Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Scheiwe, John 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 3:27 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

John Scheiwe, a farmer and breeder of shorthorn cattle, residing on section 
26, Crete township, which farm was his birth place, has spent his entire life 
in Will county. His natal day was June 17, 1860. His father, John Scheiwe, was 
born in Helsinghausen, in the province of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, February 7, 
1822. In 1847 he and his brother emigrated to America, landing at Quebec, 
Canada. Thence they made their way to Chicago, where Mr. Scheiwe engaged in 
farm work and later was employed on a canal. He was a poor boy and had learned 
no trade, so that he worked at whatever he could get to do that would yield 
him an honest living. In 1851, he came to Will county, and settled on a farm 
in Crete, there developing what is known as the old family homestead. He and 
his brother purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land which they afterward 
divided equally. When it came into their possession it was raw prairie with no 
improvements upon it. John Scheiwe, Sr., first built a little shanty in which 
he lived until he was able to erect a better house. Throughout his entire life 
he followed farming and by hard work, good management and careful economy he 
became wealthy. Adding to his possessions as time passed, he left an estate of 
nearly seven hundred acres, including what was given to his children. Not only 
did he prosper in his business, but in community affairs he always took an 
active and helpful part. He was one of the organizers of the Crete Mutual 
Insurance Company, and was one of the thirteen original members of the 
Lutheran church in which he held office for many years. In polities he was a 
stalwart republican and served for a long period as road commissioner. He 
aided in many movements for the material, political and moral progress of his 
community and became well known as a prominent, influential and honored 
citizen of Crete township. After coming to America he was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary Wehmhoefer, who was also born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, January 
18, 1818, and came to the United States on the same ship as her husband. He 
died on the old homestead farm, July 24, 1891, and her death occurred at the 
same place on the 15th of February, 1899. In their family were four children 
who yet survive: Henry, a resident farmer of Washington township; Sophia, the 
wife of John Meier, of Woodworth township, Iroquois county, Illinois; William 
H., a retired farmer living in Crete; and John, of this review. The last named 
was reared upon the home farm and was educated in the parochial and public 
schools. He remained at home after completing his education and carried on the 
cultivation of his father's farm. He now owns two hundred and fourteen acres 
of land, which was part of his father's estate. Since coming into possession 
of this tract, he has made many improvements thereon and has one of the best 
farms in the township. Upon the place are good buildings and the farm is a 
model in every respect. Aside from the work of raising the cereals best 
adapted to the soil and climate, Mr. Scheiwe carries on stock-raising and for 
five years has made a specialty of raising and breeding thoroughbred shorthorn 
cattle. That he has fine stock is indicated by the fact that he has won many 
blue ribbons where his stock has been placed on exhibition at the county and 
state fairs. At the head of his herd he now has a fine bull, Grand Duke 
Indianola. He also raises pure bred Poland China swine. On the 12th of April, 
1885, Mr. Scheiwe was married to Miss Emma Ohlendorf, who was born in Crete 
township, January 1, 1864, a daughter of William Ohlendorf, an early settler 
of the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scheiwe has been born a daughter, Marie, who 
is now a young lady of twenty-one years. The family are active and faithful 
members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Scheiwe has served as an elder. 
He exercises his right of franchise in support of the republican party, and 
has served for one term as justice of the peace, but has never been an 
aspirant for office. In addition to his farm interests he also owns a 
residence property in the village of Crete. He is justly classed among the 
leading agriculturists of this part of the state conducting business interests 
of importance and winning the reputation of being one of the leading cattle 
raisers and breeders of the county. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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