William Peter Schuck

   Another name for William was Schuch.¹⁰

  Research Notes:

All of the following records list John Schuch as the father and Gertrude Gorgas as the mother except for that of Catharine which spells John's name as Jacob (or James)

Schuch, Anna - Bk. 1, Pg. 102 No. 1 - DOB Dec 29, 1865 - Bapt. Jan 07, 1866

Schuch, Catharine - Bk. 1, Pg. 122, No. 75 - DOB Nov 22, 1867 - Bapt. Dec 8, 1867

Schuch, Joseph - Bk. 2, Pg. 26, No. 62 - DOB Oct 18, 1869

Schuch, Elizabeth - Bk. 2, Pg. 50, No. 4 - DOB Jan 12, 1872 - Bapt. Jan 24, 1872

Schuch, Mathias Jacob - Bk. 2, Pg. 64, No. 31 - DOB May 4, 1873 - Bapt. May 11, 1873

Schuch, Margaret Theresa - Bk.2, Pg. 98, No. 91 - DOB Nov 28, 1875 - Bapt. Dec 5, 1875

Schuch, Peter William - Bk. 2, Pg, 141, No. 57 - DOB Aug 19, 1878 - Bapt. Sep 1, 1878

Schuch, Elizabeth Christine - Bk. 2, Pg. 225, No. 29 - DOB May 2, 1881 - Bapt. May 15, 1881

Schuch, Joseph Ludwig (Louis) - Bk. 2, Pg. 310, No. 80 - DOB Aug 17, 1883, - Bapt. Aug 26, 1883

Schuch, Ludovica (Louise) - Bk. 3, Pg. 62, No. 1 - DOB Aug 20, 1885 - Bapt. Aug 30, 1885

^{St John the Baptist, 404 North Hickory Street, Joliet, IL, 60435 11}

  Noted events in his life were:

• Birth: (recorded at St John's Catholic Church), 19 Aug 1878, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹²
Name Schuch, Peter William Bk 2, Pg 141, No 57

Born August 19, 1878
Baptized September 1, 1878
Father John Schuch
Mother (nee) Gertrude Gorges
Sponsor Peter Weller
Sponsor Mary Elizabeth Welte
Priest Fr. Gerard Becher, OFM

Matrimony
Date October 8, 1908
To Whom? Margaret Gaton
Place B.V.M. .....Joliet, Ill.

• Baptism: (Recorded at St John's Catholic Church - see birth documentation), 01 Sep 1878, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹³
Name Schuch, Peter William Bk 2, Pg 141, No 57

Born August 19, 1878
Baptized September 1, 1878
Father John Schuch
Mother (nee) Gertrude Gorges
Sponsor Peter Weller
Sponsor Mary Elizabeth Welte
Priest Fr. Gerard Becher, OFM

Matrimony
Date October 8, 1908
To Whom? Margaret Gaton
Place B.V.M. .....Joliet, Ill.

• Census: 1880 US, 14 Jun 1880, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ³
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, John ... | W | M | 40 | . | ........ | . | 1 | . | . | Carpenter.... | v |||||| |||| Germany. | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, Gertrude | W | F | 36 | . | Wife ... | . | 1 | . | . | Keeping House | . |||||| |||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, Anney .. | W | F | 14 | . | daughter | 1 | . | . | . | at Home...... | . |||||| |||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, Joseph.. | W | M | 11 | . | son..... | 1 | . | . | . | at School.... | . |||||| |||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, Jacob... | W | M | 07 | . | son..... | 1 | . | . | . | at School.... | . |||||| |||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, Teresey. | W | F | 04 | . | daughter | 1 | . | . | . | ............. | . |||||| |||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Shuck, William. | W | M | 02 | . | son..... | 1 | . | . | . | ............. | . |||||| |||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |
| 199 | 236 | Gorges, Peter.. | W | M | 34 | . | Boarder. | 1 | . | . | . | Laborer...... | v ||||||1|||| Illinois | Germany | Germany |

• Residence: Summit St, 14 Jun 1880, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ³

• Letter: William's Annual New Year's Day Letter To His Mother, 01 Jan 1891, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁴
Dear Mother,

Again a year has gone by and a new one has begun. Gone is the one with its joys and pleasant things, but also with its sufferings, sorrows and heartaches.

I have to confess that in the past year I unfortunately have not always acted in a way that is appropriate for a good and grateful child. Often I did not respond to your teachings and admonitions or did not obey willingly and joyfully. I am deeply sorry and promise to be an obedient and loving son in the future. Also, I shall not forget to ask God daily that you may live for a long, long time and that we all shall meet again at some future day at God's throne. This wish is from the bottom of my heart.

Your grateful son,
Wilhelm

• Census: 1900 US, 06 Jun 1900, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁵
|134|188|Schook, Gertrude.|Head|W|F|Mar|1846|54|Wd||10|7|Illinois|Germany|Germany.||||| ............|.|..|Y|Y|Y|O|M|H|
|134|188|Schook, Joseph...|Son.|W|M|Aug|1872|28|S.||..|.|Illinois|Germany|Illinois||||| Carpenter...|6|..|Y|Y|Y|.|.|.|
|134|188|Schook, Thrissia.|Dau.|W|F|Sep|1876|23|S.||..|.|Illinois|Germany|Illinois||||| House Keeper|.|..|Y|Y|Y|.|.|.|
|134|188|Schook, Jacob....|Son.|W|M|May|1874|26|S.||..|.|Illinois|Germany|Illinois||||| Teamster....|0|..|Y|Y|Y|.|.|.|
|134|188|Schook, William..|Son.|W|M|Aug|1879|20|S.||..|.|Illinois|Germany|Illinois||||| Salesman....|0|..|Y|Y|Y|.|.|.|
|134|188|Schook, Elizabeth|Dau.|W|F|May|1887|19|S.||..|.|Illinois|Germany|Illinois||||| House Keeper|.|..|Y|Y|Y|.|.|.|
|134|188|Schook, Louise...|Dau.|W|F|Sep|1886|13|S.||..|.|Illinois|Germany|Illinois||||| At School...|.|10|Y|Y|Y|.|.|.|

• Occupation: salesman, 06 Jun 1900, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁵

• Residence: 104 Summit St, 06 Jun 1900, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁵

• Census: 1910 US, 21 Apr 1910, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ⁵
|145|167|Schuck, William.|Head|M|W|31..|M|1|.|.|Illinois|Ger German|Ger German|||English|Salesman....|Hardware|W|No|0|Y|Y|.|R|.|H|..|.|.|.|
|145|167|Schuck, Margaret|Wife|F|W|24..|M|1|1|1|Illinois|Illinois..|Illinois..|||English|None........|........|.|..|.|Y|Y|.|.|.|.|..|.|.|.|
|145|167|Schuck, Eugene..|Son.|M|W|5/12|.|.|.|.|Illinois|Illinois..|Illinois..|||English|............|........|.|..|.|Y|Y|.|.|.|.|..|.|.|.|

• Occupation: hardware salesman, 21 Apr 1910, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ⁵

• Residence: 207 Cass St, 21 Apr 1910, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ⁵

• Census: 1920 US, 12 Jan 1920, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁶
|28|50|Schuck, William.|Head|R|.|M|W|41..|M||||.|Y|Y|Illinois||Illinois||Illinois|Y|Salesman|Hardware store|M|.|
|28|50|Schuck, Margaret|Wife|.|.|F|W|34..|M||||.|Y|Y|Illinois||Illinois||Illinois|Y|None....|..............|.|.|
|28|50|Schuck, Eugene..|Son.|.|.|M|W|10..|S||||Y|Y|Y|Illinois||Illinois||Illinois|Y|None....|..............|.|.|
|28|50|Schuck, Raymond.|Son.|.|.|M|W|08..|S||||Y|.|.|Illinois||Illinois||Illinois|.|None....|..............|.|.|
|28|50|Schuck, William.|Son.|.|.|M|W|05..|M||||.|.|.|Illinois||Illinois||Illinois|.|None....|..............|.|.|
|28|50|Schuck, Lawrence|Son.|.|.|M|W|1/12|S||||.|.|.|Illinois||Illinois||Illinois|.|None....|..............|.|.|

• Occupation: salesman in a hardware store, 12 Jan 1920, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁶

• Residence: 209 Cass St, 12 Jan 1920, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁶

• Census: 1930 US, 03 Apr 1930, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁷
|18|22|Schuck, Wm P....|Head|R|10.00|R|N|M|W|51|M|29|N|Y|Illinois|Germany.|Illinois||61|13|1||||Y|Salesman|Hardware Co|4590|W|N|25|N|
|18|22|Schuck, Margaret|Wife|.|.....|.|v|F|W|44|M|23|N|Y|Illinois|Illinois|Illinois||61|..|.||||Y|None....|...........|....|.|.|..|.|
|18|22|Schuck, Eugene..|Son.|.|.....|.|v|M|W|20|S|..|N|Y|Illinois|Illinois|Illinois||61|..|.||||Y|Salesman|R R Station|4577|W|N|26|N|
|18|22|Schuck, Raymond.|Son.|.|.....|.|v|m|W|19|S|..|Y|Y|Illinois|Illinois|Illinois||61|..|.||||Y|None....|...........|....|.|.|..|.|
|18|22|Schuck, William.|Son.|.|.....|.|v|M|W|15|S|..|Y|Y|Illinois|Illinois|Illinois||61|..|.||||Y|Laborer.|Mills Steel|7824|W|Y|15|N|
|18|22|Schuck, Lawrence|Son.|.|.....|.|v|M|W|10|S|..|Y|Y|Illinois|Illinois|Illinois||61|..|.||||Y|None....|...........|....|.|.|..|.|

• Occupation: salesman at a hardware store, 03 Apr 1930, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁷

• Residence: 209 Cass St, 03 Apr 1930, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁷

• Hobbies: collecting fossils, 26 Oct 1944, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁸

• Publication: Joliet Herald News, The Spectator, 26 Oct 1944, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ¹⁹  
KEEPS RELICS OF 250 MILLION YEARS AGO

W. P. Schuck, 67 W. Cass Street, displays his collection of petrified fossils, which date back 250 million years. At the right are two lamps with hand-carved bases, also the work of Mr. Schuck.

Over a period of five years Mr. Schuck has collected almost one thousand fossil specimens, many of which are probably not duplicated in any other display. They include ferns, tree barks, seeds and leaves, animals and shells.

Formed in Illinois during the Pennsylvania period, they came from rich and luxuriant vegetation covering most of the world at that time. Water slowly crept over everything, washing sand around the vegetable matter. Gradually the sand turned to rock, encasing the leaves and bark. Sometimes the vegetation itself petrified.

During the next period, called the coal age, water again covered a second growth of thick jungle-like trees and plants, forming our most important source of fuel. Indirectly this process led to the discovery of fossils, because it was while digging the strip mines at Coal City that many of these remnants of prehistoric times were found.

In his collection Mr. Schuck has a few 'modern' innovations, such as some petrified footprints, evidently of a dinosaur and a tiger, made only one million years ago! Since there were no flowers during these prehistoric times, only leaves and trees are to be found in the specimens. Moreover, a number of the plants which were then quite common are now extinct.

The petrified imprint is always delicate and symmetrical. Occasionally it has been covered with another deposit of lime or calcite, and leaves a white' outline. A coating of marquisette gives a small fern leaf impression the appearance of a beautiful, dainty rhinestone pin. But try to fasten that stone- based brooch to your fur coat!

Each of these leaves has gradually become encased in a solid rock, usually about the size of a somewhat flattened Idaho potato. The enclosed leaf or bark will cause a slight weakness in the stone and if the collector is fortunate, it breaks open evenly, leaving a perfect impression. But he is not always fortunate and in the case of some vegetation a complete leaf has never been found. Other rocks and the mining equipment also damage many specimens.

Among the most interesting fossils are those of a shrimp, looking quite life-like; and a trilobite, now extinct, which had a round head and looked something like a Greek mask of Comedy. Encased in iron instead of stone are a lizard, curled all about itself, and a young frog just emerging from the tadpole stage. There is also a petrified animal leg, evidently from one of the giant lizards.

• Occupation: purchasing agent at Poehner and Dillman Hardware, 1910-1946, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ²⁰

• Obituary: Joliet Daily News, 16 Sep 1946, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ²¹
SCHUCK \endash William P.; age 68 years; late of 67 W. Cass St.; suddenly Sunday, Sept. 15, at St. Joseph's hospital; beloved husband of Margaret nee Gatons; fond father of Eugene, of Joliet; Raymend of Merinette, Wis.; William of Arlington, Va. and Lawrence Schuck of Missoula, Montana; grandfather of 7 grandchIldren: brother of Mrs. Anna Couch; Mrs. Theresa Hobbs, Elizabeth and Louise Schuck of Joliet; uncle of Arthur Couch. Funeral from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, Center at Campbell Sts. Wednesday at 9 a. m. to St. Mary's church at 9:30, Interment St. John's cemetery. Member of St. Alois Branch No. 21 W. C. U.

• Obituary: Joliet Daily News, 16 Sep 1946, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ²²  
William P. Schuck, 68, Dies After Sudden Illness

William P. Schuck, 68 years old, 67 West Cass street, a life-long resident of Joliet and a retired employee of the Poehner and Dillman company, died in St. Joseph's hospital yesterday morning after becoming suddenly ill Saturday night.

An employee of the Poehner and Dillman Hardware company, where he was purchasing agent for 36 years, he retired 15 years ago.

Surviving are his widow, the former Margaret Gatons; four sons, Eugene of Joliet, Raymond of Marinette, Wis., William of Arlington, Va., and Lawrence of Missoula, Mont.; four sisters, Mrs. Anna Couch, Mrs. Theresa Hobbs, and the Misses Elizabeth and Louise Schuck, all of Joliet; and seven grandchildren.

Time of the funeral has been set at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning from the Fred C. Dames funeral home. Center and Campbell streets, with rites at 9:30 o'clock in St. Mary's Catholic church. Burial will be in St. John's cemetery.

• Cemetery: St John's Catholic Cemetery, 18 Sep 1946, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ²³  
               † 
WILLIAM P. SCHUCK 
AUG 19, 1878 
SEPT 15, 1946

William married Margaret Elizabeth Gatons, daughter of Samuel L. Gatons and Mary Ann Mahoney, on 08 Oct 1908 in Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA.¹ (Margaret Elizabeth Gatons was born on 03 Jun 1886 in Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA,^{5 24 25 26 27} died on 11 Mar 1968 in Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA ^{26 28 29} and was buried on 13 Mar 1968 in Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA ³⁰.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: (Recorded at St John's Catholic Church - see William's birth documentation), 08 Oct 1908, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ³¹
Name Schuch, Peter William Bk 2, Pg 141, No 57

Born August 19, 1878
Baptized September 1, 1878
Father John Schuch
Mother (nee) Gertrude Gorges
Sponsor Peter Weller
Sponsor Mary Elizabeth Welte
Priest Fr. Gerard Becher, OFM

Matrimony
Date October 8, 1908
To Whom? Margaret Gaton
Place B.V.M. .....Joliet, Ill.

• Marriage, 08 Oct 1908, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. ³¹

• Residence, 1947, Joliet, Will, Illinois, USA. 67 W. Cass
Margaret E. (widow of Wm P)

• Letter: From Barbara Schuck Rosalas to John Schuck, 15 Jan 1996, Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA. ³²  
Dear John,
 
Enclosed are family photos and other information. You may keep everything.
 
I do have a Schuck family photo album and a box of pictures. I also have some tin plates. You are welcome to keep what you want.

I do know somw stories about the Schuck and Gaton family. You may know some.
 
Elizabeth would go to early Sunday mass which gave her the opportunity to go back to church when the people in church. She would pick a horse and buggy and drive it around the block. She had to take Louise along or else she would tell.
 
Louise, at times, after work would stop at the neighborhood bar. Elizabeth had to get her.
 
My dad told me this story about your dad. He said Aunt Elizabeth baked a great coffeecake and always made an extra. He said, 'Ray and I went to Aunt Elizabeth's house and they both eyed a coffeecake. Ray always had to carry the cake and once at home got the first slice. On the day that I asked to carry the cake, Ray said no. When it was time to go Elizabeth took the cake and went to wrap it. She came back with the wrapped cake and Ray hurried out the door with cake in hand. Elizabeth started laughing. She handed me another wrapped cake and said 'your brother just took the garbage home.' When I entered my home and went to the kitchen, Ray had a knife and was carefully cutting the string to get what he thought was the cake.' My dad said the look on his face was something he never would forget. They took turns carrying a cake from Aunt Elizabeth's home.
 
Our Grandma Schuck was a well mannered lady for times. My dad said one day for dessert she made a strawberry shortcake. She passed the bowl of strawberries and when she handed back the bowl she started eating from the bowl without thinking. They gave her a good ribbing and would not let her forget every time they ate strawberries.

  Marriage Notes:

 
1100…, 1201…, , 1205. I wasn't sure I would recognize it but I did. The sandstone colored brick house with an east-facing porch was both bright and familiar in the morning light. Liz and I were too early for the courthouse to open and when I crossed N. Raynor Street the name rang a bell in my head so we drove up the road. I had not been to the place since 1970 when mother and I drove south to visit my dying Aunt Lou. She was concerned for me as I was in Vietnam for my second tour and she told mother she would hold on until I came home safe. She was good to her word.

I parked the car around the corner and took out the camera. As I walked toward the front of the house two men working in the garage of the corner house followed me and watched as I took the photo. "Is it for sale, then?" said the first. "No," I laughed, "I'm just taking a picture, my grandmother owned the house and I am here in town to work on genealogy and I thought I would stop by." "Are you a 'Schuck?'" said the other man. I was surprised and said, "Why, yes, I am." The second man said, "I didn't know they had any children." I said, "My father was Raymond, you're thinking of my Uncle Eugene and Aunt Charlotte who lived in the house after Grandmother Schuck died. "Oh, you're Ray's boy," said the old man.

"Charlotte had the house about six years after Gene died and after she died it was a real mess," said the one. "Yeah!" said the older man, "it was sold and it became a 'crack house.'" We had addicts and drunks all over the place. We asked the police to help but that wasn't working fast enough and finally we got our councilman to step in and get it back under control. The current people have had the place for six years or so and we have a good neighborhood again. That is why we were wondering if it was going to be sold." I reassured them that I was just in Joliet to do genealogy research. "That's good, more people should do that," said the first.

They breathed easier as I got into the car and drove on.
^{[ W John Schuck] 33}