Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Schaaf, F. Richard (Sr.) 1857 - 
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Author: T. H. Ball (1904)

F. RICHARD SCHAAF, SR.

    Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the
individual, or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial
development, it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a
successful life is none the less profitable by reason of the existence of this
uncertainty, and in the majority of cases it is found that exceptional ability.
amounting to genius, perhaps, was the real secret of the pre-eminence which many
envied. Thus it appears to the student of human nature who seeks to trace the
history of the rise of F. Richard Schaaf, Sr., a typical German-American of the
best class.

    Mr. Schaaf was born in Saxony, Germany, on the 26th of March, 1857, and is a
son of Ferdinand and Catherine Schaaf, who were also natives of the same
country. The son was reared in that land and pursued his education in the public
schools of Germany. He also attended college there and was educated for the army
in order to enter military service as a veterinary surgeon with the rank of
lieutenant. He volunteered to enter the army and by reason of this he was
honorably discharged after two years six months. It was his desire to come to
America, and for that reason he secured his release from the army.

    Mr. Schaaf was but fourteen years of age when left an orphan by the death of
his parents, and when about twenty years of age he was married in the
fatherland. He came to America about 1880 and the same year located in Chicago,
where he became an employe in the tool department of the Electric Construction
Company. He was a representative of that house for five years, at the end of
which time he rented the American House, which was located at the corner of
Twenty-second street and Archer avenue. This he conducted until 1889, when he
came to Whiting and built the Berry Lake hotel. He continued as its manager and
proprietor until 1893, when he sold out and removed to Robertsdale, where he
established a grocery store. Later he turned his attention to the insurance
business, and he now represents the Queen of America, the Hamburg, Bremen, the
Norwich Union, the Hanover and the Scottish Union & National insurance
companies; also is notary public. His policies represent a large amount of
insurance each year, and his business has grown to profitable proportions. In
his political allegiance Mr. Schaaf is a Democrat, and has been a member of the
Hammond city council since 1894, covering a period of ten consecutive years. He
has been very active as a representative of this body, has taken a deep interest
in the city's welfare, has exercised his official prerogatives for the general
progress and improvement and has done much in this way for the upbuilding of the
city. He has been particularly active in locating school-houses, in opening and
improving streets and he advocated the opening of Wolf river for harbor
purposes; and located Lake Front Park in Roberts-dale, Hammond. He is a strong
believer in this harbor measure, and if it is carried into effect it will
undoubtedly prove of great value in community interests. Mr. Schaaf is also
deputy assessor of North township.

    In 1877 occurred the marriage of F. Richard Schaaf and Miss Catherine
Schlueter, a native of Germany, and they have become the parents of seven
children, namely: F. Richard, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, being
well known in business circles in Whiting; Clara; George; Elizabeth; Catherine;
Martha; and Edward. Socially Mr. Schaaf is connected with the Masonic
fraternity, belonging to Waldeck Lodge No. 674, F. & A. M., of Chicago. He is
likewise a member of Moltke Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Hammond. A public-spirited
citizen, his efforts in behalf of Lake county have been far-reaching and
beneficial. He is one of the best known men of his locality, having resided here
since the establishment of the towns of Whiting and Robertsdale. Recognizing the
possibilities of these places he has contributed to general progress and
improvement, and no man is more loyal to the best interests of this portion of
the state. In his business career, too, he has made for himself an enviable
name, and his life history shows what can be accomplished by determined effort
and strong purpose.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
Genealogy and Biography
OF
LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA,
WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 
1834—1904

A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and
the Founding of a Nation.

REV. T. H. BALL
OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO   NEW YORK
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1904


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