Grace Valeria Moyle Skaer

is honored with a Brick from Carolyn Swain Skaer.

Grace Valeria Moyle Skaer, a member of a pioneer Augusta, KS family, was born in that city on August 20, 1874. Her father, Henry Moyle, following his Civil War military service of over four years in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, homesteaded at Augusta following his army discharge. He became an influential businessman and philanthropist and was elected Mayor of Augusta seven times. Mrs. Skaer's mother, Josephine Saunders, arrived in that city with her parents by prairie schooner on Christmas Day, 1869.

Mrs. Skaer attended the Augusta schools with her future-to-be husband, Arthur W. Skaer Sr. The latter's family had arrived in Augusta in the early 1870's. The two graduated from high school in 1895, attended Emporia Normal, now Emporia State University. They married shortly thereafter and reared their six children through the Augusta school system and on to college. Family members to the fifth generation are presently living in Augusta.

Mrs. Skaer was a member of the Twentieth Century Club and the Eastern Star. She was a dearly beloved person not only to her family, but also to the entire citizenry of that city, as evidenced by the standing room only attendance at her services subsequent to her death at the age of 94 on February 15, 1969.

Submitted by Arthur Skaer Jr.

September 18, 1998