Zoe was the only one in her family that didn’t take up education as a career, although she did teach at least one year in Pierce, Nebraska. Her interest in business led her to a secretary-stenographer school in Omaha, then a bold move for a woman to make.

After graduation she secured a job at Standard Sugar Beet company of Leavitt, Nebraska where she met her husband-to-be, Jacob Ummel, a fellow stenographer.

Three months after their marriage on May 7, 1905, Jacob was transferred to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska and the following year he quit his job in favor of a bookkeeping position for the United States Bureau of Reclamation in western Nebraska. His belief in the new country under irrigation led him into a partnership with his father-in-law, William W. Quivey, to develop a small ranch.

In 1924 the Ummels moved to Denver due to a promotion and then to Seattle, Washington in 1926 where Jacob was in charge of purchasing for the Alaska and Pacific Northwest District of the Bureau of Reclamation.

Jacob retired in 1942 and died 20 years later. Zoe died in 1952 and both bodies are interred in the Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, Seattle, Washington.

The Ummels had five children. Gerald Quivey worked as an accountant for Shell Oil company, then Boeing Aircraft, later becoming involved as a contract negotiator for Boeing. Ruth died in infancy. Paul Herald died at the age of 14. Jean Elizabeth married Gordon Millbank in 1939, a Boeing engineer. She was a high school teacher. Robert Phillip worked for Boeing since high school graduation and ended up as a program manager for that firm.

Received from Michael Wilson of Salt Lake City, Utah on 12 March 1997