Henry and Louisa (Kieler) Schumacher

Louisa Kieler was born on January 25, 1847, in Saxony, Germany, the youngest child of Johannes and Katharina Kieler; with them she came to this country in 1855, and they settled in Jamestown Township of Grant County, Wisconsin, and it was there she received her education.

Louisa marries Henry Schumacher.
On April 29, 1869, at the church in Kieler, Wisconsin, Louisa Kieler married Henry Schumacher, who became a well-known liveryman of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and was one of the young and enterprising business men of that flourishing town.

Henry Schumacher was born on December 16, 1844, in Wiesental, Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany, son of Martin and Theresa (Schumacher) Schumacher. He was baptized on December 17, 1844, in Wiesental. He came to the United States with his parents on the ship Statesman, which arrived in New York on November 15, 1853, from Antwerp. They settled in Cattaragus County in New York, and Henry grew to manhood in the Empire State, where he was reared and received his education, passing his time on the farm principally.

Henry Schumacher's Civil War service.
Henry Schumacher was only nine years old when his parents emigrated to America, in 1853. In the stirring times that preceded the great civil conflict in 1861, Mr. Schumacher was much concerned, and the outbreak of the Civil War found him a stout boy of seventeen. When eighteen years of age, he, being determined to take part in the struggle, in company with other young men, answered President Lincoln's call for volunteers, and on August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company F of the 116th Regiment, New York Infantry, Union New York Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge June 26, 1865. The National Park Service's online Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System lists Henry Schumacher's name as Henry Shoemaker.

Henry Schumacher undoubtedly was part of the following as a witness to history: A group of Erie County soldiers - the 116th NYV, first division, XIX Corps - were then on their way riding the B&O out of the Shenandoah Valley bound for Washington. In the regimental history, Lancaster soldier Orton S Clark recalled their anticipation. "Crossing the Patapsco River . . . expectation was all alive to see the funeral train of the lamented Lincoln . . . When about twelve miles from Washington our train slackened its speed, and the slow tolling of our engine bell announced the approach of the funeral cortege. Slowly it passed us, and then we sped on our way to the capital." Ironically, the 116th was detached for provost duty in Washington -- assigned responsibility for the old Capitol and Carroll prisons, incarcerated within which were a number of those charged with being accomplices of Booth. excerpted from One Funeral Makes Another by Benedict R. Maryniak

He participated in a number of heavy engagements, and on more than one occasion distinguished himself for bravery under fire. His first memorable fight was at Plain's Store during the Siege of Port Hudson, in Louisiana, on May 21, 1863; the siege ended with an important Union victory on July 9, 1863, when, after hearing of the fall of Vicksburg, the Confederate garrison of Port Hudson surrendered, opening the Mississippi River to Union navigation from its source to New Orleans. Henry participated in the 1864 Red River Campaign, including the Battle of Pleasant Hill on April 9, 1864, which was the last major battle, in terms of numbers of men involved, of the Louisiana phase of the campaign, which had Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks as its principal commander. The regiment moved on to Virginia, where Henry participated in Opequon, also known as Third Winchester, on September 19, 1864; at Fisher's Hill on September 21-22, 1864; and at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, all battles which were part of Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign. These Union victories were of great importance for President Lincoln as they would contribute to his re-election in 1864. Henry Schumacher was promoted to the rank of corporal, and he was just one of three in his company who went through all the engagements and marches without a scratch.

With the fighting all but finished, the 116th served at Stephenson's Depot until April 5, 1865, when they were moved to Washington, D.C., with duty there until June. The regiment was mustered out on June 8, 1865, and discharged at Buffalo, N. Y., on June 26, 1865.

Life after the Civil War.
After receiving his discharge, Mr. Schumacher returned to New York, and in the fall of 1865 hired as an assistant on a propeller steam-boat plying on Lake Erie, Huron, and Michigan, mainly between Buffalo, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. In this occupation he passed two seasons, and then removed to the lumber regions of Michigan, where he spent one year, removing in the spring of 1868 to Grant County, Wisconsin, working on a farm there until the fall of that year, and then again going to the lumber country at Green Bay.

In 1869 he returned to Grant County, where he was married on April 26 that same year, to Miss Louisa Kieler, daughter of John and Catherine Kieler. Born to Henry and Louisa (Kieler) Schumacher were Margaretha "Maggie" M. Schumacher, Henry M. Schumacher, Katherine "Katie" T. Schumacher, Anna "Annie" L. Schumacher, Angeline "Angie" E. Schumacher, George J. Schumacher, and infant Schumacher.

The Schumachers at East Dubuque, Ill.
After their marriage Henry Schumacher worked at farming until the spring of 1870, when the Schumachers moved to Dunleith, now East Dubuque, where Henry was engaged in the lumber business for Messrs. Ashley & Cook, and later for M.H. Moore, in the Moore Lumber Company.

The 1880 U.S. census has the Henry Schumacher household in East Dubuque, Illinois, consisting of Henry, age 35, lumber yard salesman; his wife Louise, age 32, keeping house; their children Maggie M., age 7; Henry M., age 5; Kate T., age 3; and Annie L., age 9 months; George Schumacher, Henry's brother, age 20, laborer; Dora Richter, who was Louisa's niece, age 19, servant; and Franzeska Machauer, age 56, an aunt of Henry and George's, a sister of their father Martin Schumacher.

In 1885 he became a partner of Mr. Moore and then sole owner, but in February 1887 he sold his interest in that concern to enter the livery business, purchasing the interests of Mr. Robert Sutter, with his brother George; he purchased his brother's interest in the livery on April 1, 1889.

The 1900 U.S. census has the Henry Schumacher household in Dunleith Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, consisting of Henry, age 55, with an occupation of livery stable keeper; his wife Louisa, age 52; and their daughters, Annie, age 20, and Angeline, age 16. Henry subsequently conducted a grocery store in East Dubuque, which was known for many years as Schumacher and Son.

The Schumacher family were members of the Roman Catholic Church, and they belonged to St. Mary's Church in East Dubuque, where Louise was affiliated with the Altar and Rosary societies. Among the citizens of the county Henry was numbered as an intelligent, conscientious, and good citizen. He was prominent in the business life of the community and enjoyed the confidence and esteem af a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances in East Dubuque and Dubuque.

DEATH OF OLD WAR VETERAN.
Henry Schumacher, Sr., Answers the Bugle Call from the Far-Off Shore.

AGED DUNLEITH RESIDENT DEAD.
HENRY SCHUMACHER PASSES AWAY AT FAMILY RESIDENCE THURSDAY MORNING.
Served in the 116th New York Infantry for Three Years.--Funeral Saturday Morning.

VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR AND HONORED CITIZEN DIED EARLY THURSDAY.
Taps was sounded for one of East Dubuque's Civil War veterans Thursday morning, August, 12, 1915, when Mr. Henry Schumacher, Sr., succumbed to paralysis, after a lingering illness, death coming at 3:15 o'clock [a second account sets the time of death at 2:40]. Two years ago ago the deceased had suffered a paralytic stroke from which he had never recovered. The past six months he had been confined to his bed.

In the death of Mr. Schumacher, one of the links that binds the present to the past is broken--a life that was colored very largely by the great events of the past fifty years, in which events he was a participant. Mr. Schumacher was a gentleman of the old school, and his sterling honesty and honorable conduct live in the memory of all with whom he came in contact. He was an indulgent father, a kind and loving husband, a good citizen, and a generous neighbor.

FUNERAL OF HENRY SCHUMACHER.
RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY SERVICE HELD AT EAST DUBUQUE SATURDAY.

OLD SOLDIER LAID TO REST.
Hundreds of friends from Dubuque and East Dubuque attended the funeral of the late Henry Schumacher at St. Mary's church in East Dubuque Saturday morning, August 14. Requiem high mass was celebrated at 9 o'clock by the Rev. Father Gallagher, and at the conclusion of the services he preached a fitting eulogy on the life of the deceased. His splendid example of devotion to country, he said, was only equalled by his devotion to his church and his home, referring to Mr. Schumacher as a soldier of the cross and of his country, who had served his God as faithfully as he had served his ocuntry. He held up the life of the deceased as one worthy of emulation.

An escort of twenty veterans, who were members of the Hyde Clark Post of the G.A.R., to which Mr. Schumacher had belonged, accompanied the body from the church to the East Dubuque cemetery, and following the church's service, read by Father Gallagher, the service of the Grand Army was carried out, with C.H. Berg in charge. The pall bearers, all veterans who live in East Dubuque, were J. Kass, Gus Petitgout, Joseph Most, James Foley, Hebert Slaats, and E. Kruser.

Mr. Schumacher was survived by his wife Louise, three of his seven children, Henry, Jr., of Freeport, Illinois; and Mrs. Albert Beck and Mrs. Floyd Little, both of East Dubuque, Illinois; two brothers, George of Dubuque, Iowa, and Frank of West Valley, New York.

This obituary for Louisa (Kieler) Schumacher appeared in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald on Sunday, January 30, 1938.

Louisa (Kieler) Schumacher dies.
Mrs. Louise Schumacher, 91, widow of the late Henry Schumacher, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Beck, in East Dubuque, Ill., Saturday morning, January 29, 1938, at 9 o'clock. Death followed a month's illness.

The body was taken to the East Dubuque Funeral Home, from where the funeral was held to St. Mary's Church Monday morning, January 31, at 9 o'clock. The Rev. J.J. Hackett sang the requiem high mass and also preached the sermon. The women of the Altar and Rosary societies attended the funeral mass in a body. Pallbearers were Edward Heffron, Anton Brink, Edward Runde, Edward Klotz, Charles Hamilton, and Harry Grassel. Burial was in East Dubuque Cemetery. Father Hackett officiated at the graveside services.

Mrs. Schumacher was survived by two daughters, Mrs. Albert (Anna) Beck and Mrs. Floyd (Angie) Liddle, both of East Dubuque, Ill., and 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Children of Henry and Louisa (Kieler) Schumacher:

Sources include obituaries from 1) the Dubuque Telegraph Herald and its predecessors, and 2) an early East Dubuque newspaper; a biographical entry for Henry Schumacher in the 1889 Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess Co., Illinois (as transcribed at http://users.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iljodavi/1889bios/HSchumacher.htm); U.S. census records available on microfilm at the Dubuque Carnegie-Stout Public Library and the online 1880 U.S. census at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website, at http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp; online cemetery records at the Jo Daviess County, Illinois ILGenWeb website at http://users.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iljodavi/; Don Gentner's Genealogy Web Site at http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gentner/ for information concerning the Schumacher heritage; a biographical entry for George Kieler in the 1901 Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette, Wisconsin (pages 896-898, as transcribed at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wigrant/bio351.htm); and other sources as noted within the text.

© 2004-06 Tom Larson P.O. Box 141 Peosta, IA 52068-0141 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/kieler/schumacher/ Last revised May 18, 2006.