Printed in a February 1920 edition of the Nemaha County Herald

POOR FARM AT END OF LIFETIME OF INDUSTRY

Peculiar Experience of Sam Kroll, The Oldest Clothing Clerk in County Who Never Had a Salary, and Whose Habits and Abilities Were Good—Was Born in Denmark

For forty years Sam Kroll worked as a clothing salesman in this county, practically without wages, and at the age of seventy-seven years he has at last found a home at the Nemaha county poor-farm.

He was taken to that institution Monday by deputy Sheriff Flau, and when he left he had been provided with a lot of necessaries and some luxuries by merchants doing business in the south part of town, and a number of whom promised to visit him as occasion offers.

Sam was born in Denmark, where he grew to manhood, and where he lost a wife and two children.

Nearly half a century ago he came to this county, locating at Brownville, where he entered the employ of Alexander Robinson, one of the pioneer clothing merchants of the county and worked as a salesman for the latter for about two decades. Sam also clerked in clothing stores at St. Joseph, Mo., Broken Bow, Johnson and Auburn.

During the prime of his life it was always his misfortune to engage his services to some merchant who forgot to fix stipend, and there was some element of character about Sam which made him too bashful to ask for a regular and stated weekly wage.

Practically every man he worked for gave him just enough to keep soul and body together, and it was only at rare intervals that he would have enough extra money to enjoy a luxury or two.

His board and clothing came to him regularly but he had no extra money, and although he was industrious, and had no real bad habits, he never got hold of any money to save and lay by against a rainy day.

He was one of the principal movie fans in the city and enjoyed many free admissions to the theaters here.

Sam, in his earlier years, was a good clothing salesman. He was as trustworthy and as honest as a man could be. He could take care of a store and its stock of goods, as well as the business during the absence of his employer as well as the latter and was frequently called upon to do so, and there is no record that any man lost a cent thereby.

Several years ago he came to Auburn, but he was so advanced in years that his employers were not justified in paying him more than his board and clothes would amount to. About a year ago he lost his regular employment and he was cared for by volunteer subscriptions that were paid by businessmen in the south part of town who knew his record and who respected and sympathized with him. Finally Sam felt that it would be better for him to enter the county poor farm.

He has always dressed neatly and immaculately and despite his age still looks well preserved.

His is a peculiar history in that his life has shown that while the laborer is worthy of his hire, he does not always get it.

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

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