My Genealogy Hound

Joseph Schiffbauer is a native of Prussia, born near Cologne, February 2, 1838, his parents being Moritz and Kathrina (Niebach) Schiffbauer, the father a farmer by occupation. Joseph attended the common schools of his native country, from the age of six to fourteen, and then attended college at Cologne for three years. When about twenty or twenty-one years of age he entered the Prussian army as a soldier, and served three years. He then resided with his father on a farm and on the 4th of June, 1865, he took passage by steamer to New York, reaching that port ten days later. From there he went to Indianapolis, where he remained two years engaged as a gardener for the State Deaf and Dumb Asylum. On account of his health he left there and went to St. Louis, but finding the cholera prevalent at this place he moved from there at the end of two days to Kansas City, and here engaged in gardening. He here experienced the grasshopper plague and returned to St. Louis temporarily, but returned to Kansas City, and February 10, 1871, was married to Miss Jane Whitecrow, a daughter of Jacob Whitecrow, a chief of the Wyandottes in Ohio. He moved from Kansas in 1872, and located on the farm where he now resides, which consists of 125 acres of fine land. He pays considerable attention to the rearing of stock, principally sheep, and has about 500 head, a cross between the common sheep and the Merino. He has a bearing orchard of peach and apple trees, five acres in extent, and about 200 grape vines of the best variety for this State. To his marriage were born three children: Robert, Minnie (who is attending the White College of Indiana), and Fritz. Mr. Schiffbauer lost his first wife in 1880, and in 1883 he married his present one, nee Miss Alice Robertile, a native of the Wyandotte country, of Kansas, and the daughter of Napoleon Robertile. To this marriage two children, Bertram and Amelia were born. They have one adopted child, Lizzie Wind. Mr. and Mrs. Schiffbauer are members of the Catholic Church.