My Genealogy Hound

John Schissler, merchant, of the firm of J. Schissler & Co., and one of the most prominent and substantial business men of Texas County, Mo., was born in St. Clair County, Ill., January 15, 1847, being the son of John and Mary Anna (Roth) Schissler. The parents were natives of Bavaria, immigrating to the United States some years ago, locating in St. Clair County, Ill., where the father died in 1850. The mother received her final summons in the same county and State a few years later. Our subject, John Schissler, was then placed under the control of Adam Roth, the wholesale and retail grocer of St. Louis, and remained with him until twenty-one years of age, having all the advantages of a mercantile experience. He was also blessed with a liberal schooling, attending the public schools of St. Louis, and afterward graduated from Rohror’s Commercial College. He was then engaged as book-keeper for his uncle, Adam Roth, and served in this capacity for three years. He was then connected with other business houses of the city, as salesman, until March, 1870, when he formed a partnership with August Masterbrook, and engaged in the retail grocery business in St. Louis. Five years later he embarked in the same business on his own responsibility, and followed this until 1878, when, in April of that year, he came to Houston, Mo., and opened the establishment of which he is now the head. At that time he was in rather stinted circumstances, but he went bravely to work, applied himself closely to business, and soon succeeded in building up one of the most profitable trades in the county. His store is, indeed, a model, the equal, in systematic arrangement, to any found in much larger towns. He is by far the heaviest dealer in this section, carrying a full line of goods, and reaching the $10,000 mark in valuation. Since locating here Mr. Schissler has conducted his business on strictly a cash basis. The County Wheel recognizes him as their merchant, it being the Wheel headquarters for supplies of Texas County. December 22, 1872, Mr. Schissler married Miss Catherine Doehler, a native of Indiana, born January 6, 1855, and the daughter of Peter Doehler. This union resulted in the birth of four children: Sophia M., Kate F., Annie F. and Alice A. Mr. Schissler is a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W., and in politics is a stanch Republican.