Schumann, August C.

SCHUMANN, SCHAEFER, WERNER, GARREGAN, GETTINGS, LANZ

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/20/2009 at 10:52:40

Schumann, August C.

Endowed with a liberal share of good common sense and possessing sound judgment, backed by a well founded purpose to succeed, August C. Schumann, farmer, of Mariposa Township, Jasper County, has labored with the object primarily in view of making a good home for himself and family and acquiring a competency for his declining years. This laudable desire is being realized, and he is in what we sometimes call "easy circumstances," with a sufficient surplus for the proverbial "rainy day," which sooner or later comes to every individual, and which, when not provided for results in at least much inconvenience and unhappiness if not downright suffering. It is perhaps possible for every able bodied young man to prepare against such a time, but some, instead of doing so, trust to luck, which is an elusive and capricious thing, and so, believing in the optimism of the future, they spend all on the present. Mr. Schumann, it seems, has been wiser and his prudence has urged him to pursue a different course, which, all contemplative minds will agree, is the wiser, and therefore his example and that of his worthy father before him as well, are to be commended to the younger readers of this work whose destinies are yet matters for future years to determine and who are hesitating at the parting of the ways, apparently unable to determine which course it were better to pursue.

Mr. August C. Schumann was born in Mariposa Township, Jasper County, Iowa, on May 10, 1868. He is the son of Peter Chris Schumann and Christina R. (Schaefer) Schumann, the father born in Roden, duchy of Waldeck, Germany, on December 18, 1823, and the mother was born in the city of Goeppingen in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on January 28, 1838. Peter C. Schumann grew up in Germany and there received his education and learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed with much success. In 1854 he was united in marriage with Henrietta Mueller, and in 1856 they emigrated to the United States, the trip being a tedious one, as such trips went in those days of slow-sailing vessels and few railroads. They came on to Muscatine County, Iowa, and there decided to make their future home, consequently renting a farm, but in 1859 he moved to Scott County, this state, and there his wife died. In September 1867, Mr. Schumann moved to Jasper County, and on October 3d of that year he was united in marriage with Christina R. Schaefer, mother of the subject. She was the mother of one son, Otto F., who has since borne the name of Schumann.

Upon arriving in Jasper County, Peter C. Schumann purchased eighty acres of land in section 29, Mariposa Township. Here he at once began to prosper for he had found a favorable locality and he added to his original purchase from time to time until he became the owner of four hundred and forty acres, one hundred and twenty acres of which was in Marshall County. It was all valuable and desirable land and he farmed on an extensive scale, keeping his land well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He became one of the leading agriculturists in his community and was well known and influential, always evincing his desire to see the same grow and aiding in its progress in every way possible. Politically, he was a Democrat and he served his district as school director. He was baptized, confirmed and reared in the Lutheran Church, from whose faith he did not depart, liberally supporting the congregation in his vicinity. His second wife, the mother of the subject, passed to her reward on April 22, 1885, and the elder Schumann was again married, his last wife, who still lives, being Barbara Werner.

To Peter C. Schumann and his second wife were born the following children: August C., of this sketch, is the eldest; Gustav is living at Albion, Iowa; Mrs. Amelia Garregan lives in Grinnell, Iowa; Albert is a resident of Marshall County; Christian is living in North Dakota. Fred Schumann was born to Peter C. Schumann and his third wife. In 1903 the father of the subject moved to Laurel, Iowa, and retired from active life, and there his death occurred on February 18, 1909.

August C. Schumann grew up on the farm and assisted with the general work about the place and he has made this his life work. He had the advantages of a good common school education, having attended the schools of districts Nos. 1 and 4, Mariposa Township, Jasper County. He was only nine years old when he began driving a team for his father on the farm and when twenty-two years old he worked by the month for a year, then rented a farm for four years and thereby got a start. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Mariposa Township, where he still resides. This he has greatly improved and kept well tilled, so that it ranks with the best in the community. In connection with general farming he raises some good livestock of various grades. In 1906 he erected an attractive, commodious and convenient dwelling, substantial barns and other convenient buildings. Everything about his place denotes thrift and good management.

Politically, Mr. Schumann is a Democrat and he has long manifested an abiding interest in the affairs of his Township and County. He has served his community as Township clerk for two terms.

Mr. Schumann was married on December 17, 1890, to May E. Lanz, who was born in Scott County, Iowa, on March 11, 1873, the daughter of Herman and Hattie (Gettings) Lanz, who came to Jasper County from Scott County. Mrs. Schumann's father was of German descent, while her mother was of English extraction. To the subject and wife have been born three children, namely: Lee H., born March 25, 1892; Verne, born April 1, 1897, died March 23, 1900; Mamie, born December 31, 1900. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 892.