John Schroers

As printed in 1899

Schroers, John, newspaper publisher, was born in 1858, in Aix La Chapelle. Germany, that ancient city of the Rhine Province, which was founded by the Romans as a watering place, and was the favorite place of residence of Charles the Great, who died there. In this city Mr. Schroers passed the early years of his life, and received a classical education. graduating from college with honors, when lie was sixteen years 'of age. Immediately after leaving college he came to this country, with native ability, a thorough education, and a determination to succeed in life as his only capital. When he arrived in the United States, one of the first things which attracted his attention was the mining excitement'l al Leadville. Colorado, and he determined to try his luck in that famous camp. When, however, he had gotten as far West as Omaha. Nebraska, he found himself out Off money, and, as a result, went to work in the Omaha smelting works. After remaining there some time he came to St. Louis, and began here his career as a newspaper man. He was first employed as a reporter on the "Yolksstimme des Westens," on which he worked until [877, when tiiat paper suspended publication, and Sold its stock to the owners of the "Tribune.".Mr. Schroers then became a member of the staff of the " Anzeiger des Westerns," and for a number of years thereafter he did reportorial work for that paper, his contemporaries and associates in this field being such well known journalists as Walter B. Stevens, Frank O'Xeil, Stanley Waterloo, Eugene Field, Bert Waterloo, Florence White, William Byars. William Kelso, Harry Wandell, John Jennings, and others. From the editorial department he was transferred to the counting room, and his capacity for thoroughly systematizing its affairs, his business-like methods, and his enterprise and activity placed him at the head of the business department in 1884. In this capacity he infused new vigor into 'the conduct of the "Anzeiger des Westens," and was one of the prime factors in bringing about the consolidation of the German newspaper interests, under the management of the German-American Press Company of St. Louis, which took place in 1808. Since then he has been identified with the "Westliche Post" and "Anzeiger des Westens" and "The Sunday Mississippi Blaetter," as publisher and associate business manager. Mr. Schroers has been prominent also in advancing the educational interests of St. Louis, and is a member of the city board of education, his appointment to that position being one which has received general commendation. A tall, soldierly-looking man. he is a conspicuous figure in any company, and his years of active newspaper work have made him one of the best known men of the city, and one of the most popular as well. He married Miss Carrie Daenzer, daughter of Carl Daenzer, founder of both the "Westliche Post" and the "Anzeiger des Westens." and for many years the accomplished editor of the last named paper. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Schroers are Paul, Carl and Lotta Schroers.

Schlirz, Carl, politician, lecturer and journalist, who gained his greatest distinction while a citizen of St. Louis, was born in Liblar, near Cologne. Prussia, March 2. 1829. lie was educated at the Gymnasium of Cologne and at the University of Bonn. At the beginning of the Revolution of 1848 he associated himself with Gottfried Kinkel, professor of rhetoric in the University of Bonn, in the publication of a liberal newspaper. He was implicated in an attempt to promote an insurrection in Bonn in the spring of 1849, ami 'd with Kinkel to the Palatinate. He soon afterward entered the revolutionary army as an adjutant, and took part in the defense of Rastadt. On the surrender of that fortress, he was fortunate enough to escape to Switzerland, but in 1850 he returned secretly to < Germany and effected the escape of Kinkel from the fortress of Spandau. Immediately afterward he went tk> Paris, and for a time acted there as the correspondent of certain German newspapers. In 1852 he came to the United States, and after residing three years in Philadelphia, devoting his time largely to the study of the English language, he went to Wisconsin, settling in Warertown. He at once became a conspicuous figure in the politics of that State, and in 1856 delivered speeches in German in behalf of the Republican candidates for the presidency and State officers, which attracted general attention. In 1857 toe was a candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of Wisconsin, but was defeated. In 1858 he removed to Milwaukee, and for a short time was engaged in the practice of law in that city. In 1859-60 he delivered a series of lectures in Xew England, which stamped him as an orator of great power, his utterances being widely quoted and commented upon at that time. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, in 1860, and participated actively in the ensuing campaign, delivering speeches both in German and English. Soon after his inauguration President Lincoln appointed him Minister to Spain, but in December of 1861 he resigned his mission to enter the Union Army as a participant in the Civil War. In the spring of 1862 he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, and in June took command of a division in the corps commanded by General Franz Sigel, with which he participated in the second battle of Bull Run. In 1863 he was made a major-general of volunteers, and commanded a division of General O. O. Howard's corps at the battle of Chancellorsville. He was act-

As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of St. Louis, a compendium of history and biography (v. 4) (1899). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.