Biographical Sketch of Oscar Schramm, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Oscar Schramm, vinegar and cider manufacturer, was born at Culmbach,
Bavaria, August 24, 1837, and came with his family in 1841 to New York
City. From there he went to Circleville, Ohio, where his father, John
G. Schramm, who was a merchant and vinegar manufacturer, had settled,
and there he remained for two years. Thence to Chillicothe, Ohio, from
which place he went with his grandparents in 1849 to Iowa, remaining
one year. His father had opened a business at Burlington, Iowa, and
Oscar went to this place and worked with him up to 1853, when the
father died. The responsibility for the support of the family rested
on Oscar, who was the oldest son, but with restless activity and energy
he successfully carried on the business. In 1856 he moved to Keokuk,
Iowa, where he engaged in business with his next younger brother.
Having heard favorably of St. Joseph, Missouri, he came here in 1859.
With a limited capital, but supported by his experience and thorough
knowledge of his business, he opened at once a vinegar manufactory.
Soon his vinegar gained a wide reputation, and he was obliged to en-
large his business every year. From 1872 to 1876 he was a member of
the City Council of St. Joseph, for two terms, and in the second year
of his second term he was elected presiding officer. From June to
August, during the absence of Mayor Hosea, he acted as Mayor of St.
Joseph. He always used his whole influence in the interest of the
city, and had the satisfaction to be rewarded by this request of the
citizens of his ward to become a candidate for a third term in 1876.
He married, January 12, 1860, Miss Lida Cole, of Keokuk, Iowa. Her
death occurred June 29, 1864. They had two children: Oscar Heinrich,
born March 16, 1861 and Edward, born December 28, 1862. His second
marriage was March 20, 1866, to Miss Carrie V. Yant, born at Louisville
Kentucky, July 17, 1839. They had eight children, Benjamin F., born
June 22, 1867, died November 3, 1868; Katharina S., born June 14, 1869
died October 3, 1870; Wilhelm A., born November 5, 1870, died August
1, 1871; Louis H., born January 28, 1872, died July 6, 1873; Rosine A.,
born August 28, 1873; Caroline E., born July 31, 1875; Nellie I., born
August 19, 1878; Minnie J., born October 17, 1880.

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