Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Schumacher, Peter J. 1861 - living in 1917
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 12:16 pm

Author: B. F. Bowen

PETER J. SCHUMACHER.

    Peter J. Schumacher, proprietor of a flourishing marble-cutting
establishment at Marysville and one of the well-known and progressive business
men of that city, is a native of the neighboring state of Wisconsin, but has
been a resident of Marshall county since pioneer days, having been but a child
when his parents moved to this county and took their place among the pioneer
residents of this part of the state. He was born on a farm in Ozaukee county,
Wisconsin, October 12, 1861, son of Peter and Susan (Koppes) Schumacher, natives
of Europe, whose last days were spent in this county, honored, and influential
pioneer residents of the same.

    Peter Schumacher and Susan Koppes were born in the grand duchy of Luxemburg
and grew to maturity there. In 1851 they joined a party of their
fellow-countrymen and came to this country, the sailing vessel on which they
took passage being seventy-six days making the voyage. They were married shortly
before they started to this country and settled on a farm in Ozaukee county,
Wisconsin, whence they presently moved to Michigan, where they remained until
1866, when they decided to put in their lot with the considerable number of
homesteaders who were then making their way to this part of Kansas. From the
railway terminus at St. Joseph, Missouri, they drove through with their little
farmily [sic] to Marshall county, traveling by "prairie schooner" and ox-team.
Peter Schumacher homesteaded a quarter of a section of raw land in section 12 of
Herkimer township, this county, erected a log house on the same and there
established his home. He broke up his land with his oxen and proceeded to get in
a crop, but his early operations were greatly hampered and set back by the
invasion of grasshoppers in this part of the state about that time and he had
much difficulty in getting a start in the new land, being compelled to leave his
pioneer farm and go to Hutchinson mills at Marysville, where he found employment
at a wage of one dollar a day, paid in bacon and corn-meal, on which humble fare
he sustained his family until brighter days came. Mr. Schumacher gradually
improved his farm, bringing the same up to a high state of cultivation, and
after awhile added an adjoining quarter section to his land holdings, coming to
be accounted one of the substantial farmers of that section of the county. There
he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1913, at the age of
seventy-eight years. His widow survived him about three years, her death
occurring in 1916, she then being at the age of eighty-five years. They were
members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in the faith of
that church. There were six of these children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the third in order or birth, the others being as follow: Margaret,
who married Nicholas Mellinger and is now deceased; Katherine, who married C. A.
Huber and is now deceased: Mathias, who lives at Moscow, Idaho; Stephen, of
Marysville, this county, and Susan, also of Marysville, the widow of H. Ashwiler.

    Peter J. Schumacher was about five years of age when his parents came to
this county and he was reared on the pioneer homestead farm in Herkimer
township, receiving his early schooling in a sod shanty, the first school house
in that township, and his first school teacher was Mrs. A. J. Travelute, a
biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume. He remained
at home, a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of developing the home
place, and after awhile bought a quarter section of his own in Herkimer
township, on which, after his marriage in 1888, he established his home. There
he lived until 1894, when he sold the place and moved to Marysville, where he
engaged in the agricultural-implement business and was thus engaged until 1897,
when he sold his store and took a position with the McCormick Harvester Company
as a traveling salesman. The next year he was appointed superintendent of the
Marshall county "poor farm." and was thus occupied for five years, or until
1903, when he bought from Mr. Bittell the Marysville granite and marble works
and has ever since been engaged in operating the same and has made quite a
success of his business. Mr. Schumacher started in business with a stock of
about three thousand dollars and has gradually extended his plant and enlarged
his stock until he is now carrying a stock valued at fifteen thousand dollars
and has a considerable force of marble-cutters at work. The business is carried
on under the firm name of Schumacher & Son, Mr. Schumacher's son, Andrew O.
Schumacher, having been admitted to partnership with his father some time ago.
The firm has a flourishing business and covers a wide scope of country in its
operations. Mr. Schumacher is a Democrat and during his residence in Herkimer
township was for three years township trustee. He also has served as a member of
the Marysville city council for two terms and has ever taken an earnest interest
in local civic affairs.

    On November 19, 1888, Peter J. Schumacher was united in marriage to Paulina
Huber, who was born at Peru, Illinois, March 28, 1867, and to this union three
children have been born, namely: Andrew O., junior partner in the firm of
Schumacher & Son, who married Catherine Reem and has one child, a daughter,
Audra; Verna J., who was graduated from Manhattan College and is at home, and
Helena, also at home. The Schumachers have a very pleasant home at Marysville
and take a-proper interest in the general social activities of their home town.
Mr. Schumacher is a member-of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the
Modern Woodmen of America and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and takes a
warm interest in the affairs of these several popular organizations.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/schumach25bs.txt

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