Gustav Sumnick immigrated from Germany and joined the Sooner movement to Oklahoma. When he arrived, he knew he wanted more farm ground, so he moved north to Nebraska. It was there he met Mary Kenneway. Her family of farmers had immigrated from Ireland. When the two married in 1892, they lived on Mary’s family farm and grew it to over 1,100 acres. There, near Waterloo, Neb., where the Platte and the Elkhorn rivers meet, they raised their 11 children.
The Sumnick children — Leo, William, Gustav Jr., John, Francis (Bud), Jack, Hazel, Rose, Helen, Katherine, and Marie — all had a role on the farm. They, like many farm families of the era, raised and slaughtered their own meat, grew corn, alfalfa, prairie hay, oats, wheat and soybeans when they became popular, had a pair of good mules, a substantial vegetable garden, milked a few cows and raised hogs. It was a large operation at the time and was run by six men, none of whom were afraid of work, said Mick Sumnick, John’s son.
In 1932, then-New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, better known as FDR, was campaigning for president and wanted to meet a successful Nebraska farmer. At the time, Nebraska was deep in the clutches of drought but were energized to hear FDR would be visiting Waterloo. A crowd of nearly 1,000 people gathered at the train station to greet him.
THE VISIT ON THE FARM
At the Sumnick farm, though FDR was unable to leave the vehicle due to the polio that had plagued him since 1921. The Sumnicks demonstrated some of their farm equipment and he and Gustav spoke about issues facing farmers. He was also treated to a plate of Mary’s fried chicken, which he enjoyed in the car while Eleanor joined the family in the yard. An article in The New Yorker said the crowd at the Sumnick farm was 8,000 strong. Howard Brubaker, in “Of All Things,” said, “The Sumnicks of Nebraska are one of the few remaining specimens of the prosperous farm family. When they visit the Roosevelts next summer they may be tapped for membership in the Smithsonian.” Though invited, the Sumnicks were unable to visit the White House, but did welcome the president back to Waterloo in 1936.
An article that appeared in TIME Magazine on Oct. 9, 1932, detailed the “sun-bronzed farmer Sumnick, coatless and with suspenders over his blue shirt, greeted Gov. Roosevelt on the elm-shaded lawn before his large, well-built house. He introduced his wife who wore her hair in the pompadour style of 25 years ago, his 11 sons and daughters. “You’ve got a regular Roosevelt family,” remarked T. R.’s fifth cousin, father of five. A chicken dinner, cooking since 5 a.m. was served at tables on the lawn. Smacking over it Gov. Roosevelt told his host: “I’ve eaten a lot of meals since I left home but this is the best yet.” Afterwards he was driven out to inspect barn, hog lot, corn crib, silo, tractor, threshing machine. “Mighty fine! Mighty fine!” the governor repeated. “You know. I’ve lived on a farm for 50 years.” Mrs. Roosevelt gamely climbed barbed-wire fences. At the thresher the entire party was deluged with chaff.”…