Jenis Valda Glickardus was born in New York City in 1910. Before age two, he was admitted to the New York Foundling Hospital as James Glickardus. In the autumn of 1912, he traveled by train to Butte, Nebraska, to meet his foster parents, Henry and Mary Sommer. The Sommers named him Albert James Sommer, and adopted him in 1930.
After high school graduation, Albert sold petroleum products in Osmond, Nebraska, and married Dorothy Bolender in 1940. During World War II, he served with the First Infantry Division in Europe. After his military discharge in 1946, the Sommers moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, and Albert worked as a veteran's service officer for Madison County. He died in 1990.
For his journey on the orphan train, James Glickardus (who would become Albert Sommer) wore this numbered armband. The typed identification tag was sewn into his clothing. He also wore these mittens and socks on the train.
NSHS Museum 11534
