Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 118

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

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establishment and a reliable man in any walk of life.

SCHLENK, Clyde J., manager of the Schmauss West State Street Meat Market, is one of the most alert young business men of the West Side, and a man who thoroughly understands his business. He was born at Freeport, Ill., March 21, 1887, a son of George L. and Mary (Barrett) Schlenk. The father was born at Monroe Centre, Ill., while the mother was born in Limerick, Ireland. They were married at Rock- ford in 1883.

Educated at Rockford, Ill., George L. Schlenk there entered the employ of Mr. Neumeister, a carriage maker, but in 1882 went to Freeport and for six years was employed by the Henney Buggy Company. In 1888 he returned to Rock- ford, where he was engaged in a livery business in partnership with Thomas Lonergan until 1893, when he dissolved the connection, Mr. Lonergan still continuing on N. Main street. Their original location was at the old Reynolds stand. The father was then appointed mail carrier under Postmaster Thomas Lawler, and in 1911 was made a postoffice clerk, and still holds that position with the government.

Clyde Schlenk passed his boyhood at Rock- ford, where he attended St. James parochial school. Upon the completion of his educational training he began working for Schmauss Bros., at their E. State street store, beginning with them in 1903, and so efficient and faithful did he prove to be that in 1908 he was given charge of their W. State street market, and is still conducting it for them, his record being a some- what unusual one, as he has been in the employ of the same firm during all of his business career, a period extending over twelve years, a very creditable record.

On October 24, 1911, Mr. Schlenk was married to Miss Mary Hartnett, a daughter of Edward Hartnett of Rockford.

SCHMALZ, George. For a number of years the late George Schmalz was a well known figure in' the business life of East Rockford, he having developed a large trade as a meat merchant, and established himself as one of the'reputable men of his community. He was born near the river Rhine, Dalheim, Ippenheim, Rhinessen, Ger- many, in 1840, a son of George and Mactalien (Kessel) Schmalz. George Schmalz was born in the same place as his son, while the mother was born in Mulheim, Germany, and the parents were married at the latter place. In 1869 they left Germany for the United States, settling first in New York. Following his death, the mother came to Rockford, Ill., and here she died in 1894. The father was a member of the German Lutheran Church, and a most excel- lent man.

George Schmalz spent his boyhood in Ger- many, wliere he was educated, and he gave his country the customary military service of three years. He learned the butchering business and in 1866 came to the United States, and for seven

years was engaged in a meat business in New York City. In 1873 he came to Rockford, Ill., where he was engaged in a butchering business until 1880. In that year Mr. Schmalz embarked in a saloon business and continued it for ten years, when his health began to fail and he retired, dying in 1893, aged fifty-two years. His widow survives him and is making her home in an apartment building owned by her at No. 730 Elm street, Rockford.

In 1865 George Schmalz was married to Miss Katheranna Winter, a daughter of Carl and Eva (Krahler) Winter, born at Dexheim, Ger- many, where they lived and died, the father being engaged in a meat business. Mr. and Mrs. Schmalz became the parents of six chil- dren, as follows : Catherine, who is Mrs. Martin Myers, of Wisconsin ; George, who died at Rock- ford when thirty-three years old; William, who died in infancy ; Anna, who married Thomas Malana, died, aged thirty-nine years; and Carl and Richard, both of whom died in 1876. Mrs. Schmalz's great-grandfather was a soldier and served during the Napoleonic wars of 1809-10 and 1811. Her niece's husband, Captain Krouse, is now serving in the German army. Mr. Schmalz was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and wife attended the Lutheran Church.

SCHMAUSS, John, ' The standing of a com- munity among similar civic organizations does not depend upon its few rich men or statesmen, but upon the rank and file of citizens whose business interests taken as a whole amount to an important factor in the commercialism of the state. The late John Schmauss belonged to the class that makes for good citizenship and reliable effort no matter along what line work is done. He was a ineat market proprietor of Rockford from 1867 to 1872. He was born at Schnaittach, Bavaria, Germany, August 14, 1830, and his parents were natives of Ger- many who spent their lives in their own land, the father being a butcher. The mother's death occurred in 1882.

John Schmauss left Germany in 1855, where he had been reared and educated, and upon his arrival in the United States, located at Rockford. For a number of years he. was as- sociated with Charles Kettlewell in a meat busi- ness. In 1862 lie went to Pike's Peak, Colo., in search of gold, but returned and associated himself in a meat business with Charles Schorn, which connection continued for five years. In 1871 Mr. Schinauss bought 468 acres in Cherry Valley Township, which property was then known as the Twogood farm, and while looking after his agricultural interests, he con- tinued to operate liis meat business. He was a heavy cattle feeder and buyer, and .his suc- cess in the livestock business was well merited.

In 1866 Mr. Schmauss was married to Miss Anna Froehlich, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, of which country her parents were also natives. They never left their native land, Mrs. Schmauss having been brought to Rock-

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ford, Ill., when fourteen years old by friends of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Schmauss had one daughter, Kate, who still resides in the family home which is one of the finest on East State street. Here the father died February 1, 1904, and the mother, November 14, 1914. Mr. Schmauss was a Democrat. The First Con- gregational Church of Rockford held his membership. For many years he was interested in the R. R. G. Verein Society, of which he was a charter member. A man of sterling integ- rity, he was esteemed by all. and is remembered by many, for he possessed many excellent traits of character, and always lived up to his respon- sibilities.

SCHMELING, Emil W., president of the Schmel- ing & Broitzman general contracting firm at Nos. 117 and 119 Irving avenue, Rockford, is one of the leaders in his line in . Winnebago County, and a man who is universally respected. He was born in Germany, July 21, 1869, a son of William F. Schmeling. The family came to the United States in 1SS5, and located at Win- neconne, Wis.

Emil W. Schmeling attended school in Ger- many and had one term in the district school at Winneconne, Wis., and he also went to night school during one winter at Rockford, in the Y. M. C. A, building. In 18SS he went to Argyle, Ill., and worked as a carpenter appren- tice, remaining there until 1891, when he came to Rockford and worked at his trade as a jour- neyman. In 1903 he began contracting and building, and in the fall of 1906 erected some small shops and installed a few machines so as to do his own mill work. His business developed until in 190S he erected his present brick shop, 44x46 feet, two stories and basement in height. This shop is equipped to do any kind of ordinary mill or fixture work for contracting and build- ing. The firm does general contracting and building of all kinds, including brick, concrete and frame. It takes contracts for work any- where in northern Illinois and southern Wis- consin. In the fall of 1907 Mr. Schmeling started a lumber and builders supply house and yard between Elm and State streets, which he operates in conjunction with his other lines of business. Here is carried a full line of building material. Among other contracts carried out by this firm are the addition to Rockford College, and the plant of the Clark Manufacturing Com- pany. In 1909, August B. Broitzman bought an interest in the business and is superintendent of the outside work. The firm operates an electric floor surfacer, the only one in northern Illinois, outside Chicago, and contracts are taken for its use throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

In 1896 Mr. Schmeling was married to Augus- ta Anders, born at Pecatonica, Ill., in 1870, a daughter of Fred and Mary Anders, natives of Germany. She died in 1905, leaving four chil- dren, namely : William F., Marie, Walter and Elmer. In the fall of 1907 Mr. Schmeling mar- ried (second) Amelia Bonsack, born in Saxony,

Germany, in 1875, a daughter of Fred Bonsack, who came to the United States with her parents in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Schmeling have three children, namely : Albert, Rosabelle E. and Robert. Mr. Schmeling is a member of the German Lutheran Church. Steadfast, industri- ous and thrifty, Mr. Schmeling has advanced step by step until he is now numbered among the leading builders and contractors of this part of the state, and has honestly won the prosperity that is his.

SCHOONMAKER, David. Among the men who have retired from life's strenuous activties after long and successful operations in agriculture, is found David Schoonmaker. of 423 South Church street, Rockford. Mr. Schoonmaker was born on his father's farm in Albany County, N. Y., October 31, 1849, and is a son of Cherick and Charity (Daring) Schoonmaker.

Charles Schoonmaker was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1824, on the farm of his father, and was educated and married in that locality. For five years he was engaged in the breeding of horses in Albany County, and in 1855 came west, locating in Owen Township, Winnebago County, Ill., where he purchased a . farm of eighty acres. He then went back to the state of New York, but March 7, 1857, re- turned to Owen Township, Winnebago County, where he carried on farming for a number of years. Then selling out to a Mr. Blake, Mr. Schoonmaker bought the old Anson Owen farm, on Rock River, in Owen Township, a tract of 20S acres, on which he resided for a number of years. He was moved to sell this place be- cause of the imminent danger to his buildings, from flying sparks from the trains of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railroad. He disposed of it to George W. Black, buying then the Goodyear farm and subsequently portions of the old Johnson and Doolittle farms. He later left his son, David D., in charge of the Goodyear and Doolittle farms, and another son later rented the Johnson farm and a part of the Doolittle property. The father then moved to Latham Park, in Owen Township, where he operated a ferry boat for three years, but when the boat was caught in the ice in the river in' the spring breakup, and smashed, Mr. Schoon- maker retired, and so lived until his death, Feb- ruary 14, 1898, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a Republican and a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge at Rockford. Mrs. Schoon- maker was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., where her father was a sawmill proprietor and a shipper of lumber to Albany, in addition to carry- ing on extensive agricultural operations. Later he moved with his family to Latham Park, Ill., where he died, Mrs. Schoonmaker then moving to the home of her son where she passed away afterward.

The boyhood of David Schoonmaker was passed in Owen Township, where the public schools furnished him with his education. As a youth he took up farming on his father's property, and later purchased a threshing out-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

fit and operated it for eight years. In 1882 he was married to Miss Ida Wright, daughter of Solomon and Eliza (Daring) Wright. She died May 27, 1911. After his marriage, Mr. Schoon- maker resided on the old home place for a number of years, moving then to Latham Park, where he was postmaster for six years and a justice of the peace four years. From Latham Park he moved to Rockford and bought a home on Crosby street, but subsequently sold that property and removed to his present home, No. 423 South Church street.

Mr. Schoonmaker belongs to a fraternal or- ganization at Rockford, Ill., and to Farmer's Camp, of the Modern Woodmen of America, at Owen. His political tendencies make him a Republican, and he has held all of the township offices.

SCHROM, Arthur, auditor and office manager for the Consumers Company of Rockford, is one of the most capable and efficient men in his line in the city, and the services he renders his com- pany are of such a nature as to make him very valuable to his concern. He was born at Jeffer- son, Wis., January 24, 1890, a son of Wenzel and Teckla (Benesch) Schrom. Both parents were born in Germany, and the father came to the United States early in life and located at Jef- ferson, Wis., where he bought a farm and operated it for a time and then sold and moved to Rockford, coming here in 1891. For a time he was engaged in farming, and then did team- ing under contract. His death occurred in 1913, when he was sixty-one years old. The mother died in 1900, aged forty-seven years. They were members of the Germania Club, and iu politics the father was a Democrat.

Arthur Schrom was educated in the schools of Rockford and at Brown's Business College, of this city. In 1911 Mr. Schrom became con- nected with the Consumers Company of Rock- ford as auditor and office mauager, and still retains these important positions. He is a live, progressive young man of the highest standing, and has a bright future before him.

SCHWARTZ, Walter B., who is residing on sec- tion 19, Winnebago Township, is profitably en- gaged in farming and stockraising, and is one of the prosperous men of the county. He was born in this same township, July 30, 1887, a son of Henry F. and Elizabeth (Anders) Schwartz, natives of Germany who came to the United States about 1871 or 1872, and became farmers of Winnebago Township.

Walter B. Schwartz was educated in the schools of his native township, and early began farming. On February 19, 1913, he was united in marriage with Miss Marie Dierks, born June 17, 1888, a daughter of George and Anna (Helf- ers) Dierks, natives of Germany. The mother is deceased and the father lives with his daughter in Winnebago County. He has always been a farmer and is now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz have one child Ruth Elizabeth, who was born December 10, 1913. Both Mr. and Mrs.

Schwartz are members of the German Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Schwartz is a Republi- can. His methods of farming are modern and through experimentation he has learned the best breed of stock for his purposes. Although he has held no offices, Mr. Schwartz has a public spir -. ited interest in local matters, and stands well iu his community.

SCOTT, Luther, owner of 140 acres of fine farm land in Guilford Township, is recognized as one of the prosperous agriculturalists of Winnebago County. He is a native son of this township and was born June 29, 1855. His parents were Dauiel aud Nancy J. (Hayes) Scott, he born in New York and she in Canada. The paternal grandparents, Johnson and Anna Scott, were born in New York, and the maternal grand- father, Samuel Hayes, was a native of Canada. The father's people came by wagon to Guilford Township iu 1837, while the mother's people came the same way to the same township in 1838.

The parents of Luther Scott after marriage, settled in the vicinity of Rockford on land then covered with timber that the father entered from the government. He began improving it and to earn some money, also worked on the first dam across Rock River. During his life he was mainly a farmer and secured 212 acres of fine land. Always a man of principle, he became active and useful iu local affairs. His death oc- curred October 4, 1911, he having been born January 26, 1830. The mother, born October 19, 1828, died March 19, 1907. Their children were as follows: Reuben, who died at the age of eighteen years; Luther; Frank, who died in infancy ; and Hannah L., who is Mrs. Bert Rowley, lives ou a part of the homestead.

Luther Scott not only attended the district schools of Guilford Township, but also business college at Rockford and resided with his parents until his marriage in 1876 when he moved to the north part of the homestead. In 1898 he and his family took possession of the old house and his father built a smaller house for himself and wife in the same yard. Mr. Scott owns 140 acres of excellent land and carries on general farming.

On September 21, 1876, he was married to Ella Hill, born at Rockford, a daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Moon) Hill, natives of England, who had six children, three of whom were born in England, and the other three in America, they being as follows: Rosa, Emanuel, John, Sarah, Harry, and Mrs. Scott. Mr. Hill was a stonecutter and he died at Rockford July 19, 1879, having been born in 1820. Mrs. Hill died in 1886, having been born in 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have had the following children : Ralph, who lives at Rockford, married Mildred Tetlow, and they have two children, Robert and Allen L .; Maud, who is Mrs. Leroy Cleveland of New Milford Township, has two children, Mariam and Jeannette; and Blanche, Hazel, and Harry, who are at home. Mrs. Scott attended the public schools of Rockford. In politics Mr.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Scott is a Republican. He belongs to Rockford Camp No. 20, M. W. A., and stands high in pub- lic esteem.

SEGUR, John. Faithful service and honorable action bring their own reward, and John Segur, looking hack over his life, has every reason to be proud of what he has accomplished. He was born at Granby, Conn., July 6, 1829, a son of Orlean and Amret (Dean) Segur, of Connecticut. The paternal grandparents were Augustus and Elizabeth (Tuller) Segur, the grandmother being a daughter of Eli Tuller, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Orlean Segur made his home in Connecticut, and died at Simsbury, that state, in October, 1872, after a life spent in agricultural pursuits. His wife died in Novem- ber, 1882. Of the six children born of his par- ents, John Segur is the only survivor.

Attending school at Granby, then a short time at North Canton, Conn., then went to New Hart- ford, Conn., John Segur received a liberal edu- cation. He then learned the machinist trade. In 1855 he left his own state for Beloit, Wis., and in 1857 came to Rockford where he was employed by Emerson & Talcott for several years. He then became foreman of their ma- chine shops, in all continuing with this concern thirty-five years. Owing to an accident which deprived him of the use of his right eye, Mr. Segur was compelled to retire. He had wisely invested his savings in valuable Rockford prop- erty and is a man of means.

On July 3, 1851, Mr. Segur was married to Jane Trowbridge, born at Barkhamstead, Conn., a daughter of James Trowbridge, a carpenter in early life, but later on general agent for D. M. Smith & Son, large cotton manufacturers of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Segur became the parents of two children, namely: James, who was born at New Hartford, Conn., married Nellie O'Connor and lives at Dubuque, Iowa; and Sarah A., who is the widow of Judge J. C. Garver. Mrs. Segur died September 7, 1900, and for the following two years a sister kept house for Mr. Segur, and then he went to live with his widowed daughter, Mrs. Garver, on S. Main street.

On January 12, 1851. Mr. Segur joined the Masonic fraternity in Connecticut, and in 1866 he became a member of Rockford Chapter. R. A. M. During the many years he has lived at Rockford, Mr. Segur has seen numerous changes, and is proud of the progress of the city and its present prestige as a manufacturing center.

SHEAHAN, Philip, who has been living retired for a half a century, and residing in the vil- lage of Winnebago, was born in Shanagolden, County Limerick, Ireland, March 13, 1839, a son of James and Mary (Sheahan) Sheahan, who emigrated to Canada in 1842, and in 1855 came to Illinois, locating in Du Page County where the father lived retired until his death at the age of ninety years. The mother died at the age of sixty-three years. They were

the parents of twelve children, namely : Mary, Jeremiah, Morris, John, Daniel, Patrick, James, Mary (II), wife of William Morely, Honora, Johanna and Catherine, and Philip, who is the only survivor.

Philip Sheahan was reared in Canada from the time he was three years old, and received but limited schooling. He accompanied his parents to Du Page County, Ill., in 1855, and ten years later moved to Winnebago County, where he has since resided. His first employment was with the Galena and Chicago Railroad as a laborer, and he was later with the Chicago & North- western Railroad, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Illinois Central railroads, hold- ing the position of section foreman for many years, or until he retired in 1889. Watching his opportunities he invested his money in farm lands and now owns a fine farm of 11712 acres in Du Page County, another one of 167 acres in Winnebago Township, this county, both of which he rents, and which he values at $150 per acre, and the homestead in the village of Winnebago, comprising three acres, or six valuable lots.

On December 31, 1862, Mr. Sheahan was mar- ried to Anastatia, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Burns) Cavanaugh, both natives of Ireland, and pioneers of Du Page County, Ill. To this marriage seven children were born, as follows: James and John P., who are de- ceased ; John P. (II), a telegrapher, who was accidentally killed on the Northwestern Rail- road at Milwaukee, Wis., July 27, 1913; Daniel, who is deceased; Mary, who is the wife of William H. Hart; Margaret, who is the wife of Timothy P. Burns; and Elizabeth, who has been a teacher for twenty-six years, fourteen years of which , she was employed in the Peca- tonica High School. By his industry and fru- gality Mr. Sheahan has accumulated a compe- tency, and he is one of the highly respected citizens of Winnebago. He and his family are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Rockford. In politics he is a Democrat.

SHEARER, Atley, cashier of the Rockford and Interurban Railroad Company, is one of the best examples of a self-reliant, reliable and successful young business man Rockford af- fords. He was born at Marengo, Ill., Decem- ber 18. 1894, a son of Charles and Elizabeth ( Shelington ) Shearer. Charles Shearer was born at Marengo. Ill., while the mother was born at Rockford, Ill. The paternal grand- father, also Charles Shearer, was born in New York State, hut came to Illinois at an early day and secured government land in the vicin- ity of Marengo, where he died. His son, Charles Shearer, was a farmer all his active life, operating the homestead, but later in life retired, coming to Rockford in 1912, buying a residence at No. 330 Paris avenue, where he and wife now live.

Atley Shearer attended school at Marengo and Rockford, and after leaving school, took a position with the Kirk Action Company, leav- ing soon thereafter to engage with the Rock-

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ford and Interurban Railroad Company, having held his present responsible position since No- vember 15, 1913.

In 1913 Mr. Shearer was married to Miss Elizabeth Diggins, a daughter of John Diggins, of Byron, Ill., a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer are leaders in their social set and are very pop- ular, while in business life the young man's ability is unquestioned and he has a fine future before him.

SHELDON, Benjamin R., page 717.

SHELDON, Carlton W., page 706.

SHERER, George W., whose association with the journalistic field las been of such a nature as to make him an important factor in the his- tory of this line of human endeavor in northern Illinois, was born at Rockford, February 14, 1848, a son of George and Elizabeth (Whisson) Sherer, natives of Pennsylvania and Wheeling, W. Va. They were married in the East and came to Rockford at an early day. The father was a carriage and wagon manufacturer, and during his later days he served as commissioner of highways of East Rockford. His death oc- curred in 1877, and the mother died in 1909, aged eighty-nine years. Their children were as follows : Charles, Elizabeth, Edward, and Sarah, who are all deceased; Adelbert, who is of Rockford; Alta, who is Mrs. George B. Best of Rockford; and George W. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Whisson, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and Mrs. Sherer was a Daughter of the Revolution.

George W. Sherer attended the public schools of Rockford and when fifteen years old began learning the printing trade on the Free Press and Journal. In the early eighties he started a job printing business with A. F. Judd and they continued together for seventeen years, when Mr. Sherer was appointed first superin- tendent of the printing office at the Pontiac Reformatory to do all the printing for the state institutions, and although he no longer holds that office, the position is continued, his successors operating largely along the lines he laid down.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 118

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972