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That this is the land of opportunities for the sons of all nations is evident in the life record of Herman Bonderer, a native of Switzerland, who came to Livingston county in 1882 and whose efforts along agricultural lines have been attended with success to such a degree that he today owns a valuable farm of one hundred and forty rich and bearing acres on sections 17 and 8, adjoining Utica. Herman Bonderer crossed the Atlantic in May, 1882, coming from the Canton St. Gallen, Switzerland. His birth occurred at Vattis, September 8, 1851. His parents were August and Ursula (Yager) Bonderer, both of whom spent all their lives in their native country and are buried at the Vattis cemetery. He received his education in the excellent schools of his native country and left school at the age of fifteen years. He then became connected with one of the principal manufactures of the

little land of the Alps - the making of cheese and butter - and was so occupied until he came to this country, where he found employment along the same line, using the valuable experience which he had

gained in his native land. By industry and thrift he had succeeded in saving a sufficient sum of money in the old country, to enable him to purchase eighty-five acres of his present property in 1883, and he began to engage thereon in mixed farming, raising principally corn and hay, which he fed to his cattle. Gradually he extended his activities and engaged in the manufacture of cider, also operated a corn grinder and ran a sawmill. He added to his farm and as the years have passed he has brought his land to a high state of cultivation and by his progressive spirit and systematic methods, and careful selection and rotation of crops, has improved his property to such an extent that today it is considered one of the most valuable in this locality. He has made extensive improvements, erecting such buildings as were necessary, and his farm bespeaks careful management and prosperity.

Mr. Bonderer married in Utica, Missouri, on May 21, 1885, Miss Annie Meier, a daughter of Andreas and Lucia (Lotsher) Meier, both natives of Switzerland who never left that country, and are both deceased and buried at Schiers, Canton Graubuenden, in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Bonderer were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living: Marie, who assists her mother in the household; Herman, Jr., who helps his father in the operation of the farm; Theodore, who teaches in the public schools of Utica; Betty, who is employed as clerk in a general store in that city; Anthony and Josephine, attending school; August, who passed away in 1887, in infancy; and Louisa, who died in 1888 while quite young. The two last named are both buried in Chillicothe.

The political affiliations of Mr. Bonderer are with the democratic party. Although he has never aspired to public office, he takes an interest in public affairs and especially in the growth and development of this section, in particular in relation to agriculture. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, which services they attend. Mr. Bonderer, by his industry and energy, has found substantial reward in this country, to which be turned for such opportunities as his native land could not give him. From year to year he has advanced and by husbanding his resources and earnings has attained to an important position among the agricul turists of this section and has not only attained individual success but through his progressive methods has been constructive in the development of agriculture in general. From morn till night he has daily labored to reach the goal and finds today his reward in having attained that which he set out to encompass.

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