George H. Schuster 1818-1893

SCHUSTER MARITZ

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/10/2012 at 17:33:03

28 October 1893

An Old Sioux City Pioneer Passed Away Yesterday

George H. Schuster died at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon at the residence of his son in law, C. M. Swan. Mr. Schuster is one of Sioux City’s best known citizens, having lived here since 1857.

He leaves four daughters, Mesdames E.G. Thompkins, J. H. Sloan, C.M. Swan and A.H. Gould. With the exception of the latter who lives in Memphis, Tenn., all are resident of Sioux City.

George Henry Schuster was born on February 28, 1818, at Karistadt. Rhenish Havaqris, Germany. He was educated in that town and on reaching his majority entered business as a grocer. He also accepted a position as clerk in a wholesale grocery home in the same place and acted in this capacity and as a traveling salesman for the same house until called on to serve in the German army.

After thirty days service he secured a substitute and preferring to leave home for a time took passage for Africa in 1844. The French were at this time at war with the North African states and joining their army Schuster served under Marshall McMahon until 1849. He then returned to Germany when the revolution was in progress. He acted with the revolutionary forces in the capacity of a major.

Being wounded he was taken to a French hospital. Here he was notified that owning to the part he had taken in the revolution his return to German territory was prohibited. He accordingly came to America and settled in St. Louis where he engaged in the fancy goods business. Here he married Madeline Maritz in 1855.

In 1857 he closed out his business in St Louis and came to Sioux City, opening a general store with F. Buckrucker, and afterward with George Marion. The building occupied by this firm was burned in 1859 and the building still standing at 221 Pearl Street was erected in its place. In 1882 he retired from business. Since then he has engaged in local politics and has filed the position of alderman ands school director as well as several offices of less importance. His wife survives him.

His only son William L. Schuster, is in the employ of the Smith-McCord Dry Goods Company at Kansas City. He arrived in the city this morning to be present at his father’s funeral, which will take place at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.