SCHNEIDER, Peter J.

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 167

Peter J. SCHNEIDER, Fountain City [Buffalo County, Wisconsin], captain and 
pilot of the steamer "Robert Harris," which runs daily between Winona [Winona 
County], Minnesota, and Fountain City [the two being on opposite banks of the 
Mississippi River and not far from each other], was born 19 March 1830 in 
Germany. He came to America in 1854, first locating in Galena [Jo Daviess 
County], Illinois. He engaged on the Mississippi River, first as deck hand, 
then watchman, then pilot, and finally captain. In 1860 he ran a boat [on 
the Mississippi River] between Galena [Illinois] and Bellevue [Jackson 
County], Iowa, and afterwards was engaged as captain and pilot with John 
ROBINSON of Winona, on a boat which plied [the Mississippi River] between 
LeClaire [Scott County], Iowa, and Fort Snelling [Hennepin County, Minnesota; 
the Fort constructed in 1825 at the point where the Minnesota and Mississippi 
Rivers meet], continuing this for five years. He then was employed by the 
Diamond Joe Line, and in 1875 entered a partnership with William HECK [see 
also the Buffalo County, Wisconsin, biography of William HECK], and bought 
the steamer "Express," which they ran daily between Winona and Fountain City 
as a passenger and freight boat. After running this for four years they 
bought the steamer "Robert Harris," which they have run ever since. 

Mr. [Peter J.] SCHNEIDER was married in 1851 in Germany. [The family is 
enumerated in the 1880 census of Fountain City, Buffalo County, Wisconsin: 
Peter J. SCHNEIDER, fifty, steamboat captain and pilot, born in Hesse 
Darmstadt, from his census age about 1830, which agrees with the year of 
birth given in the biography, to parents also born in Hesse Darmstadt; his 
wife, Susanna SCHNEIDER, fifty-two, thus born about 1828, also in Hesse 
Darmstadt to parents also born there; and his four daughters, all single and 
born in Illinois to parents both born in Hesse Darmstadt: (1) Susanna, 
twenty-two, a seamstress, from her census age born about 1858; (2) Barbara, 
age nineteen, a dressmaker, born about 1861; (3) Lisa, sixteen, at home, 
born about 1864; and (4) Kate, age twelve, attending school, born about 
1868. Bracketed material added by submitter (who is not researching these 
surnames) to support and clarify information given in the biography and to 
raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly