My Genealogy Hound

John C. Scherer, undertaker, of St. Wendel, Ind., was born October 30, 1864, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Knapp) Scherer, the former a native of Niederzengheim, Germany, a cabinet maker, who traveled extensively in his native land before coming to America. Jacob Scherer was born in 1816, learned his trade by the time he was nineteen years of age and came to America in 1842, locating first in Canada, and later in Evansville, Ind., where he lived until the war broke out. He was engaged in the furniture business, but the war drove him out and he came to St. Wendel, where he opened a general merchandise store. After living here for some time he removed to Fort Branch, but returned seven years later and engaged in cabinet making and in the undertaking business, in which he continued until his death, June 10, 1891. Mrs. Margaret Scherer was also born in Germany, coming to this country at the age of eight years with her parents, who settled in Pennsylvania and afterward removed to Posey county, Indiana. John Scherer graduated from the public schools of St. Wendel, after which he went to work with his father and learned the cabinet making and undertaking business, and after the death of the father he succeeded to the business. In May, 1897, Mr. Scherer graduated from Clark’s Embalming School, Evansville, Ind., and the next year graduated from Clark’s Embalming College, of Indianapolis. In 1902 he was admitted by the State Board of Embalmers to practice his profession in the State of Indiana. Until the year 1906 he was engaged in the implement business under the firm name of Coudret & Scherer, but sold out to devote his entire time to undertaking. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic church. On October 10, 1893, Mr. Scherer married Miss Benie Hofmann, daughter of William and Catherine (Wolf) Hofmann. Her father, a native of Rheinphalz, Germany, came to America at the age of nineteen and first located in Pennsylvania, three years later coming to Posey county and locating in Parker’s Settlement, where he engaged in the general merchandise business and later, with Philip Speck, ran a brewery at the same place. He was trustee of Robinson township several terms and was also postmaster for many years. He died January 20, 1876. Mrs. Hofmann was born in Evansville, Ind., August 20, 1838, and raised in Parker’s Settlement, where she received her education and married. Her death occurred October 15, 1889. Mrs. Scherer was born in Parker’s Settlement September 5, 1864. She received her education in the town of her birth and later graduated from Eurmick’s Commercial College at Evansville, of which her sister was principal of typewriting, bookkeeping and shorthand. Mr. and Mrs. Scherer have three children: Clarence, born August 13, 1894; Irma, November 13, 1896; Elsie, April 4, 1899. Clarence attended commercial college at Evansville, was for one year in the office of the auditor of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Evansville, Ind., and is now telegraph operator at Petersburg, Ind., with the same company. Irma is attending high school at Tell City, Ind. Elsie is now attending public school in Smith township. Mr. Scherer and children are communicants of the Catholic church, Mrs. Scherer is a member of the German Evangelical church.