The Scheidemantel Family of Winneshiek County, Iowa

THEODORF A. SCHEIDEMANTEL.

Theodore A. Scheidemantel. who is one of the extensive landowners and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of Winneshiek county and also controls important landed and financial interests in various parts of Oklahoma, was born on the old Scheidemantel homestead in Military township on the 20th of October. 1856. He is a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer families in this section of the state, being a son of Henry and Kunigunda Scheidemantel, of whom extended mention is made on another page in this work. The parents were natives of Bavaria. Germany, the father born on the 20th of October, 1820, and the mother on the 16th of June, 1832. In their family were eleven children: Eva whose birth occurred on the 18th of June, 1853; William, born January 7, 1855; Theodore A., of this review; Mary E., born October 9, 1858, Clemence, born on the "th of December, 1860; Andrew H., born October 29, 1862; Caroline C, January 9, 1865; Henry J., January 25. 1867; Edward J.. November 9. 1868; Joseph F., May 1, 1871; and Emilie M., born July 19, 1873.

Theodore A. Scheidemantel was reared upon the family homestead and throughout the period of his boyhood and youth assisted with the work of its cultivation, gaining in this way knowledge and experience in the details of farm operation which has proven invaluable to him in after life. In 1880 he left home and went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and thence to Minneapolis, where he became connected with the mercantile business as clerk with Engram & Company, wholesale dealers in dry goods. After remaining in this connection for about a year he went to Grafton, North Dakota, and there for two years engaged in the butcher business, building up a large and profitable trade before he disposed of his enterprise. When he did so, he turned his attention to the development of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he had taken up in Pembina county. North Dakota, a property which he afterward sold. Upon the death of his father he returned to Winneshiek county and when the estate was divided inherited two hundred and forty acres, known as the old McKinzie Hall farm. To this he has since added forty acres, making this a property of two hundred and eighty acres, practically all of which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Scheidemantel has also bought the old Carl Brouch place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on

THEnnoRK A. SCHKIDK.MAXTEL sections 13 and 14, Military township, and he gives a great deal of time and attention to the further development and improvement of these two farms, which are among the finest agricultural properties in the state. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising and, being a reliable, farsighted and discriminating business man, has made both branches of his activities important and profitable. In addition to his extensive holdings in this county, he also has important landed and business interests in Oklahoma, having become interested in the development of that state in 1900, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washita county at the time when the Choctow, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad was constructed through that part of the state. He has gradually extended the scope of his interests, having been carried forward by his initiative spirit, his keen sense of business opportunity, his excellent administrative and organizing ability into important relations with financial affairs. In 1902 he organized in Canute, the Canute State Bank, of which he is now president and in which he owns a controlling interest, and he was also the leader in the founding of the German State Bank of Elk City, Oklahoma, an institution organized during the panic of 1907 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Scheidemantel is not now connected with that enterprise, having sold his stock in 1909. He assisted his brother Henry in organizing the Silver Springs Creamery Company and although they met with great opposition at the time, it was carried to a successful issue and our subject remained as general manager until success was assured.

Mr. Scheidemantel is a member of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Columbus and other organizations affiliated with his church. He is a democrat in his political views and a stanch supporter of the party's principles, although he never seeks public office for himself. A man of broad views, modern ideas and progressive spirit, he has left and is still leaving the impress of his work and personality upon the agricultural development of Winneshiek county and upon the financial history of that section of Oklahoma in which he is active, and he is in all respects a man of action and initiative — valuable as a factor in the promotion of the growth and advancement of the community in which he has spent his entire life.

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

Andrew Scheidemantel needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for his name has been known and honored in Winneshiek county since pioneer times and has come to be regarded as a synonym for personal integrity, business probity and for reliability in all relations of life. Andrew Scheidemantel is today one of the most substantial and progressive farmers in this section of the state, owning four hundred acres of land in Military and Springfield townships and in its cultivation he has met with a gratifying measure of success, his prosperity coming as a result of his practical methods and unremitting industry.

He was born on the old Scheidemantel homestead on the 29th of October, 1862, and is a son of Henry and Kunigunda Scheidemantel, of whom more extended mention is made on another page in this work. His childhood and youth were passed on his father's farm and before he had attained his majority he was a practical and able agriculturist, having from an early period assisted with the operation of the home property. When he began his independent career he formed a partnership with his brother and they rented the homestead, carrying on general farming and conducting also a profitable creamery. After eighteen years they disposed of the latter business and at the death of the father divided the farm, Mr. Scheidemantel of this review receiving as his share one hundred and sixty acres which he still owns. He has since added to it and now has four hundred acres in all. Upon this fine property he carries on general farming and stock-raising and by constantly following the most practical methods and steadily adhering to the highest standards of business integrity he has met with well deserved success, both branches of his activities being important and remunerative.

Mr. Scheidemantel married Miss Mary Eavachek. a native of Bohemia, and they have become the parents of fourteen children: Earl, born March 20. 189; Henrietta, bom July 12. 18114; Delia, whose birth occurred on the 12th of July, 1896; Alvie. born August 0, 1899; Rudolph, born June 11, 1903; Bertha, born November [905; Jerome, born March 2. 1007: Paul and Paulina, twins.

born on the 29th of July, 1908; [name withheld], born February 7, 1910; [name withheld], born January 7, 1912, and three children who died in infancy.

The family are members of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally Mr. Scheidemantel is connected with the Catholic Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he is at all times progressive and public-spirited in matters of citizenship, although he neither seeks nor desires public office. His business interests are at all times carefully and capable managed and they have brought him a degree of success which places him in the front ranks of Winneshiek county's substantial and representative native sons.

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

Henry Scheidemantel, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon two hundred and fifteen acres of land in Military township, near ( >ossian, is a native of Winneshiek county, born January 25, 1867. He is a son of Henrv and Kunigunda (Meyer) Scheidemantel, natives of Germany, who came to America in 184S and after spending two years in Wisconsin settled in Winneshiek county, where the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1888. His wife survived him many years, dying on the ist of November. 191 1. To them were born eleven children: Eva, the wife of Joseph Brown, of Humphrey. Nebraska; William, who lives in Clear Lake, Minnesota; Theodore, a farmer living near Ossian; Mary, the wife of Theodore Lamm, of Canute, Oklahoma; Clement, who resides in the same city; Andrew, of Calmar, Iowa; Carrie, who is a sister in a convent at La Crosse, Wisconsin; Henry, of this review; Edward; Joseph, who lives in Winona. Minnesota; and Emilie, the wife of Julius Gernes, also of Winona.

Henry Scheidemantel was reared upon his father's homestead and from his childhood aided in its operation, becoming before he had attained his majority a practical and able agriculturist. At twenty he formed a partnership with his brother and for a few years they rented the homestead, which is called the Silver Springs Stock Farm and is one of the finest agricultural properties in this section of the state. After the father's death Henry Scheidemantel inherited two hundred and fifteen acres and this he still owns and upon it is carrying on general farming and stock-raising, making both branches of his activities important and profitable.

Mr. Scheidemantel married Miss Barbara Schissel, and they have become the parents of two children, Caroline and Victoria, who live at home. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally Mr. Scheidemantel is affiliated with the Order of Foresters. He is a democrat in his political beliefs and has rendered the township excellent service in important official capacities, acting as trustee for nine years and as president of the school board for twenty years. Pie is one of Winneshiek county's most substantial and progressive native sons, well known throughout Military township for his diligence and enterprise.

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

One of Winneshiek county's most progressive and successful native sons and one of the most substantial and prosperous farmers living in the vicinity of Ossian, is Edward Scheidemantel, who owns and operates one hundred and eighty acres of land in Military township, thereon he engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. He was born on the 9th of August. 1868 and is a son of Henry and Kunigunda (Meyer) Scheidemantel, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1848 and settled in Wisconsin. After two years spent in that state they removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and here the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1888. His wife survived him a number of years, dying on the ist of November, 1911. To them were born eleven children: Eva, the wife of Joseph Brown, of Humphrey, Nebraska: William, of Clear Lake, Minnesota; Theodore, who is engaged in farming near Ossian; Mary, the wife of Theodore Lamm, of Canute. Oklahoma; Clement, also of Canute; Andrew, who resides in Calmar, Iowa; Carrie, who is a nun in a convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin; Henry, of Ossian; Edward, of this review; Joseph, of Winona. Minnesota: and Emilie, the wife of Julius Gernes, of Winona.

Edward Scheidemantel was reared upon his father's farm and from his early childhood assisted with its operation, becoming in this way thoroughly familiar with the best agricultural methods. When he began his independent career he formed a partnership with his brother and they established themselves in the creamery business on the home farm which they operated at the same time, making both branches of their occupation profitable and important. For about ten years they continued thus but at the end of that time they sold the creamery business and divided the farm, Mr. Scheidemantel of this review receiving as his portion the one hundred and eighty acres upon which he now resides. He engaged in general farming but makes a specialty of stock-raising and, being at all times practical in his methods and straightforward in his business dealings, has met with gratifying and well deserved success. He has made substantial improvements upon the property, erecting at a cost of over seven thousand dollars a fine two-story, modern residence with nine rooms and a bath, and well furnished and convenient in every particular. In addition to this there are fine barns, outbuildings and modern machinery, and the farm is in all respects an excellent and well equipped property.

Mr. Scheidemantel married Miss Antonia Mikesh and they have become the parents of seven children, Fred Philip, Alois Clemence, Leo, Ida, Adolph A., Arthur A. and Marcella. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Scheidemantel is connected fraternally with the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and although he is not active as an office seeker he is at all times ready to cooperate in movements for the public good. Through his own labor, industry and good management he has become the owner of a valuable property and is widely and favorably known in his native county for his many sterling traits of character and his business ability.

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