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Peter David Nechter
b. December 29, 1846 in Brady, OH
d. March 26, 1914 in Flandreau, SD
Parents:

Father: Joseph Nüchter
Mother: Salmenah Ruch

Family:

Marriage: August 14, 1876 in Leeds, Ontario, Canada
Spouse: Elizabeth Shipman
b. January 10, 1849 in Leeds, Ontario, Canada
d. March 31, 1932 in Pomona, CA

Family History:

In 1892 Peter was a farmer living in Herndon, IA.
According to Donna (Neister) Przecha (December 5, 2001): "Peter's father died when he was 8 years old. His mother married Joseph less than two years later. His daughter, Gail, said she didn't think he had a very happy childhood. He was rejected for military service in the Civil War because of "bad lungs". In 1868, he moved to Marshall Co., Iowa, looking for better and cheaper land and more open space. His son Blaine said he felt Ohio was so highly developed and thickly settled that there was no opportunity for him to get ahead. In the spring of 1869, he came to Guthrie County. In 1871, he settled on a farm in section 15 of Richland Township where he owned 80 acres of land. He also owned 80 acres in section 14. Although he had gone with Mary Maxton, a girl from his hometown in Ohio, he married Elizabeth Shipman whom he met in Iowa where she had gone to teach school. He was very active in local government, serving as township clerk for six years, trustee for five years and school treasurer for eight years. In 1892 or 1893, he moved with his family to a farm in Dell Rapids, S.D. In July, 1892, he and his brother-in-law, Shipman, purchased a 440 acre farm from Silas Trickey, Elizabeth Shipman Neister's half brother, for $5,000. In October, 1892, he purchased the other half of the farm from Silas Trickey. On May 13, 1901, he filed for divorce from Elizabeth, and the final decree was granted on Dec. 6, 1901. He charged her with desertion since she had taken Gail and gone to Pomona, Calif. to live in about 1899. Blaine remained with his father in South Dakota. Elizabeth signed a release in exchange for $1800, dated May 13, 1901. On Oct. 16, 1902, he married Mary J. Maxton at the Palmer House in Chicago, after having first obtained permission from Elizabeth. He had known Mary before he met Elizabeth and may have been engaged to her. Gail was sent back to South Dakota in about 1906 to live with her father since her mother did not approve of her interest in boys. Gail later admitted that she did not like Mary Maxton and did not hesitate to be unpleasant. The marriage to Mary Maxton did not last, but it is not known exactly when they separated or if they were ever divorced. On Sept. 1, 1911, she wrote him a letter stating, "No, Mr. Neister, I do not want to live again as I have lived the last few years." On Feb. 20, 1911, she signed a statement relinquishing claim to all of Peter Neister's estate in return for $3,000. A similar release, but no money, was signed by Peter. He moved from the farm into the town of Dell Rapids in the spring of 1911. In the fall of that year, he purchased a 280 acre farm one mile east of Flandreau, S.D. at a cost of $25,000. On Jan. 20, 1912, he purchased from his son, C. B. Neister, 144 acres. Gail says this was because of the divorce settlement and in some way was to buy out Gail's interest. Gail also said he was very generous in the divorce settlement and in child support. His obituary states he joined the German Methodist Episcopal Church and remained an active member all his life. Gail stated that he didn't mind paying the preacher's salary as long as he didn't have to listen to him. Early records spell his name Nichter and his cousins seemed to use this quite frequently. After he left Ohio, he seemed to prefer the Neister spelling. He died of heart failure at the family home east of Flandreau on Thursday, March 26, 1914, at 5 PM. In his will dated April 19, 1911, he provided for Elizabeth, "former wife and mother of his children". Elizabeth came to Iowa to teach school. She was issued teaching certificates to teach in the state of Iowa on April 24, 1875 (Greene County for six months), Sept. 11, 1875, Greene County for twelve months, Sept. 13, 1875 (Guthrie County for six months), October 2, 1876 (Mrs. Lizzie Neister, Guthrie county for six months) April 3, 1877 (Mrs. Lizzie Neister, Guthrie County for five months) She was a very independent minded lady as indicated by the fact that she asked for and obtained a divorce in 1900. When her son Blaine visited her in 1902, his letter to his father mentions Fred Trickey , Uncle Silas [ Trickey ], Minnie [ Trickey Trickey ]. Henry and Silas Trickey were her half brothers so perhaps she first came to California because they were living there. In her later years she became a Christian Scientist according to Mary Gail Neister Smith, her granddaughter. She died from breast cancer for which she refused an operation. Her daughter said she refused the operation because she was too stubborn but this would be explained by her Christian Scientist beliefs."

Children:

Perley Irwin Neister
b. February 19, 1878 in Richland, IA

Charles Blaine Neister

Mary Abigail Neister
b. June 1, 1890 in Herndon, IA

Family:

Marriage: October 16, 1902 in Chicago, IL
Spouse: Mary Maxton

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Copyright 2001 Richard Joseph Bucknum