Joseph Schaefer, b. 19 Mar 1846

SCHAEFER, SAHLIN, KRAMPE, RICESTOPER, KILBURG

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 8/25/2011 at 19:53:44

History of Jackson County Iowa, Volume 2, by James Whitcomb Ellis, 1910.
Biographical Sketches

JOSEPH SCHAEFER.

For the greater part of four decades Joseph Schaefer has been a factor in the agricultural and stock-raising interests of Jackson county and now owns and operates a farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres on section 19, Washington township. He is one of the many sturdy sons Germany has contributed to the citizenship of this country, his birth having occurred in the village of Eltos, March 19, 1846. His father, Jacob Schaefer, was also a native of the same place and was there engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1874. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eva Sahlin, was born in Neudorf, Germany, and spent her entire life in the old country. Her death occurred when she was fifty-seven years of age. Three of her sons sought homes in America, the others being Louis, who died in Marcus, Cherokee county, Iowa; and George, who is a resident of Clinton county, this state.

Reared in the country of his birth, Joseph Schaefer received a good education in its public schools and upon putting aside his text-books learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed for about six years. In the meantime, however, reports of the opportunities of the new world had reached his ears, and at the age of twenty-two he decided to emigrate to the United States to avail himself of them. After landing upon our shores he worked in Rochester, New York, for three months and then came west as far as Galena, Illinois, whence he crossed the river to Tete des Morts township, Jackson county, Iowa. There he worked for others until 1873, when he married and rented a farm of two hundred acres, cultivating it for three years. He then bought a place of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he devoted his time and energies until 1880, when he sold it and removed to Washington township, renting a farm of three hundred and forty acres for two years. He then purchased a house and lot in Spragueville, Van Buren township, and after residing there for eleven years bought four hundred and fifty-six acres on sections 19, 29 and 30, Washington township, a part of the property, however, lying in Jackson township. Later he gave one hundred and sixty acres to his oldest son, and some of the land was taken off by a road, so that he now has two hundred and fifty-five acres in the home farm. He erected all the new buildings which are upon the place and in 1905 built the house, the improvements indicating his progressive spirit and the careful supervision of his interests. In addition to raising grain Mr. Schaefer also raises and feeds Hereford cattle, Poland China, hogs, a few colts and some sheep and has found this branch of his business a profitable one.

In Bellevue, September 23, 1873, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Schaefer and Miss Margaret Krampe, a daughter of Albert and Mary (Ricestoper) Krampe, residents of Bellevue township, and unto them have been born nine children, as follows: John, a farmer of Washington township; Edith, (Eva) who is the wife of August Kilburg, also a resident of that township; Louis, who is on the police force of St. Louis, Missouri; Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Kilburg, of Washington township; Joseph, who is twenty-five years of age and lives in Oklahoma; George, who is twenty-three and is still at home; and Katherine, Margaret and Mary A., who are twenty, eighteen and fifteen years of age, respectively, and are likewise at home.

The family are members of the Catholic church of New Spring Brook and actively and helpfully interested in its work. When he became a naturalized citizen, Mr. Schaefer found expression for his political views in the principles of the democratic party and has since given to it his unfaltering support. He is an interested and well informed spectator of events, but does not aspire to office, feeling that his private affairs demand his entire attention. He has managed these carefully and well, and the substantial return he has gained from his labors places him among the representative citizens of Jackson county.