Schemmer, Henry 1854-1932 and Catherine Kramer Family

SCHEMMER, KRAMER, MAIENGELKAMP, BELKE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2021 at 16:57:36

Henry Schemmer 1854-1932 and Catherine Kramer Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. Story on pages 50 and 51. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

Henry Schemmer and wife, Catherine, and two sons, Albert and John, came to Rock Valley in 1881 from Loretta, Tennessee. He opened a wagon shop and blacksmith shop on the corner where the post office is now located. He continued in that business until he left for California in the year 1912. His wife died there two years later. Henry returned to Rock Valley in the year 1930 and died here in 1932. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

After they came to Rock Valley in 1881, five other children were born to them, namely, Ben, Kate, Emma, Rose, and Frank. During his life in Rock Valley, Mr. Schemmer was very active in all public affairs and served as mayor of Rock Valley for four terms. During his terms in office, the gas street lights were installed in the town, and his son Albert was the first “lamp lighter” in the town, it being his duty to light the street lights each evening. To perform his duties Al drove a horse hitched to a cart in which Al rode from light to light. He used a “torch-like-affair” to do the lighting.

Mr. Schemmer was one of the original members of St. Mary’s Catholic parish of Rock Valley.

The Henry Schemmer residence was at 1610 Main, the site later of the parsonage of the Netherlands Reformed Church. The house just north at 1616 Main was built by and was the residence of Henry’s son, Ben. Another Rock Valley residence also referred to as “The Schemmer House” is at 1701 17th Street, which was the residence of Henry’s son, Al and his family for many years. Al’s daughter, Mrs. Clarence Keegan, and her husband live there at the present time.

Henry’s four sons became early Rock Valley businessmen; Al was in the hardware business; John was a druggist, Ben joined his father in the blacksmith trade, and Frank was a barber. His daughter, Emma, married Charley Dischler, the son of San Dischler. Charley was a very talented and well-known band man in Rock Valley’s earlier days.

Two of Henry’s granddaughters, Mrs. Clarence Keegan, and Mrs. Marty Cullinan, are presently living in Rock Valley. Also in the community is a great granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Richter, and six great great grandchildren, Mark, Stephen, Mary, Margaret, Gregory, and Timothy Richter.

( Above - A revision of the 1955 history written by Henry’s grandson, Clarence Schemmer, deceased)

ST. MARYS CATHOLIC Church Book page 154 and 155. has a slightly different version of the family history as follows:
Henry Schemmer Family
Henry Schemmer was born in February of 1856 in Wisconsin. His family moved to Loretto Tennessee. He married Catherine Kramer there and they had two sons, Albert and John. . In 1881, the family moved to Rock Valley, where he opened a blacksmith and wagon Shop where the post office now stands,. It faced south where the parking lot is.
After they came to Rock Valley , other Children were born to them, Bernard, Kate, Emma, Rose and Frank.
Mr. Schemmer was active in public affairs; He was on the school board of the public school and was mayor for four terms. During his terms in office, the first street lights were installed in town. They were gas lights. He was one of the original members of St. Mary’s Parish. The schemer residence was at 1610 Main Street, where the parking lot of the Netherlands’ Reformed church is. The house at 1616 Main was built by Henry’s son Bernard. It is now Agape Home for Hope Haven.
Catherine Schemmer born 8 Dec 1855 died 12 Jul 1914 buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery Rock Valley IA.
Children:
1.Albert Schemmer was the oldest child of Henry and Catherine Schemmer born in Loretto, Tennessee in July of 1876. The family came to Rock Valley in 1881 and lived at 1616 Man Street. In 1900 he married Katie Richter in St. Mary’s Church. They had twelve children. Clarence, Elvira, Walter, Norbert, Lunetta, Oliver, Evelyn, Viola, Catherine, Margaret, Arthur and Agnes.
2.John Schemmer born 1 Jun 1878 Loretto Tennessee, was a druggist in Rock Valley. He married Kae Aurit and moved to Chicago. He died 10 Mar 1951 Chicago, IL.
3. Bernard Joseph Schemmer born 3 May 1880 Loretto, Tennessee, died 16 May 1934 Rock Valley, Iowa Married Mary Angeline Fahey, they had at least one child.
4.Emma Schemmer born 19 Apr 1882 Rock Valley IA, died 4 Feb 1961 Santa Clare California, married Charels Dishler and six children were born to them. Eventually they moved to California.
5.Catherine ‘Kate’ Schemmer born 15 Jul 1884 Rock Valley, died 17 Feb 1920 Mitchell S. D., married Michael Streit and moved to South Dakota. Six children were born to them. When the last child was born, Kate died and a little later the baby died. They are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
6. Rose Schemmer born 31 Aug 1887 Rock Valley IA, died 18 Feb 1982 Los Angeles CA married Thomas Mc Grath and they moved to California and at this writing is still living. They had at least two children.
7. Francis born 8 Dec 1890 IA died 8 Feb 1902 IA.
8. Baby Girl Schemmer 1893-1893.
9. Infant baby….
Henry’s wife Catherine died in California and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Mr. Schemmer returned to Rock Valley in 1930 and lived with his son Albert. He opened a woodworking shop over the hardware store. He made a small cedar cheat, doll bads, baby cribs and many small items. He made the crucifix from a cactus root and orange wood that is in the church basement. Jerome Haas made the shrine it is in.
He belonged to the Third Order of Saint Francis. He went to daily Mass and often served the priest until he died in 1932.

(A few researched notes from family information on ancestry.com added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.
Parents of Henry Schemmer – Heinrich Schemmer 1812-1883 and Elizabeth Maiengelkamp 1814-1866. Parents of Catherine Kramer were John William Kramer 1828-1903 and Annetta Wilhelmina Belke 1826-1912

OBITUARY OF HENRY SCHEMMER
HENRY SCHEMMER MEETS ACCIDENTAL DEATH
The sudden and tragic death of Henry Schemmer last Friday evening was a great shock to his many friends in this community, as well as in other places where he was known. Mr. Schemmer had been in his shop that evening until shortly before nine o'clock and then left for his home at A.F. Schemmer's. Finding no one at home there, he started out again, presumably to call at the home of Mrs. Dischler. He was crossing the street near the B. J. Schemmer home when the accident occurred. There were two cars coming from opposite directions, one coming from the north and the other from the south. The car coming from the north was driven by Gerrit Vugteveen, who was so blinded by the bright lights from the other car that he could not see Mr. Schemmer until he was right upon him. A part of the hinge of the car door struck Mr. Schemmer on the head, killing him almost instantly. No blame for the accident is attached to Mr. Vugteveen, It was clearly unavoidable. The identity of the driver of the other car is not known. He did not stop and probably did not know that an accident had occurred.
Mr. Schemmer was taken to the home of his son, B. J. Schemmer, near where the accident occurred, and a doctor was summoned, but he had passed away when the doctor arrived.
Mr. Schemmer was one of the pioneer residents of Rock Valley. He came here more than fifty years ago and followed the trade of blacksmith and wood worker, and conducted a machine shop here for a number of years.
Mr. Schemmer took active part in the affairs of the community. He held the office of mayor of Rock Valley for four terms, his first term starting in 1894. He also held other offices of trust in the community. Mr. Schemmer was a man who was highly esteemed and admired by all who knew him, a man of unassuming manners and a kind and genial disposition.
In his later years Mr. Schemmer conducted a work shop above the Schemmer hardware store, more for personal pleasure than for profit. He spent his time in this shop making ornaments and curios of various kinds, and he loved to have his friends call on him there, and he took a keen delight in showing them the different articles he had made.
Mr. Schemmer did not have a known enemy in the world. Such a man as he could only be loved and admired.
Mr. Schemmer was born February 13, 1854, at Burlington, Wisconsin, where he grew to young manhood. At the age of seventeen years, he went with his father and brothers to Loretta, Tennessee. His mother died when he was nine years old. He remained at Loretta about nine years. He was married there on January 26, 1875, to Catherine Kramer. Five years later he moved back to Burlington, Wis., and after a year's residence there, he came with his family to Rock Valley in 1881, where they resided until 1912, and then Mr. and Mrs. Schemmer moved to California, where Mr. Schemmer lived until about three years ago, and then returned to Rock Valley where he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Schemmer died July 12, 1914.
Mr. Schemmer is survived by three sons, Albert and Ben, of Rock Valley; John of Chicago; and two daughters, Mrs. Emma Dischler, Taft, California; and Mrs. Rose McGrath of Los Angeles, Calif. One daughter, Mrs. Catherine Streit died in 1920 and one son, Frank, died about thirty years ago.
Funeral services were held from St. Mary's church in Rock Valley at nine o'clock Monday morning. The services were largely attended by sympathizing friends. Among the relatives from a distance who attended the services were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schemmer, Bonesteal, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ernest, O'Neil, Neb.; Mrs. Leo Nolan and son, Jackie, Minneapolis; P. D. Kelly, Mankato, Minn.; Jos. Sandschule and daughter, Leona, of Bancroft, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Shelby Keeso, Pipestone, Minn.; E. H. Richter, Madison, S.D.; George Fahey and grand-daughter, Betty, of Iowa City.
Source: Rock Valley Bee, October 21, 1932.

OBITUARY OF MRS. H. SCHEMMER
Rock Valley Bee of July 17, 1914
Mrs. Henry Schemmer passed away at a hospital at Savannah, Missouri, Sunday morning, July 12th, after an illness of several months, her death being caused by a cancer. A few weeks ago Mrs. Schemmer was removed from her home in Los Angeles, California, to Savannah in hopes that specialists there might give her some relief, and for a time there was strong hopes of her recovery, but she was taken suddenly worse Saturday and death came to relieve her suffering. All that medical skill could do for her was done, but they could not stop the ravages of this dread disease.
The subject of this sketch was born at Westphalia, Mich., on the 8th day of December, 1856, and was at the time of her death fifty-seven years, seven months and four days old. Her early life was spent in the vicinity where she was born. At the age of fifteen with her parents she went to Loretto, Tenn., where she grew to womanhood. She was united in marriage with Henry Schemmer January 28th, 1874. This union was blessed with nine children. Two died in infancy and one son, Frank, died at the age of eleven years. The children living are: Albert, John and Ben, and Mrs. M. Streit, Mrs. C. P. Dischler, and Miss Rose.
Over thirty-two years ago Mr. and Mrs. Schemmer moved from Tennessee to Burlington, Wis., where they lived a short time and then came to Rock Valley where they resided over thirty years. Not quite two years ago they moved to Los Angeles, California.
The remains of Mrs. Schemmer arrived here Tuesday, being accompanied by Mr. Schemmer, and A. F. and B. J. Schemmer who were called to Savannah by a message from their father Saturday. The deceased was a woman who was highly respected by all who knew her. She was a splendid woman and her death is a sad blow to the bereaved relatives, and also to many friends.
Besides her husband and children she leaves to mourn one brother in Ohio, two sisters at Loretto, Tenn., and one sister in Rock Valley, Mrs. Thos. Hellstern. Funeral services were held from St. Mary's church in this city Thursday forenoon. The services were largely attended and many beautiful floral tributes were in evidence as tokens of respect and love to the departed. The remains were taken to the Catholic cemetery southeast of town for burial. The bereaved relatives have the sincere sympathy of many friends in their time of sorrow.
Source: Rock Valley Bee, July 17, 1914.
(Her husband's obituary, Rock Valley Bee, Oct. 21, 1932, gives her name as Catherine Kramer and their marriage date as January 26, 1875.)