Albert Miner Chambers was born on Jan 29, 1858 in Nashua, Chickasaw County, Iowa, and died April 15, 1927 in Walthill, Thurston County, Nebraska at the age of 68.

His first wife was Sarah Johnson. She was buried at Wakefield, in either Wayne or Dixon County, Nebraska.

His second wife was Dora Galbraith. She was born Mar 28, 1864, the daughter of William Galbraith and Mary Hannah Fleming. She died in Aug, 1887, and was buried in a pioneer cemetery called DeWitt, an early state stop located southeast of Beemer, St. Charles Pct., Sec 18, Cuming County, Nebraska.

His third wife was Mary Grier, his first cousin, whom he married on Mar 11, 1890 in West Point, Cuming County, Nebraska. The marriage record is on file at the Cuming County Court House, doc. 4, page 129. The marriage record states A. M. Chambers' age as 30 rather than his actual age of 31, and Mary Grier's age as 20 rather than her actual age of 18. Her parents were listed as James Grier and Emilie Jenkins. His parents were listed as Daniel Chambers and Hannah Bettie rather than David Lee Chambers and Henrietta Augusta Jenkins. Perhaps they didn't know that first cousins could legally marry in Nebraska then, and didn't want their mothers' last names of Jenkins to appear on the same document. Mary Grier's second husband was Floyd Halstead. She was born Jul 14, 1871 and died Apr 7, 1954 at the age of 82.

Albert and Mary were married in the Methodist Episcopal church parsonage by Peter DeClark, pastor of that church, at West Point.

The Beemer (Nebraska) Times carried an announcement of their marriage in its Mar 14, 1890 edition. It stated:

"A.M. Chambers, of this place, and Miss Grier, of Schuyler, were married last week. We could not say where by or whom as it has been impossible to corner the happy groom long enough to find out anything farther than that the lady's name was Grier, and this information was caught on the fly.

"Tuesday morning Mr. Chambers came into town and purchased a box of Pure Havanah Cigars at Dutcher's --jumped in his wagon and pulled out for home as fast as horse-flesh could carry him, and this is what the boys heard as he went flying up Main Street. Cigars at Ducher's!! -gars at Ducher's!!! -gars chat -c-h-e-r's!!"

There are no census records for 1890, as they were destroyed or badly damaged by a fire in Washington in 1921.

In the 1900 census for Thayer Precinct, Thurston County, Nebraska, the Albert Miner Chambers family consisted of the following:

NAME RELATION DATE OF BIRTH AGE

Chambers Albert M Head Jan 1858 42
Mary Wife Jul 1871 29
Cora Belle Daughter Jul 1891 8
Alta M. Daughter Aug 1893 6
Henrietta M. Daughter Feb 1895 5
Alberta M. Daughter Feb 1897 3
Leora M. Daughter Sep 1899 8/12
McRae Kenneth Brother in law Feb 1885 15
-- Rachel Sister in law May 1886 14

Albert's birthdate was shown one year earlier than other records, and Mary's age was listed for her upcoming birthday rather than her actual age. His occupation was listed as farming. Alta's middle initial was incorrectly stated as "M" rather than "E" (Emily).

Albert's birthplace was listed as Iowa, his father's birthplace as Indiana, and mother's birthplace as Virginia. Mary's birthplace was listed as Illinois, her father's as Ireland, and her mother's as Virginia. The McRae children were Mary's half brother and half sister.

The family moved to the Winnebago Indian Reservation about 1903, and rented 3000 acres of land at 50 cents an acre about 14 miles northeast of Pender. Most of the land was in pasture, but Albert hauled the first two crops nine miles to Thurston, making two trips a day with a four-horse team and wagon, beginning at 4 a.m.

In the 1910 census for Nebraska, Thurston County, Winnebago Precinct, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 207, sheet 1A, dwelling and family number 9, enumeration date Apr 18, 1910, the Albert M. Chambers family consisted of the following:

Chambers, Albert M. 51 Iowa Ind Virginia
Mary 39 Ill Ireland Virginia
Alta E. 16 Nebr Iowa Ill
Henrietta 15 Nebr Iowa Ill
Alberta 13 Nebr Iowa Ill
Mabel 10 Nebr Iowa Ill
Edwin R. 7 Nebr Iowa Ill
Mytrle 5 Nebr Iowa Ill
Ruby 2 Nebr Iowa Ill

Listed with the family was servant Jens A. Martesen, 31, born in Denmark.

Albert was elected as a Republican to the Nebraska unicameral legislature in 1914 and served in 1915 during its thirty-second session, representing Thurston and Dakota Counties.

In the 1920 census for Nebraska, Thurston County, Merry Precinct, enumeration district 213, sheet 8, enumeration date Mar 8, 1920, beginning with line 37, the Albert M. Chambers family consisted of the following:

Chambers, Albert M. 60 Iowa Indiana Virginia farmer
Mary 48 Illinois Ireland Illinois
Roosevelt E. 18 Nebr Iowa Illinois
Myrtle 15 Nebr Iowa Illinois
Ruby E. 11 Nebr Iowa Illinois
Dwight L. 9 Nebr Iowa Illinois
Wilson, Alberta 22 widowed
Wilson, Dorothy C. 1 granddaughter

The Walthill Times published the following on its front page on Apr 21, 1927:

"Merry Precinct Loses Leader

"A.M. Chambers Succumbs to Acute Illness

"Father of Large Family was Leader in Community Activities. Many Attend Funeral.

"The people of this village who had known the deceased many years were keenly shocked last Friday as the word spread that Mr. A. M. Chambers had passed away in the local hospital. While he has not been in good health for the past year or more, not many know that his malady had taken a serious turn and the news of his death was unexpected.

"For a number of yers Mr. Chambers has been a well known farmer of this community and one of the leading citizens of Merry precinct where he farmed and raised a large family. During years from the pioneer period of this neighborhood, Mr. Chambers took a personal interest in neighborhood activities, social and industrial, whether a debating society, a community picnic, a farmers' welfare organization or a political program.

"By nature he was a conservative and required to be satisfied that a project was worthy and worth while. He was a man of staunch principle, from which he could not deviate unless convinced of error in his view point. he was a good husband and father, a good neighbor, congenial in his manner, and like as well as respected by all.

"In politics he was a republican and in 1914 he was elected to the state legislature from this representative disctict, which included Thurston and Dakota counties. In the legislature he made a very good record.

"An epitome of his life is given in the obituary here published as read at the funeral Sunday, which was prepared by a near neighbor and friend of long standing. This review was well compiled and makes unnecessary the repetition of what it records of his life history.

"The autorium of the Methodist church was filled to overflowing by the large number of friends and neighbors who gathered to pay the respect of their presence at the last rites of one widely and well known, and not a few came from neighboring towns and a distance farther away.

"The casket was banked with many floral tributes. The church choir sang appropriate hymns and Rev. R. A. Richmond delivered the sermon. Prior to the address, Mr. Chamber's oldest son, Rev. Leonard L. Chambers spoke to the congregation a tribute to the Christian character of his father's mother [who raised Leonard]. He pictured the reunion of the son with mother in the glory land, and closed with an appeal to others of the family not to disappoint the saintly soul when they severally pass through the portals which open only to eternity.

"Also the obituary record and the resolutions passed by the house of representatives were read by the pastor before he delivered his sermon.

"The interment was delayed until after the evening train which brought a member of the family delayed by impassable roads and at the close of the day the body was laid in the sacred soil of Evergreen cemetery."

The following resolutions passed by the Nebraska state legislature were read at the funeral and were also published on the front page of The Walthill Times on Apr 21, 1927:

"Whereas, the Honorable A.M. Chambers of Thurston county was a highly respected and honored member of the thirty-second session of the Nebraska legislature, and

"Whereas, his record was one of activity and service as a legislator in the interest of better government, not only for his own constituents, but for the whole state of Nebraska, and

"Whereas the Forty-fourth Session of the Nebraska State Legislature holds for him the highest respect and honor and wishes to share with his family in their bereavement, now, therefore,

"Be it Resolved, That in behalf of the House of Representatives of the Forty-fourth Session of the Nebraska State Legislature, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the members of the bereaved family, and that the Chief Clerk of this House be authorized to transmit a copy of this Resolution to them as an evidence of respect, and that it also be made a part of the records of this House.

"(Signed) C.G. Campbell, R.C. Regan, Troy L. Davis, "Passed by legislature."

His obituary, also published on the front page of The Walthill Times, stated, "Hon. A.M. Chambers. Albert M. Chambers was born in the state of Iowa, January 29, 1859 and died at the Picotte Memorial Hospital, Walthill, Nebr. April 15, 1927, aged 68 years, 2 months, 16 days. He was married to Mary Grier at West Point, Nebr., March 11, 1890. To this union ten children were born all of whom are now living.

"They are as follows: Mrs. Cora Van Cleave, Homer, Nebr., Mrs. Alta Cornwell, Pender, Nebr., Mrs. Henrietta Garner, Broadwater, Nebr., Mrs. Alberta Wilson, Walthill, Nebr., Mrs. Mabel Wilkins, South Sioux City, Nebr., Edwin Roosevelt Chambers, Homer, Nebr., Mrs. Myrtle Nelson, Homer, Nebr., Mrs. Ruby Maslonka, Walthill, Nebr., Dwight L. Chambers, Walthill, Nebr., Nellie Chambers, Walthill, Nebr.

"Mr. Chambers also leaves to mourn his death Leonard L. Chambers, a son by a former marriage, who lost his mother in babyhood, and who was reared to manhood by Mr. Chamber's mother, through whose Christian prayers and training he worked his own way through Wesleyan University and who is now a minister of the gospel.

"Nineteen grandchildren, two brothers and six sisters, and many nieces and nephews also survive. Mr. Chambers' father and mother died many years ago.

"To the time of his death the deceased had lived in Thurston county 23 years and 7 months in the vicinity of Walthill.

"Mr. Chambers was a man who was instrumental in many activities that were for the good of the people as a whole. He was strong in his convictions for the good of his fellowmen. He was converted and baptized in the Methodist faith in early manhood.

"Mr. Chambers served one term in the Nebraska Legislature during the administration of Governor Morehead. He was president of the Farmers Union, a member of the board of directors of the Farm Bureau and at the time of his death was president of Merry Precinct Community Club.

"Like all humanity he had his faults and made mistakes, but his heart was always in his undertakings. Merry Precinct never had a better neighbor. Someone must remain to take-up the cudgel where he laid it down in activities in which he was so interested.

"Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church in Walthill at 2 p.m. April 17th. Rev R.A. Richmond officiated.

"To the grief stricken wife and children the entire community extends sympathy ever realizing that 'their work do follow them.'"

He was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Walthill, Thurston County, Nebraska.

His death certificate is recorded as number 4298, on file in the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Nebraska State Department of Health, Lincoln. The cause of death was listed as "post-operative diabetic" and "acidosis," contributing were "hypertropied prostate gland and diabetes mellitus."

The son of Albert Miner Chambers and Sarah Johnson was:

i Leonard L., b. Jul 9, 1882, m. (1) Estella Ruth Carns on Aug 15, 1907, (2) Pauline – ca 1956, d. Jul 3, 1962

The children of Albert Miner Chambers and Mary Grier were:

ii Cora Belle, b. Jul 19, 1891, m. John S. Van Cleave on Mar 9, 1910, d. Jan 17, 1937
*iii Alta Emily, b. Aug 4, 1893, m. William Ulysses Cornwell on Mar 8, 1911, d. Jun 3, 1972
iv Henrietta Mae, b. Feb 28, 1895, m. William Garner on Jul 3, 1912, d. Mar 27, 1928
v Alberta Mary, b. Feb 20, 1897, m. Christopher Wilson on Mar 6, 1918, d. Nov 25, 1982
vi Mabel Leora, b. Sep 9, 1899, m. Harry Wilkins on Dec 19, 1916, d. Jun 15, 1984
vii Edwin Roosevelt (Pat), b. Oct 20, 1902, m. Marie Jacobson on Jan 5, 1923, d. Oct 2, 1965
viii Myrtle Marie, b. Oct 23, 1904, m. Hans Marius Nelsen on Jun 20, 1923, d. Jun 1997
ix Ruby Estelle, b. Apr 14, 1908, m. Ted Maslonka on Sep 15, 1925, d. Sep 19, 1978
x Dwight Lee, b. Oct 6, 1910, m. Leona Sailors on Mar 11, 1930, d. Dec 17, 1962
xi Nellie Elizabeth, b. Feb 18, 1915, m. Herman Dais on Mar 13, 1933, d. Oct 13, 1962