John Schoenenberger

DEARDORF, SCHOENENBERGER, TRAVIS, WELCH, WHEELER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/3/2004 at 14:10:33

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

After thirty-seven years of active life, John Schoenenberger is now overseeing the operation of his farm, leaving the actual work mainly to his son. He has gained a handsome competence from arming and stock-raising and has achieved distinction in the political field, having represented his district in the state legislature. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, on the 5th of June, 1850, the oldest of ten children whose parents were Nicholas and Louisa (Tennis) Schoenenberger. The father, a native of Germany, came to the United States with his parents when but fourteen years of age, the family home being established in Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Elizabeth Schoenenberger, resided in that state for a few years, the former being employed on the construction of the first railroad built there. Subsequently the family removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, where the grandparents pass away. In 1855 the parents of our subject removed with their children to the west, and on the 25th of June of that year located in Scott township, this county. The following spring, however, they settled on the Harper farm in Walnut township, containing one hundred and twenty acres, which they acquired and operated. It was subsequently known as the Schoenenberger homestead. The father died there in 1902, and his widow then made her home with her youngest son, Edward D., in Monroe township, where she passed away in 1904.

John Schoenenberger remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, his time in his boyhood and youth being divided between the work of the farm and acquirement of an education. He attended school in district No. 6 and district No. 2, Walnut township, but not being content with the knowledge gained there, continued to read and study at home until he became a well informed man. When twenty-five years old his marriage occurred and he then located on section 5, Walnut township, where he purchased eighty acres of land. After two years he traded it in on his present homestead, which includes three hundred and ten acres of land. He became the owner of five hundred acres, but as his children married and began life for themselves he gave them each a farm, and his own property now comprises three hundred and ten acres. He has always carried on general farming and has also devoted considerable attention to the raising of Jersey hogs and shorthorn and Jersey cattle, feeding about two carloads of cattle annually and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred hogs each year. He has attained gratifying financial prosperity and now rents his farm to his son, Iver Earl Schoenenberger, although he continues to direct its operation to some extent. He is a stockholder and was one of the organizers of the Savings Bank of Peru.

On the 10th on March, 1875, Mr. Schoenenberger was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Travis, a daughter of M. B. and Lavina (Byer) Travis. Mr. and Mrs. Schoenenberger have five children, as follows: Adelaide L., born December 26, 1875, married Emory Nicholson, of Winterset, who has now passed away. To their union was born a daughter, Mary Lavina, who is fourteen years of age. Ralph Travis, born December 13, 1878, married Grace Adelaide Hartsook and they reside in Scott township. Their children are three in number, Kathryn, John and Paul. Walter James, born January 11, 1881, married Cora Jane Welch and is engaged in farming in Scott township. John Guy, born August 27, 1885, is a graduate of the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and is now a veterinary surgeon of Winterset. He married Miss Hazel Wheeler, of Des Moines, Iowa. Iver Earl, born January 31, 1890, is farming in Walnut township. He married Miss Lela Alice Deardorf, of Ohio township, and they have a son, Charley Carl.

Mr. Schoenenberger has consistently voted the democratic ticket since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has been honored with a number of offices of public trust. For four years he served as assessor of Walnut township, for several years was township clerk and trustee, and for eighteen years was school treasurer of his district. In 1906 he was elected to the state legislature on the democratic ticket, although his district is ordinarily republican by a majority of eighteen hundred. He served for two years and fathered some important legislation. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Peru. Both have performed well the duties that lay before them and have contributed in no small degree to the community welfare.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen