Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Scheiwe, William H 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 4:40 am

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

William H. Scheiwe is a retired farmer, making his home in Crete, to which 
village he removed ten years ago. He was born on a farm in Crete township, 
July 15, 1856, a son of John S. and Mary (Wehmhoefer) Scheiwe, both of whom 
were natives of Germany, whence the father emigrated to America in the 
early '50s. He was a poor man and it was the hope of bettering his financial 
condition that led him to seek a home in the new world. Upon arriving in this 
country he at once made his way to Chicago, where he arrived with but fifty 
cents in his pockets. He first secured emplojmrent on a farm near the city and 
was there married to Miss Wehmhoefer. During their residence in that city the 
father was once ill and the mother provided for the support of the family and 
also earned the money with which to pay her husband's doctor bill. The family 
later removed to Crete township, settling on a farm of forty acres, which was 
covered with timber. At that time the village of Crete contained but one 
store. The father built a log shanty upon his land, in which the family took 
up their abode. It was a crude building and he often had to shovel the snow 
out of the house in the morning before he could build a fine. He, however, was 
a successful farmer and prospered in his undertakings, eventually becoming 
owner of five hundred acres of land. His death occurred on the farm in 1890, 
when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years, while the mother survived and 
also passed away on the homestead farm, when she had reached the advanced age 
of eighty-two years. Both parents were consistent members of the Lutheran 
church and both took an active part in the organization of the church at Eagle 
Lake and also at Crete. Their family numbered five children: Henry, who 
resides at Eagle Lake; Sophia, the deceased wife of J. O. Meyer, of Iroquois 
county; William H., of this review; John, who died at the age of one year; and 
John, the second of the name, who makes his home on the old homestead 
property. William H. Scheiwe was reared on the old homestead farm, being early 
trained to the duties of the fields, while in the winter months he pursued his 
education in the district school near his father's home. He remained under the 
parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-six years, when he began 
business on his own account. He purchased from his father a tract of one 
hundred and ninety-three acres, situated in Washington township, which he 
placed under a good state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. He 
carried on general agricultural pursuits, meeting with very desirable success 
in his undertakings. About ten years ago, because of impaired health, he 
abandoned business pursuits and removed to the village of Crete, where he has 
since made his home. He is everywhere known as a reliable and straightforward 
citizen and is numbered among the highly esteemed men not only of the village 
where he resides, but also throughout Will county. In 1883 occurred the 
marriage of Mr. Scheiwe and Miss Anna Meyer, who was born in Crete township, 
Will county, July 19, 1865, a daughter of John D. Meyer, who is now deceased. 
Unto our subject and his wife have been born two sons. John, the eldest, 
pursued his education in the common schools, this being supplemented by a four 
months' course in a business college. He is now acting as a clerk in the Bank 
of Steger. He is an exemplary young man and one in whom his employers place 
the utmost trust and confidence. William is still under the parental roof and 
is now attending school. Mr. Scheiwe and his family are members of the 
Lutheran church, and he gives his political support to the republican party, 
but is not active in local ranks of his party. During his earlier life Mr. 
Scheiwe worked persistently and energetically to acquire a competence and he 
is now enabled to spend his days in honorable retirement. Both he and his 
family are highly respectsd in Crete and their home is noted for its gracious 
and warmhearted hospitality. 

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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