HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

(Fraza) Schroer. The parents were natives of Westcaple, Teclenburg,
Prussia, the father born February 19, 1812, and the mother, March 8,
1817. Henry T. Schroer came to the United States in the fall of 1833,
arriving at St. Louis, where he first resided, on the 4th of August of
that year. His future wife became a resident of the city October 11,
1837, and on the 19th of September, 1839, the Rev. Mr. Wall united
them in marriage. For about three years following his arrival in St.
Louis, Henry T. Schroer was employed in a saloon, but after his mar-
riage he removed to Washington township and bought eighty acres of
timber land and commenced the founding of a homestead. He cleared
the tract and placed the land under cultivation, but after residing thereon
with his family for thirteen years bought a farm of four hundred acres in
section 10 of the same township, forty acres of which lay in the rich Eel
river bottom. The last place he purchased was timber land entirely,
which he also improved, thoroughly cultivating the land and erecting
new buildings, spacious and convenient for the operations of the farm.
The father died on the 7th of September, 1889, and his wife on the 1st
of March, 1895. Eight children were born to them, three of whom
died in infancy, and all were born in Washington township. Fred, the
eldest of the family, died in Terre Haute, Indiana, on the 1st of January,
1905, at the age of sixty-three years. Sarah married John D. Kattman,
while Herman and August, the third and fourth of the family, are farm-
ers of Washington township, and Mary C. became Mrs. Ford Kord, also
of that township.
    August H. Schroer attended the district schools of Washington town-
ship, and resided with his parents on the home farm as long as they lived.
As a step toward independence he first purchased twenty-five acres on
Eel river bottom, and fifteen acres south of Bowling Green, and after
the death of his parents he purchased from the other heirs the home-
stead and one hundred and fifty-five acres of the family estate. He has
since developed his property so as to continually elevate it in value and
attractiveness, and has devoted it both to general farming purposes and
the raising of live stock—horses, cattle and hogs. He has also been
deeply interested in the work of the German Reformed church, his promi-
nent connection with it being somewhat indicated by his service of two
years as deacon and six years as trustee.
    Mr. Schroer’s marriage to Miss Sophia Kettler occurred on the 26th
of February, 1881, his wife being a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. daughter
of John and Mary Kettler, who were both born in Germany. Their child,
Laura Anna, born January 3, 1882, married Scott Burford, of Rockville,
Indiana. The wife and mother died on the 26th of February, 1883, and
on January 3, 1889, Mr. Schroer contracted a second marriage with
Mary Jane Aibright. She was born in Jackson township, January 1,
1867, a daughter of William and Catherine (Wilds) Albright, the father
being a native of North Carolina, and the mother of Greene county,
Indiana. The children of the second union are: Dora Louisa, born
October 12, 1889; Dennis Alvin, August 30, 1891; Elmer Everett, July
24, 1893; Zella Ruth, August 28, 1895; Laurine Rodel, October 14, 1897;
Francis Elbert, July 19, 1902; and Annis Mearl, January 4, 1906.

    JOHN TRIPLETT.—A self-made man in every sense implied by the
term, winning success in life by persevering industry, keen foresight and
excellent management, John Triplett is closely identified with the agri-