JOHN SCHUMACHER, b 12 Mar 1855

SCHUMACHER, ENTRENGER, THILL, STREFF, TILMAN, GRAFF

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 11/13/2004 at 12:17:08

John Schumacher is an enterprising merchant of La Motte, a dealer in boots, shoes and harness, and he is also "mine host" of the La Motte House. He is managing his business with excellent judgment, and so as to reap good profit from both store and hotel. He was born in the village of Waldbredimus, Luxemburg, Germany, March 12, 1855, to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Entrenger) Schumacher, natives of the same place. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a farmer and a life-long resident of that part of Germany. The father of our subject was an inn-keeper, and also carried on farming, owning a small farm. In 1866, at the age of forty-seven years, while yet in life's prime and vigor, he closed his eyes in death, and his faithful wife quickly followed him to the grave, dying in the same week. Six children were thus deprived of the loving care of a kind father and tender mother, as follows: Susie, living in Luxemburg; John, our subject; Nicholas, living in Luxemburg; John B. and Annie live in Waldbredimus, Luxemburg; John, in Cottonville, this county.

Our subject was about ten years old when his parents died, and he went to live with his uncle, Nicholas Thill, a farmer. He was an independent, self-reliant youth, and in the spring of 1872, when only sixteen years old, he resolved to try life for himself in the United States of America, and embarking from Havre in the steamer "Algena," ten days later found himself in New York City. From there he went directly to Manitowoc, Wis., where he stayed with an uncle, and attended school the first winter, and, being an apt scholar and a good linguist, he became very proficient in the use of the English language. He subsequently worked on a farm near the city over two and a half years, and then came to Bellevue, and from thence to Tete Des Morts, where he found employment at grubbing. He returned to Bellevue later and apprenticed himself to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he followed there one year. After that we again hear of him in Tete Des Morts, as in the employ of N. Siren, for a period of four years. In the fall of 1880 he moved to La Motte, bought a desirable lot, put up a residence, and established himself at his trade of shoemaker, continuing at that until 1882. In that year he bought out Nicholas Hoffman in the hotel business, which he has since carried out very successfully keeping a first-class house of entertainment. His hotel building occupies a half block in a good locality, is 30x48 feet in dimensions, is two stories in height, and is well fitted up. He also engages in shoe-making, and has a store in which he keeps a stock of ready-made boots and shoes, having the only exclusive boot and shoe store in the town, and he also deals in harness.

Mr. Schumacher has been twice married. He was first wedded at St. Donatus' Church at Tete Des Morts, in 1880, to Miss Catherine Streff, a native of that township. In 1883 the young wife was taken from her happy home by death, leaving one child as the fruit of her marriage, John Peter. Mr. Schumacher's marriage to his present wife, formerly Miss Lena Tilman, was solemnized in St. Lawrence's cathedral in Otter Creek Township, in February, 1884, and their union has been blessed to them by the birth of three children - Nickie, Philip, and Peter.

Mrs. Schumacher is a native of this State, and was born in Dubuque, Jan. 14, 1862. She was educated in the city schools, and remained at home with her parents until her marriage. She is a daughter of the late Philip Tilman and his wife Regina Graff, the latter of whom is still living. Her maternal grandfather, Mathias Graff, was a native of Luxemburg, Germany, where he was engaged in the manufacture of nails. He finally came to America and lived with his children until his death. The parents of our subject were likewise natives of that part of Germany, and her father was engaged in carpentering until he emigrated to America with his family and settled in Dubuque, where he resumed his trade. He subsequently removed to Otter Creek Township, where he purchased eighty acres of farming land and devoted himself to agriculture until death closed his useful career. To him and his wife were born six children - Lena, Kate, Mary, Theresa, John, and Michael.

Although of foreign birth, the most important part of the life of our subject has been passed in the United States. He is thoroughly imbued with republican principles, and is one of La Motte's most reliable citizens. He has mingled in the public life of this community and taken part in the administration of its affairs, was a member of the Town Council one year, and has served on the Petit Jury. He is a man of high Christian principles, and is a prominent member of St. Theresa's Catholic Church. In politics he is an unswerving supporter of the Democratic party.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)