John F. Schumacher, the genial proprietor of the Garnavillo Hotel, is a native of Iowa, and was born in Read Township, Clayton County, November 21, 1855. His father, Henry Schumacher, was born in Hanover, Germany, December 1, 1821. He learned the trade of a blacksmith in his native land, and for a number of years worked at that hard, though honest, labor. In 1846 he emigrated to America, landing first in New Orleans, where he remained a short time, but having friends in Iowa, he came to Read Township and located on section 15. Here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, and soon had a comfortable home and as good and well improved a farm as could be found in the township. For almost twenty years, Henry Schumacher and his family remained on this farm, but in 1865 he moved to McGregor, this county, and went in partnership with J.L. Hagensick in the brewery business. He continued in this occupation for one year, and then sold out and bought another farm near Postville, where he remained for a short time. In 1867 he purchased the brewery at Garnavillo. Mr. Schumacher was very successful here, and continued in the business until his death, which occurred in 1881, at the age of sixty-nine years.

Henry Schumacher was married on the 24th of December, 1852, to Miss Margarethe Hagensick, and by this union there were born ten children, seven of whom are living: Mary, the wife of J.H. Tangeman, who is the proprietor of a first-class grocery store in Garnavillo; Christopher W., who married Rozena Thoma and makes his home in Garnavillo; John F., our subject; Maggie, Mrs. Roebken, also of Garnavillo; Amelia, the wife of William Mohreman, also a resident of the same place; Henry, Jr., who married Martha Schulte and lives in Garnavillo, and Bertha, who married Edward TAngeman, and makes her home on a farm in Read Township.

Our subject was married February 25, 1880, to Miss Paulina Brumm, who was born on the 26th of January, 1860, a daughter of William and Carolina (Rechow) Brumm, natives of Germany. They came to America in 1852, and settled in Jefferson Township, this county. The children that gathered around this fireside were six in number. Emil, the first in order of their birth, married Miss Minnie Neiter, and lives in Palo Alto County, Iowa. Emma, the wife of Fritz Neiter, makes her home at Spirit Lake, Iowa. Otto, who married Bertha Sigg in 1880, died May 5, 1886, leaving a widow and two children. Matilda married Gustave Ingerson, who lives in Dubuque and is connected with the Norwegian Plow Works; they are the parents of four children, Caroline, deceased, Olga, Freddie and Ralph. Paulina is the wife of our subject. Willie, who married Emma Mauer, is a carpenter and makes his home in Dubuque.

Mr. Schumacher took charge of the Garnavillo Hotel of Garnavillo in 1880, and is doing a very sucessful business in that line. He keeps a first class hotel, is pleasing in his manners and is popular with all his guests, well known in the community and highly respected by all who have the honor of his acquaintance. Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher are the parents of two boys, Realto, a bright boy of thirteen, who is a great help to his father in the hotel business, and Arnold, born May 21, 1885. Our subject is one of the Trustees of Garnavillo Township, and has served in that office for three years. Socially, he is a member of Lodge No. 29, I.O.O.F., also a member of the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and with his estimable wife is a member of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat of the old type, voting for and working in the interest of that party.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 377
~transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall