Anthony Schoenenberger

FENIMORE, GREER, HIATT, MOON, SCHOENENBERGER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/3/2004 at 13:59:32

Anthony Schoenenberger, deceased, was a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Madison County, and was numbered among the capitalists of the county. He was born on the 27th of November, 1852, a son of Nicholas and Louisa (Tennis) Schoenenberger, who in 1855 settled in this county. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom survive, namely: John and Ed, both of whom are represented elsewhere in this work and both of whom reside in Walnut township; Henry, of Winterset; Lou and Christina, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Ida Tresa, who is living in Union county, this state. Further details concerning the lives of the parents are found in the sketch of John Schoenenberger.

Anthony Schoenenberger received a common-school education and in his youth was trained to agricultural pursuits. At an early age, he began farming for himself and as he was not only energetic and progressive in the cultivation of his land and the care of his stock, but also possessed marked business ability and managed his financial interests ably, he became in time one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen of this county. He resided four miles west of East Peru, in Walnut township, and his farm home was a very attractive one. At his death, which occurred on the 3rd of June, 1910, he left eleven hundred acres of fine land, all in a high state of cultivation and improved with excellent buildings.

Mr. Schoenenberger was twice married, his first wedding being solemnized in Walnut township on the 19th of April, 1881, when Miss Emma Greer, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Greer, became his wife. Mrs. Schoenenberger passed away in 1887. She was the mother of two children: Walker, who is farming in Alberta, Canada, and who married Miss Rose Moon; and Estella, who died when eight months old. On the 25th of September, 1904, Mr. Schoenenberger married Mrs. Rhoda (Fenimore) Hiatt, of East Peru. She is a daughter of William and Martha (Ogburn) Fenimore, the former of Scotch descent and both natives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Fenimore were married in the Hoosier State but removed to Iowa in 1859, locating in Scott township, this county, upon the farm where their son, Anderson Fenimore, now resides. Mr. Fenimore, Sr., was a farmer and stockman by occupation during his active life but is now living retired at Carthage, Missouri, where he removed in 1909. He is eighty-one years of age and still enjoys excellent health and takes an interest in the events in his community and in the world at large. His wife passed away upon the farm in Scott township. Their daughter Rhoda, became the wife of Joseph Hiatt and to this union were born four children, two of whom survive, Eulah and Velma, who reside with their mother and are now attending college at Albany, Missouri. By her marriage to Mr. Schoenenberger she had two children. Frank and Merle, aged respectively eight and seven years, both of whom are attending the East Peru schools. Mrs. Schoenenberger continued to live upon the farm in Walnut township until 1910, when she rented it as well as the other lank and removed to East Peru, where she is now living. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that village and takes a part in its work. She was born in Scott township and has passed her entire life within the borders of this county, where she is widely and favorably known.

Mr. Schoenenberger gave his allegiance to the democratic party but was not active in political affairs as the oversight of his farming and stock-raising activities demanded his entire time and attention. He was not, however, lacking in public spirit but on the contrary participated in many movements that sought the welfare of the community. He was upright and honorable in all of his dealings and many there were who were glad to call him friend.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915."