JOHN SCHILD
— The late John Schild, who was one of the honored residents of Benton
county, was a native of Germany. He was born October 1, 1835, in
Detmold, Lippe, and in 1845, when he was ten years of age, he was
brought by his parents to America. They settled near Freeport,
Illinois, where they remained seven years, at the end of which time a
desire for a home further west brought them to Iowa, They made the
journey across the country with ox teams, Benton county their objective
point, and here on section 5, Iowa township, John Schild, Sr., the
father of the subject of this sketch, entered one hundred and sixty
acres of land. On this place, which he assisted his father in improving
and cultivation, John Schild, Jr. grew to manhood. He received eighty
acres of land from his father and in time owned five hundred and twenty
acres which he developed into a fine farm and on which he erected a
modern home and other substantial buildings. In the early days he was
one of a party of men who erected the first log house on the present
site of Belle Plaine. At that time Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and
Muscatine were the nearest market points.
Here in this pioneer settlement he met and married Miss Dorothy Body,
who was a native of the town in which he was born, the date of her
birth being September 15, 1835. To John Schild and his wife were given
ten children, eight of whom are now living. In the rearing of their
large family, they experienced many of the privations incident to life
in a newly settled district. These various difficulties, however, they
bravely met and surmounted, and in time well earned success was theirs.
Here Mr. Schild died January 18, 1909, and in his death the community
sustained the loss of a worthy and honored citizen. He was a member of
the Evangelical church, and, politically, was an Independent. His widow
is still living on the home farm, which her son, Henry J., conducts.
Henry J. Schild was born February 28, 1863, on the farm where he now
lives. He has one hundred and twenty acres in his own name, which he
has farmed for fifteen years, and for a number of years has also had
charge of the home place, his modern methods and successful handling of
the farm being evidenced by its general appearance of thrift.
Politically, Mr. Schild is a Republican.
Picture of John and Dorothy Schild
