, Schneider left Beardstown and went to Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska, where he worked as a grocery clerk in W.R. Wilson’s store. The following year he returned to Beardstown where he ran the family farm for the next five years. In 1877 Schneider returned to Fremont where he again worked for Wilson, who was now in the grain business for six years when, in 1883, he became a partner in the firm of W.R. Wilson and Company. In 1887, with the formation of the Nye-Wilson-Morehouse Company, Schneider became one of the directors and the Wilson Company became the Nye-Schneider-Fowler Company. Later, upon the retirement of Wilson and Morehouse, Schneider became Secretary and Treasurer of Nye-Wilson-Morehouse Co. Schneider was involved in many local Fremont businesses, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the 1st National Bank, President of Fidelity Trust, President of Fremont Savings Bank, Vice-President of Fremont Manufacturing Company, and Director of the Nebraska State Building and Loan.
Schneider also was active in Republican Party politics. He served as Republican National Committeeman from Nebraska in 1900. Theodore Roosevelt named him as one of three managers of his successful 1904 presidential campaign. In 1908 Schneider served on the Republican Party Executive Committee. Schneider held only two offices during his career. He served one term on the Dodge County Board of Supervisors. At the time of his death, on July 26, 1913, he was serving as Chairman of the Fremont Board of Education. Rudolph B. Schneider is buried in Ridge Cemetery at Fremont, Nebraska. He was survived by his wife, Isabella (Spangler), and their two daughters, Etta May Miller and Clara Byrne.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one box of papers dating from 1895 to 1912. This material relates primarily to the business affairs of Rudolph B. Schneider while a partner in Nye-Schneider-Fowler Grain Company and Secretary-Treasurer of Nye-Wilson-Morehouse Company of Fremont. The bulk of the collection consists of two volumes of letterbooks covering the years 1895-1912. These books contain copies of outgoing letters written by Rudolph B. Schneider. The letters deal mainly with Schneider’s business interests, discussing contracts, stocks, crop status, expenses, and other financial information. Correspondence discussing his Republican National Committee work is also included. Several of the letters in these books are illegible due to fading.
A folder of newspaper clippings includes obituaries of Rudolph B. Schneider, Schneider family marriage notices, social events in Fremont, Nebraska, and information about a court case against Frank Fowler, former president of Nye-Schneider-Fowler Company. The last folder of miscellaneous items includes a letter to Mrs. R.B. Schneider, poetry, a flight certificate, and a parody of “America,” glorifying the slain men of World War I.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Folder/volume
-
- Letterbook containing letters written by Rudolph B. Schneider dealing with business interests and Republican National Committee work, 1895-1902
-
- Letterbook containing letters written by Rudolph B. Schneider dealing with business interests and Republican National Committee work, 1902-1912
-
- Newspaper clippings, including obituaries of Rudolph B. Schneider, Schneider family marriage notices, social events in Fremont, Nebraska, information on court case against Frank Fowler, former President of Nye-Schneider-Fowler Co.
-
- Miscellaneous, including a letter to Mrs. R.B. Schneider, poetry, a flight certificate, and parody of song “America,” glorifying the slain men of World War I
Subject headings:
Dodge County (Nebraska) — History
Elections — Nebraska
Fremont (Nebraska) — Businesses
Fremont (Nebraska) — History
Grain trade — Nebraska
Nye-Schneider-Fowler Grain Company (Fremont, Nebraska)
Nye-Wilson-Morehouse Company (Fremont, Nebraska)
Politics and government
Republican Party
AIP/lm 01-22-1982
Revised TMM 03-19-2019