Schaul, John Nicholas "Nic," 1868-1940

SCHAUL, MANDERSCHEID, WAGENER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/16/2022 at 20:23:22

Born: August 27, 1868
Died: February 8, 1940

From the Sioux County Capital, February 15, 1940:

Nick Schaul who has been a patient in the State Hospital at Cherokee for nearly twenty-five years died February 9 at the age of 71 years.

He was brought to Alton for burial. Services were held in St. Mary's church Saturday morning after which interment was made in St. Mary's Cemetery.

During the many years of his absence his widow Mrs. Margaret Schaul has reared a family of which she may be proud, the children are as follows: Mike of Van Nuys, California, Mrs. C. Navin (Etta) of Sioux City, Joseph of this vicinity and Henry of Sioux Falls, S.D.

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From the Alton Democrat, February 16, 1904:

Remains of N. J. Schaul Laid to Rest At Alton

John Nicholas Schaul, early Alton resident, died Thursday, Feb. 8, at the age of 71 years, 5 months and 12 days. His death followed a heart attack suffered on Wednesday.

He was born near Luxemburg, Iowa, on August 27, 1868, the youngest of eight children. While still a boy he accompanied his parents, brothers and sisters to Alton. His parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schaul, were pioneer settlers on a farm east of Alton where he grew to manhood. He was married on Nov. 3, 1897, to Miss Margaret Manderscheid, the ceremony taking place at St. Mary’s church in Alton.

Four children were born to the union: Mrs. C. L. Navin (Etta) of Sioux City, the only daughter; Mike Schaul of Van Nuys, Calif.; Joe Schaul of Hospers and Henry Schaul of Sioux Falls, S.D. He is survived by Mrs. Schaul and their four children and by seven grandchildren. He was the last surviving member of his seven brothers and sisters.

For some years he had charge of a pool hall at Alton and was well liked. But over twenty-five years ago he was stricken with illness, which in a few years totally incapacitated him.

Funeral services were held at Alton Saturday in charge of the Very Rev. J. M. Neppel at 9:30 in the morning, with interment in St. Mary’s cemetery. Relatives from out-of-town at the services were Mrs. Schaul’s brother, H. H. Manderscheid and son Frank of Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. Nick Biever, Woodstock, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Schadeck, Hatfield, Minn.; Dominie Manderscheid, Lake Wilson, Minn.; Miss Kate Manderscheid, Slayton, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Navin, Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schaul, Sioux Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schaul, Hospers. Pallbearers were Peter Wiltgen, D. T. Hoxmeier, Peter Schroeder, Peter Eulberg, Nick Hansen and Will Kellen.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate has John Nick Schaul; born Aug. 28, 1868 in Iowa; parents (names not given) born in Germany), wife Mrs. Margaret Schaul; usual occupation, pool hall manager; resident of Cherokee State Hospital for 24 years, 5 months, 20 days; died at 3:55 p.m. February 8, 1940; cause, coronary embolism, duration 2 days; other conditions, epilepsy with psychosis.

His Findagrave.com page has John Nicholas Schaul, born 27 August 1868 in Alton, died 8 Feb 1940 in Cherokee, buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Alton; parents Peter Schaul (1819-1896) and Margarath Wagener Schaul (1824-1898); four siblings listed; wife Margaret M. Manderscheid Schaul (1878-1966, married 1897); children Henrietta Katherine Schaul Navin (1898-1966), Michael Peter Schaul (1900-1992), Joseph H. Schaul (1903-1994), and Henry Edward Schaul (1907-1952).

The Sioux County marriage register for 1897 has groom J. N. Schaul, age 30, resident of Alton, a clerk, born in Dubuque County, parents Peter Schaul and Mary Wagner; bride Maggie Manderscheid, age 21, residence Alton, born in O’Brien County, father John Manderscheid, mother’s name not given; married in Alton November 3, 1897.

The 1900 U.S. census (Alton) does not give an occupation for him. The 1910 census (Alton) shows him as a pool hall keeper, as does the 1915 Iowa state census. The 1920 census shows him as a patient in the Cherokee State Hospital. They all give his name as John N. Schaul. In June 1915 (as Nic Schaul) he was reported as having sold his pool hall and bowling alley, and in the same month (as J. N. Schaul) he appeared before the commissioners of insanity, was declared insane, and was paroled and committed to the care of his wife and J. M. Weis (Alton Democrat, June 19, 1915). He was apparently sent to Cherokee later that year. Most newspaper references to him or his wife call him Nic Schaul.