George and Katherine Kammer moved from Boone County Nebraska to Keith County in 1909. They and their two small daughters settled on a farm south of Brule. George planted a large grove of trees along the north side of the living area for a windbreak against the cold north winds of winter.Their farm was self-sustaining from the start with a field of alfalfa to feed the cattle and horses and wheat and corn were grown for food and money revenue. Katherine cultivated a large garden of vegetables which were canned and preserved. These preserves were stored in a cellar that was also used for a refuge from storms. The excess foods were sold to folks in Brule. Chickens proved to be a good source of income. Sometimes there were 1000 or more white leghorns in the yard.
As their family increased, they enlarged their house to accommodate their six children, Bessie, Fern, Ruby, George, Margaret and Lola. One son, Paul, died in infancy.
Although farming was very hard work in those days, there were happy times. The entire family looked forward to Saturday nights when they all went into town to shop and meet with friends. The school band entertained from the bandstand in the center of town. People sitting in their cars honked in appreciation after each rendition.
The children obtained their early education at Middle Vail rural school. Grades one through eight were in one room, with nine through twelve in the other room. When the rural school was phased out, the younger children finished their education in the Brule School.
The Kammer family were members of the Congregational Church in Brule. George was superintendent of Sunday School in 1934 and was a member of the church board.
I don't know just what other rural people used as means of refrigeration, but I remember that each winter my dad took the wagon to a little lake near Big Springs. He sawed large squares of ice and brought them home and packed them in straw in the ice cave. That ice was used in our ice box throughout the summer. It was also a great treat to crank up a freezer of ice cream on Sunday nights.There was an irrigation ditch winding west to east through the rural area. Farmers took turns using the water to irrigate their crops and gardens. A man called the "Ditch Rider" kept check so each farmer got his fair turn. If one used the water out of turn he must pay a fine.
They retired from the farm in 1935 and moved into the south part of Brule. Their retirement was shortlived when George suffered a heart attack and died just two years after retiring. Katherine followed his death in 1952.
Only two children remain, Lola Zimmerman in North Bend, Washington, and Margaret Martens, Ft. Worth, Texas.
The Kammer family, in their quiet, Christian way, contributed a great deal to the making of history in the Brule community.