My Genealogy Hound

JOHN G. SCHENK. A number of the successful farmers of Pettis County are of German birth, who, desirous of gaining more than the Old World offered them, emigrated to America, and, seeking the broad area of country west of the Mississippi, established homes of their own. Such has been the experience of the subject of this narrative, one of the well known farmers of township 44, range 22. For many years fate seemed unkind to him, and he met with many obstacles in the path to success. He never anticipated being a rich man; in fact, his wife used to think that if they had five acres of land and a house, she would be content. Fortune smiled on his honest and painstaking efforts far more than he had hoped, and he is now numbered among the well-to-do farmers of the county.

Born in Saxony, Germany, February 9, 1831, our subject is the son of John M. and Anna (Hauck) Schenk. He was reared upon his father’s farm until about fourteen years of age, meantime receiving a practical education in the German language. At that age he was bound out to a miller to learn his trade, receiving a small sum the first year, but a little more the following year. At the expiration of three years, he was employed to take charge of the business, the proprietor having died shortly before he finished his apprenticeship. For two years he superintended the work, and meanwhile learned to do the work of the head flour miller, also becoming familiar with sawmill work. For the ensuing two years he was employed in various places in Germany, his wages going to his father until he was twenty-one.

April 20, 1854, Mr. Schenk married Miss Anna Frederica Stroeter, for whose father he had previously worked. Soon afterward they left Germany, accompanied by his father-in-law, and, arriving in this country, settled in Wisconsin. Not being able to speak the English language, he failed to secure work at his trade, so was obliged to work at any occupation that offered him an honest livelihood. He remained in Wisconsin until a heavy frost in August so injured the crops that he could obtain no further work that season. Going South, he hired out on a farm near St. Louis, where he remained through the winter months. Thence he proceeded to Edwardsville, Ill., where he worked during the summer. In the fall he took a lease for clearing off timber, being given all he could raise for five years. Remaining on that place during the war, he was benefited by the high prices which grain brought at that time. He saved his earnings, which he invested in sixty-six acres, and there he made his home for twenty years. Meantime he bought, at a cost of $2,300, a threshing-machine, which he ran for a long time, deriving a good revenue therefrom.

His health being poor and believing that a change of climate would prove beneficial, Mr. Schenk sold his farm in 1883 and moved to his present homestead of two hundred and forty acres, located on section 24, township 44, range 22. He brought his threshing-machine with him, and ran it here for several seasons. The water being poor on this place, he was obliged to drill a well, and the result is quite satisfactory. He has planted an orchard, erected a number of farm buildings, and in other ways improved the property.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schenk, of whom the eldest, Oscar, died in Wisconsin at the age of nine months, and the second at the age of nine days, in Illinois. Augusta, who was born in Dodge County, Wis., March 1, 1856, married Fred Stahlhut, and makes her home in Wisconsin. Henry, whose birth occurred near Edwardsville, Ill., February 9, 1860, lives in Lamonte, Mo. Charles, who was born in Illinois, September 2, 1863, is a farmer of Redwillow County, Neb. Lizzie was born in Illinois April 10, 1866, and is the wife of Henry Lauging, whose sketch appears in this work. Oscar was born April 15, 1873, and resides with his parents.

While a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. Schenk took out his naturalization papers, in 1855. His first Presidential ballot was cast for James Buchanan the following year. He soon learned to speak English, and by taking our papers became familiar with the language, so that he can now read it. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which their children have been confirmed.