Foppe, John B. 1850-1914 & Catherine Sandschulte Family

FOPPE, SANDSCHULTE, WEH, WIGGLEMAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/7/2021 at 19:42:40

Foppe, John Bernard 1850-1914 and Catherine Sandschulte Family

This story was taken from the “Rock Valley Records and Recollections” book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of a history written for the 1955 Rock Valley history book. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added to determine family data and ancestry.

John B. Foppe was born in Cincinnati Ohio, September 15, 1850, and was sixty-four years old at the time of his death. He is buried in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Rock Valley, Iowa.

At an early age he went with his parents to Millhousen, Indiana where he grew to manhood. When a young man, he went to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, where for a few years he clerked in a dry goods store. This was the beginning of his mercantile career, which culminated as head of Foppe’s Pioneer Store in Rock Valley, a large department store in its day and one of the best of its kind. Later he went to Loretta, Tennessee, where he was united in marriage to Miss Kate Sandschulte. (She was the aunt of Beth and Jo Sandschulte.) They lived there ten years and then came to Rock Valley which became their home for the rest of their lives.

When Mr. Foppe came to Rock Valley, he started a store and continued in that business for over thirty-two years. The town was then in its infancy. Being scarcely known beyond the border of the county. As the town grew, Mr. Foppe’s business and influence grew with it. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He was of a generous and cheerful disposition and always ready to lend a helping hand to any movement for the betterment of his fellow men.

Mr. Foppe’s first store was located in a wooden building where Pember’s Drug Store now stands, next in a building where the north part of the Rock Valley Furniture is now, then across the street to the lot where the Rock valley furniture warehouse is, then to the Bee Hive Building, then to location where Beverly’s is. In 1902, the final move was made to the new building built by Mr. Foppe on the northeast corner of Main and 14th Street, being still known as the Foppe building. The building was occupied by the Foppe Pioneer Store Company until 1955. It was then occupied by Koster’s Market and Arend’s Clothing. After a few years Clayton Arend moved his business to another location and Hein Kosters used the entire building for his grocery business. At the present time the building is occupied by Frank’s Market.

Elizabeth Foppe, daughter of John Foppe, married John Kearns, who was associated with the store for many years. Their son Richard Kearns, now lives in Huron SD.

The Foppe home was at 1723 14th Street, where the Russell Simonsen family now reside.

End of the story for the Rock Valley Book of 1976

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

OBITUARIES of John B. Foppe 1850-1914

Another BIOS type story was found in the
ROCK VALLEY BEE of Jan 1, 1915
OBIT OF John B. Foppe
After a week's sickness with diabetes J.B. Foppe, president of the Foppe Pioneer Store Co., died at his home in Rock Valley Sunday evening. On Saturday a week before his death he was at work in the store as usual and no one suspected that that day would be his last day's work in the store. The following Monday he sent word that he would not be at the store that day. From that time on he became rapidly worse until the final summons came Sunday evening. Almost from the first attack he realized that the end was approaching, and met it with the same courage and fearlessness with which he had met and overcome the difficulties of life.

Mr. Foppe was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1850, and was sixty-four years, three months and twelve days old. At an early age he went with his parents to Millhousen, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. When a young man he went to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, where for a few years he clerked in a drygoods store. This was the beginning of his mercantile career which closed with him at the head of the large department store which he has helped to make one of the best of its kind. Later he went to Loretto, Tennessee, where he was united in marriage to Miss Kate Sandschulte. They lived there ten years and then came to Rock Valley which has been their home since.

This union was blessed with five children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Mrs. C.C. Kemper of Madison, Wis., Mrs. J.V. Hogan of Grand Forks, N.D., and Mrs. J.H. Kearns of Rock Valley, all of whom were at the bedside of their father during his last sickness.

When Mr. Foppe first came to Rock Valley he started a store and continued in that business for over thirty-two years. The town was then in its infancy being scarcely known beyond the borders of the county. As the town grew Mr. Foppe's business and influence grew with it.

He was a man who was highly respected by all who knew him. He was of a generous and cheerful disposition and always ready to lend a helping hand to any movement for the betterment of his fellow men. Although he is gone from among us he will long be remembered and his influence will be felt for many years to come.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. Father O'Reilly were held from St. Mary's Catholic church in Rock Valley of which the deceased was a faithful member. The services were largely attended and many beautiful floral tributes were in evidence as tokens of respect and love to the departed. During the services all the business places in Rock Valley were closed. The bereaved relatives have the sincere sympathy of many friends in their sorrow.

Above from the Rock Valley Bee - Jan 1, 1915

MORE RESEARCH NOTES - Gathered from various sources to validate vitals and ancestry data.

ANCESTRY.com From a report found that was submitted by others listed John Bernard Foppe born Apr 1850 Ohio died 27 Dec 1914 Rock Valley Iowa. Parents were not listed. Wife was Catherine Sandschulte born 23 Jun 1855 Kentucky died 24 Oct 1921 Rock Valley Iowa. Listed were Three daughters Anna Foppe born 19 May 1877 Tennessee died 14 Sep 1970 San Marcos CA , Mary Elizabeth Foppe born 1878 Loretto Tennessee died 25 Dec 1966 Rock Valley IA and Josephine Foppe born 4 Jul 1884 Rock Valley Iowa died 28 Feb 1964 Alameda, California

1850 CENSUS of Cincinnati Ohio lists Clemens Fope age 25 and wife Cath 22, he was in the apparel and accessories store business. (Establishes Catherine as John’s mother)
1860 CENSUS of Marion, Decatur, Indiana lists Clemons Foppe born about 1825 Hanover Germany, a Tailor, wife Catharine 32, Children - Barney (John Bernard) age 9, Catharine age 6, Clemons age 3 and Elizabeth age 1.

1870 CENSUS of Indiana Barney Foppe was born abt 1851 in Ohio to Clemens Foppe and Catharine Foppe had four siblings Elizabeth, Catharine, Clemens and Christena.

1880 CENSUS of Lawence Tennessee lists Bene (John Bernard) Foppie age 29 born about 1850 in Ohio, wife Kate Foppie age 24. He was in the Retail D. G. Merch. Children were Annie 3 and Lizzie 1.

NOTE – Sioux County Obits has a -Foppe, George born 1862 died 1885 first person buried in the cemetery in St. Mary’s cemetery or Rock Valley as recorded in the Sioux Count Iowa cemetery index.
It is assumed he close relative to the Rock Valley’s pioneer store owner John Bernard ‘Bernie’ Foppe 1850-1915. This obit led to next …

ANCESTRY.con Report done by others listed Clement Foppe born 3 Sep 1823 Lengerich Germnay died 18 Jun 1905 Germantown Illinois. He was the son of Johan Herman Bernard Foppe 1763 and Anna Adelheid Weh 1784-1873. Clement’s wife was Catharine 1829-1912) Eleven children listed among them was J. B. Foppe 1850-1914 no mention of a George born 1862. J. B. ‘s info in this report states mother unknown. No further information found on John B. or George Foppe’s background.
Ancestry.com family member trees are submitted by others and not always correct but can supply clues to the vitals of a person.

VARIOUS RECORDS for Catherine Sandschulte
FIND A GRAVE lists Catherine Foppe born 23 Jun 1855 Maysville, Mason County KY died 24 Oct 1921 LosAngeles CA buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery Rock valley IA. Her parents were William Sandschulte and Anna Katharina Sandschulte.

Note: Germany young women often had several ‘first, middle and third first names’ any one of which they could be called at random, Mary Anna Catherine; hence the confusion from one record to another as to the name of the mother.

1860 census of Jackson, Ripley Indiana , Catherine is listed as age 5 born in Kentucky, parents William Sandschulte 37 and Catharine age 33, children John 8, Mary 7, Barney 6, Catherine 5, Theressia 3, and Anna 1. (again conflicting data wife was Mary Anna Wiggleman in report below.)

1870 census has same data as above 1860 census with William wife listed as Chirstena 44, with four additional children Agnes 9, Joseph 7, Frances 2 and William 1 mo. Catherine was 15 years in 1870.

A report on acestry.com done by others, has William M.Sandschulte born 4 Oct 1821 Prussia died 30 Sep 1900 Loretto Tenn. His wife was Maria Anna Wigglemann 1826-1877, marriage 14 Jul 1850 Hamilton Ohio. Their many children included Catherine 1855-1921 (Mrs. John Foppe).

OBITUARY OF Catherine Sandschulte Mrs. John Foppe 1855-1921
Source: Rock Valley Bee (11-4-1921)
Born: June 23, 1855 Died: October 24, 1921
CATHERINE FOPPE-SCHEMMER
Funeral services of Mrs. Catherine Foppe-Schemmer, an account of whose death was given in last weeks Bee, was held at St. Mary’s Church in Rock Valley Saturday forenoon. The services were largely attended by sympathizing friends of the deceased, many coming from a distance to pay their last respects to the departed.
The Catherine Sandschulte was born at Marysville, Kentucky, June 23, 1855 and departed this life at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Los Angeles, California, October 24, 1921, aged sixty-six years, ten months and one day. She had been afflicted with a cancer for some time and had suffered much from the dread disease, and had submitted to operations on different occasions, which afforded her only a temporary relief. She visited here last summer and seemed quite well. She left for her home in California about four weeks before her death, soon after arriving there she submitted to another operation, but in spite of all medical skill could do, she continued to fail until the final summons came and she passed peacefully away to her reward.
She was married to J.B. Foppe at Loretto, Tennessee in 1872. In 1881 they came to Rock Valley where spent the balance of her life with the exception of four years that she lived in California.
Mr. Foppe died in 1911, and she was married again on April 25, 1916 to Henry Schemmer who still survives her. She also leaves to mourn her loss as mother, three daughters: Mrs. J.V. Hogan, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Mrs. J.H. Kearns of Rock Valley, Iowa, and Mrs. Josephine Kemper of Los Angeles, California and three brothers: B. Sandschulte of Rock Valley, Iowa, Jus Sandschulte, Bancroft, Iowa and William Sandschulte, Loretto, Tennessee and two sisters: Mrs. S. Dischler of Rock Valley, and Mrs. Anna Sullentrop of St. Louis, Missouri.
Mrs. Foppe-Schemmer was of a kind and loving disposition. Her life was one of usefulness and sacrifice and her many friends in Rock Valley and vicinity where she spent so many years of her life will long remember her kind words and acts toward them.

If anyone has a picture of the Foppes contact our page coordinator to have it added to this information. The submitter was not able to find one.