Schindel, Mary 1834 - 1931

SCHINDEL, SCHNEIDER, ROUTER

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/30/2011 at 13:58:25

NOTE: She was called as stated sometimes Maria or Mary.

INDIAN SCARE CAUSES FLIGHT

Floods in Floyd Valley Drive First Settlers From Their Cabins

EARLY DAYS ON CLAIM Mrs. Maria Schindel Lived Nearly a Century

Mrs. Maria Schneider Schindel, Plymouth County's oldest pioneer, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. Nigg, in Merrill, at the ripe old age of 97 years, 3 months and 19 days.

During her long and useful life she enjoyed good health and her death was. due to old age, she having gradually grown weaker during the past few weeks. She passed calmly and peacefully August 3.

Mrs. Schindel was a native of Germany and was born March 15, 1834. She was a daughter of Dietrich and Elizabeth Schneider, the former a farmer and son of Phillip Schneider, who was a farmer and veteran of the German War with Russia in 1813. Her mother was a daughter of John Router.

Dietrich Schneider was born in 1800 and died in 1840 leaving a widow and six children. On May 15, 1853, Maria, or Mary, as he was always called, with her five brothers and widowed mother left their native land with the view of establishing a new home in this, country. They were seventy-five days on the sea, crossing in a sail boat. During that time a furious storm across sea lasting for day, and they feared that they would never reach the new land. Anchor was cast and they live through the experience. They landed in New York in September of that year. For two years they were located near the city of Albany. N. Y., then came west and located in Ogle County, Ill., from where they came to Sioux City In July, 1856, by oxen team.

When the widow Schneider arrived in Sioux City with her children by actual count there was a collection of thirteen huts and shacks, counting every building, they passed by.

Maria Schneider was married in Sioux City to Peter Schindel and a little later they settled in the Floyd valley in section 33, Plymouth.

Early Days on Claim

Mr. Schindel and several other men, including two of his wife's brothers, John and Philip, came up in July, 1856, built cabins and broke prairie, then returned to Sioux City and worked in a saw mill over winter. Next .summer they returned with their families to the Floyd Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Schindel settled In a small cabin l8x20 feet. They were flooded out that first spring when the snow melted and they were rescued by Mrs. Schindel’s brothers after the water had risen to a depth of three feet inside their cabin. That fall they moved to the house three quarters of a mile west in section 33 and it was in this same place that Mrs. Schindel made her home for seventy-four years, until he moved to Merrill three years ago to live with her daughter, Mrs. Nigg. Mrs. Schindel knew what Indian scares meant. Following She Spirit Lake massacre, word came that the Indians were coming down the Floyd Valley and the small German colony, including Mr. and Mrs. Schindel, fled to Sioux City where they stayed about ten days until they felt It was safe to return to their homes.

During the Civil war, Mr. Schindel was drafted out on account of ill health he was rejected for service. Not so long ago six grandsons served in the World War. Mr. Schindel died In 1881. Mrs. Schindel was one of fourteen charter members of the Floyd Evangelical Church which was organized in 1860 by Rev. J. Schreiber. She held her membership there until her death, though the name has been changed to Melbourne. She is the next to last charter member.

Survivors of Mrs. Schindel are nine living children, the eldest of whom is 70 years of age and the youngest 53. Three children died In Infancy. The children are: J. J. and H. H., of Merrill; P. P., of Glendale, Calif.; Chas. H., of Grand Junction, Calif.; John, of Sheldon; William, of Hinton; Mrs. D. O. Schroeder, of Holland, Minn.; Mrs. J. F. Berner and Mrs. H. Nigg, of Merrill, also twenty-four grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

The funeral was held August 4 at Melbourne Evangelical Church with Rev. L. J . U. Smay officiating. Interment was in the Melbourne Cemetery beside her husband. Six grandsons acted as pall bearers.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, August 7, 1931
Le Mars, Iowa