The Schaefer Families of Scott County, Iowa

WILLIAM C. SCHAEFER.

Prominent among those who gain a livelihood from the rich soil of Scott county may be mentioned William C. Schaefer, who owns ninety acres of land in Davenport township, where he resides, and one hundred and fifty-four acres in Pleasant Valley township, besides other farm and city property. As the name indicates, he is of German birth, his parents being Edward and Mary (Bishop) Schaefer, who were pioneer settlers of Scott county. The former was born in Germany in 1810 and came to the United States when a young man, alone. He spent one year thereafter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then sought a location in Scott county. He bought forty acres of raw land on the Jersey Ridge road on Duck creek but prior to making the purchase he had built a crude dwelling in the midst of the wilderness. This house stood on the land which he later bought. It was about this time that he wedded Miss Mary Bishop and they began their domestic life in the pioneer home which Mr. Schaefer had prepared. Mrs. Schaefer had come to the new world with her parents when she was a young girl. To them were born four sons: William C, Fred, Charles and Edward. The two last named are deceased, the former passing away when but fourteen years of age, while the latter was thirty-six years of age at the time of his demise.

When the parents settled in their new home they began work in earnest, toiling from early morning until late at night. It was a long and strenuous task that was presented to them but they met it with a steady, unwavering resolution that was characteristic of the early pioneer settlers. From a wilderness the father converted his land into richly cultivated fields and as the time passed and his sons grew in years and strength they rendered valuable assistance to him in caring for his crops, through the sale of which he added to his financial resources and was able from time to time to increase his land holdings. He accumulated two hundred and eighty acres of fine land and in course of years replaced his pioneer home with a more pretentious and modern dwelling. At the time of his death, which occurred March 3, 1900, he left to each of his two living sons a good farm and left his widow in comfortable circumstances as well. She still survives at the advanced age of eighty years. As she looks about her she sees few of the settlers that came here in pioneer times but she has many warm friends among the younger generations

' '\' 'AR LZ s who through their kindly interest and affection help to brighten her path in her declining years.

William C. Schaefer, the elder son, was born on the home farm on Duck creek, February 3, 1854, and in his boyhood and youth shared with the other members of the family in the privations and struggles that surround the early settlers in a new country. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood and later the German school in Davenport. He has made farming his life work and his home place, which he inherited from his father's estate, comprises ninety acres, this being located in Davenport township. He also owns five acres across the road from his home and one hundred and fifty-four acres in Pleasant Valley township, while he likewise has city property in Davenport. He carries on general farming and stock raising, his specialty being Poland China hogs and shorthorn cattle.

Mr. Schaefer was married April 17, 1879, to Miss Emma Kurtzfeldt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kurtzfeldt. She was born in Davenport township, her people being among the early settlers of this section. Six children grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer: May, Edward, Adolph, Charles, Delia, and Lillian. All are at home with the exception of the eldest daughter. May, the wife of William Bertram, who operates her father's farm in Pleasant Valley township. She is the mother of four children, Harold, Esther, Earl and Lucile.

Mr. Schaefer can well remember when he was a boy how this district appeared. Much of the land was still unclaimed, the homes of the settlers were widely scattered and many of the present thriving towns and villages Were then unheard of. As the years have passed he has seen this section of the county develop into a rich farming center, dotted here and there with modern and attractive homes, and he can take a just pride in what has been accomplished, for he has been an important factor in bringing this about. Today he stands crowned with honors and success, and his honesty of purpose, his clean record and his devotion to all that is many and upright has gained for him many warm friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Richard Schaefer for many years has been a prosperous farmer of Davenport township, where he owns and operates one hundred acres of well improved land, on which he has made his home since 1884. He was born on a farm situated just across the township line in Pleasant Valley, December 24, 1862, a son of William and Lena (Housemann) Schaefer, who were German pioneer settlers of Scott county. Both were born in the fatherland in 1834, the former on the 30th of March, and the latter on the 4th of May of that year. They were married February 26, 1858. The father clerked in a dry-goods store in his native land. Immediately after their marriage he and his young bride sailed for the United States. Landing at New York, they at once made their way to Scott county, Iowa, where the father rented land for a time and later purchased one hundred and thirty acres in Pleasant Valley township. After a residence of seven years in that township, he took up his above on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Davenport township, which he improved and operated during the remainder of his active career. In the meantime, however, he purchased other lands, owning at the time of his death four hundred and sixty acres. Late in life he retired and took up his above in Davenport, his death there occurring December 5, 1908, when he was seventy-four years of age. Prominent and influential in the community, Mr. Schaefer served for a long term as road supervisor and was a member of the German Pioneers Association of Scott county. His widow still survives and occupies the family home at 1457 West Fourth street in Davenport. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: William, who follows farming in Pleasant Valley township; Richard, of this review; Alexander, also of Pleasant Valley township; Hugo, who lives in Davenport; Otto, of Pleasant Valley township; Albert, who resides in Davenport township; Meta, the wife of William Carstens, of Davenport; Emil, who died when a youth of fourteen years; and two who died in infancy.

Richard Schaefer at the usual age began his education in the district schools near the homestead farm and completed his studies in the German school at Davenport. When starting out to make his own way in the world he those the vocation to which he had been reared. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred acres, the rich soil of which yields bounteous harvests in due season. Mr. Schaefer also feeds cattle, keeping good grades of stock. Since taking up his above on the farm in 1884, he has made many improvements, remodeled the house, built a good barn and other outbuildings, and altogether it is a valuable piece of property.

Mr. Schaefer was married December 5, 1884, to Miss Rose John, a daughter of Claus and Katherine (Horst) John, residents of Lincoln township. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer have two daughters and three sons, all at home, Hilda C, Oscar W., Elsie A., Richard E., Jr., and Raymond W. Mrs. Schaefer was born in Sheridan township, her parents being numbered among the early German settlers of this county. The father served in the German army from 1848 until 1850 and two years later emigrated to the new world, his death occurring in Scott county in 1880 when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife also died in 1880 at the age of sixty-one. Mrs. Schaefer is the youngest child and the only daughter of the family, her two brothers being Emil and John, the former a resident of Summit and the latter of Davenport.

Mr. Schaefer is a democrat and on that ticket was elected constable and road supervisor, and he has likewise filled the office of school director. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood and the East Davenport Turner Association. Both he and his wife are worthy representatives of pioneer German families, who took an active part in the early development of this region. Mr. Schaefer stands today as a high type of German-American manhood, who has won success in a useful field of business and gained the respect and honor of his fellowmen by his public service and private life.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HUGO G. SCHAEFER.

For a number of years Hugo G. Schaefer was a resident of Sheridan township, where he farmer for ten years, but for the last decade and more he has been a resident of the city of Davenport. A native of this county, he was born in Pleasant Valley township, his parents being WiUiam and Lena (Houseman) Schssfer, who were born in Germany and shortly after their marriage emigrated to America. They came to Scott county almost immediately and here the father rented land for a time. Later he purchased one hundred and thirty acres in Pleasant Valley township, and after a residence of about seven years thereon bought another farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Davenport township. On it he lived during the remainder of his active life, improving it and operating it with a marked success. He had, however, in the course of years invested heavily in real estate, so that at the time of his death he was in the possession of four hundred and sixty acres. He was an eager participant in the public life of his township, having served as road commissioner for a long period and was a member of the Old German Settlers Society. The last years of his life were spent in Davenport and there he passed away December 5, 1908, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His widow still survives. They were the parents of the following children: William, who is engaged in farming in Pleasant Valley township; Richard, an agriculturist of Davenport township; Alexander, who also resides in Pleasant Valley township; Hugo, in city of Davenport; Otto, of Pleasant Valley township; Albert, a resident of Davenport township; Meta, who is the wife of WilHam Carsen, of Davenport; Emil, who died at the age of fourteen years; and two who died in infancy.

Hugo G. Schaefer has spent a large part of his life in Scott county. As soon as he was of suitable age he became a pupil in the district school near his home, later attending a German school and a business college. At the age of fifteen he put aside his text-books, left the farm and came to Davenport, that he might begin his business career. For the first four years he was clerk in a store and then secured a position as traveling salesman, in this capacity becoming familiar with the greater part of the south and west. In 1894 he opened a general store in Dixon, this county, which he conducted profitably during the next two Years, but as his health had failed he was compelled to sell his interests and so turned to agriculture. He was not a man, however, to confine his work to one field if he saw other opportunities for advancement. As a result several industries and enterprises in Scott county received his support.

On the 30th of April, 1895, Mr. Schaefer wedded Miss Adele Hagedorn, a daughter of Christian and Mary (Schlotfeldt) Hagedorn, who are old German settlers of Scott county. One son, Clarence A., has been born to the couple. Mr. Schaefer is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the Turner Society. His energies have never been exerted selfishly but always in such a manner that his fellow citizens profited from them.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.