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S. W. Chambers, 86, Died At Blair Hospital Today

Was Former Mayor, Police Judge, And Justice Of The Peace

Samuel W. Chambers passed away at one o’clock this morning, December 20, 1945, at the Blair Hospital, where he had been confined for the past two weeks. Mr. Chambers was 86 years of age, and was born at Peru, Nebraska, February 18, 1859. He was married to Miss Gertrude E. Beale, September 1, 1887 and came to Blair in 1896. He served for a time as local depot agent for the Northwestern Railway. He was, for many years in the insurance and real estate business, and also was a former mayor of Blair and for many years was Police Judge and Justice of the Peace.

Mr. Chambers had made his home with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Deets, since the death of his wife on January 30, 1930.

Those left to mourn the loss of father and grandfather are two children, Mrs. Ross Deets and Lloyd Chambers, both of Blair. Also three grandchildren, Mrs. Harold Johnson of Fremont, and Mrs. Ralph K. Patton of Blair, and Bill Chambers of New York. Also surviving are two great-grandchildren, Gail Ronda Johnson and Gilbert Ross Johnson.

Funeral services will be held in the Bendorf Funeral Home, Saturday, at two o’clock P.M., with Rev. A. J. Smith of St. Mary’s Episcopal church officiating. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Pilot Tribune 20 Dec 1945

(Photo) Caption S. W. Chambers…Long career in Blair is ended.

In failing health the past year and hospitalized nearly two weeks, Samuel W. Chambers, 86, for years prominent in Blair civil and business circles, died today at 1 a.m. in Blair hospital.

The body was taken to the Bendorf Funeral Home and services will be held there Saturday at 2 p.m. The Rev. A. J. Smith of St. Mary’s Episcopal church will officiate, and interment will be in Blair cemetery.

Former mayor of Blair and for years prior to his retirement a police judge and justice of the peace, Mr. Chambers also had been in the real estate and insurance business in other years, and had been an officer in the Blair Building & Loan association. He was at work daily at the Building & Loan office in the Matthiesen building until just over a year ago.

Native Nebraskan

Mr. Chambers was a pioneer native Nebraskan. He was born Feb. 18, 1859, at Peru. He and Gertrude E. Beale, also a native of Nebraska, were married Sept. 1, 1837. The Chambers family came to Blair in 1896, Mr. Chambers as local depot agent for the North Western railway. Abandoning this post later he entered business here. For many years he was associated with the late George Riker in the insurance and real estate firm of Riker & Chambers, and 1924 he became the sole owner of the business.

Until death of Mrs. Chambers on Jan. 2, 1930, the Chambers family home was at 63 west Grant street. Since that time Mr. Chambers had resided with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Deets.

Surviving the aged Blair man are two children, Mrs. Deets (Nona) and Lloyd Chambers, both of Blair. There are three grandchildren, Bill Chambers of New York, Mrs. Harold Johnson (Dorothy Deets) of Fremont and Mrs. Ralph K. Patton (Delores Deets) of Blair. Also surviving are two great-grandchildren, Gail Ronda Johnson and Gilbert Ross Johnson.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~