WI BIO - Dane Co - SCHELER, Carl L., Henry & Otto
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 200, 208-209

Biography of Henry SCHELER - pp 208-209 [father of Carl L. & Otto]

Henry SCHELER, of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, the successful proprietor 
of the University Meat Market, located at 621 University Avenue, established 
his business there in 1866. Ever since he started in this locality, Mr. 
SCHELER has been very successful and his market has become one of the best 
kept and arranged markets, as well as one of the best known in the entire 
city. Ever since coming to Madison, in 1858, Mr. SCHELER has been engaged in 
his life work, that of butchering. He came to this city direct from New 
York, where he had settled upon coming to America from Germany, in 1852. 
While in New York he pursued farming in Montgomery County.

Our subject [Henry SCHELER] was born in Saxony, Germany, 07 September 1836. 
He comes of a good old German family, of healthy rugged ancestors, who were 
long-lived. His father, Paul SCHELER, was a native of Saxony, where the 
father of our subject grew to manhood and spent his active life engaged in 
following his trade of butcher, until his death, which occurred when he was 
seventy-eight years old, having lived all his life in the province that gave 
him birth. He [Paul SCHELER] married a Saxon woman, Elizabeth MEYER, who 
died at about the same age as her husband. In religion the family were old 
Protestants.

Mr. [Henry] SCHELER, our subject, was the youngest of thirteen children, and 
grew to manhood under his father's instruction, where he learned his useful 
trade of butcher. He was the third one of the family to leave the old world 
for the new. Another followed him and all four are yet living and all are 
married and are surrounded with families. While yet a boy, only seventeen, 
our subject set out to seek his fortune in America, sailing from Bremen on a 
sailing vessel and landed in New York after some seven or eight weeks on the 
sea. After landing he found employment as a farm laborer in Montgomery 
County, New York. He was still a single man when he came to Madison, but 
[Henry SCHELER] was [first] married in that city to Miss Sophia [Sofia?] 
SCHMIDT, who was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Germany. She came of German 
parents, who died in their native land. Prior to their death the daughter, 
Sophia, had come to America, about 1866, and some few years afterward was 
married to Mr. [Henry] SCHELER, in Madison. She [Sophia (SCHMIDT) SCHELER] 
died in this city [Madison, Dane County, WI], in 1882, when but a little past 
middle life. She was a good Christian woman and kind wife and mother. Henry 
and Sophia (SCHMIDT) SCHELER had six children: (1) Ellen, died after her 
marriage to Lepold [Leopold?] RUSH and left no issue; (2) Otto A. [Otto C. 
H.?], bookkeeper for his father; (3) Carl, with his father; (4) George, a 
student in the business college; (5) Rose, at home; and (6) Emila [Amead A. 
in the following biography], at home and in school.

The second marriage of our subject [Herman SCHELER] occurred in this city 
[Madison, Dane County, WI] to Mrs. Fredrica ROLOFF, nee Schmideman, born in 
Mecklenburg, Germany, and came to the United States with her parents when 
quite young. Her (Fredrica nee Schmideman's) first marriage occurred in 
Pheasant Branch [Dane County], Wisconsin, to August ROLOFF, who also came 
from Mecklenburg, Germany, to America, when a young man and settled in 
Pheasant Branch, Dane County, where he operated a public hotel until his 
death, which occurred when he was forty-two years of age. He [August ROLOFF] 
left two children: Albert, now assisting Mr. SCHELER in his business, is 
married to Dora ZIMMERSCHIET and resides in Madison; Edward L. [p 209] is the 
other son, and he is also assisting his stepfather in his market. He married 
Amelia ZOPHER, of Middleton [Dane County, WI].

Herman and Fredrica (nee SCHMIDEMAN) SCHELER have no children by their 
marriage. They, with all their children, are members of the German Lutheran 
Church. Although our subject and his sons are now strong Democrats, they 
were formerly strong Republicans. Mr. [Herman] SCHELER is a member of the C. 
C. Washburn Post, G. A. R., No. 11.

When the war broke out our subject [Herman SCHELER] became interested in the 
cause of his adopted country and enlisted, 14 August 1862, in Company D, 
Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served in his company as a 
private until the close of the war, being discharged 04 July 1865. During 
his term of service he saw some hard fighting, without being in many 
engagements with his regiment. He participated in the battle of Arkansas 
Post, Greenville, Mississippi, at Vicksburg and Champion Hills and Black 
River. He also went through the Red River campaign, where he was captured, 
but succeeded in making his escape and joined his regiment, after which he 
participated in the battles of Fort Morgan, Fort Spanish and Fort Blakely. 
In all these engagements he passed without receiving a wound, although his 
comrades fell all around him. He was, also, detailed as regimental baker 
when in camp, and did much good service for his regiment in this department. 
He was a favorite with his comrades and officers. His popularity has justly 
continued, and he now enjoys the favorable regard of all who know him.

Biography of Carl L. & Otto SCHELER - p 200 [sons of Henry]

Otto C. H. [Otto A.?] and Carl L. SCHELER, of the firm of Scheler Brothers, 
dealers and packers of all kinds of fresh and salt meats, are located at No. 
24 Jenisen Street, the place in which they began business on 01 January 1891, 
and have developed a good trade. They both grew up to the business in their 
father's market, located at No. 621, University Avenue, where he still 
carries on the business that was established by him more than twenty-five 
years ago.

The two brothers of this notice were born in Madison [Dane County, WI], and 
here reared and educated; Otto C. H. [Otto A.?] SCHELER was born 06 August 
1868, and Carl L. SCHELER was born 30 January 1871. They are practical 
workmen, and after doing business with their father until 01 January 1891, 
they succeeded the business of J. L. MILLER, now deceased. The parents of 
these brothers were old inhabitants of Madison, having lived here for many 
years. The father, Henry SCHELER, was born in the province of Saxony, 
Germany, and came to the United States when a young man. After spending some 
years in different places he made his way to Madison, and established himself 
as a meat dealer in this city. He has been very successful in all his 
enterprises, and is yet carrying on an active business. He is now [1893] 
about fifty-seven years of age, and has always been an upright, enterprising 
citizen all his life. Mr. [Henry] SCHELER came of good old German stock, and 
all his life has adhered to the German Methodist Church. He has been twice 
married, the first time to Miss Sofia [Sophia?] SCHMIDT, born in Germany, and 
came to the United States, locating in Wisconsin when a young woman. She 
[Sofia (SCHMIDT) SCHELER] died at her home when in middle life, leaving four 
sons and a daughter: (1) Otto C. H. [Otto A.?], of this notice; (2) Carl 
L., of this notice; (3) George F., now attending the public school; (4) 
Rose E., at home, after having learned the trade of seamstress; and (5) 
Amead A. [Emilia?], at home, attending private school. Mr. [Herman] SCHELER 
was married a second time, to Mrs. ROLOFF, nee SCHMIDEMAN. She also was born 
in Germany, but her first marriage occurred in this country. Her first 
husband is now deceased. By this last marriage Mr. [Herman] SCHELER has no 
issue.

The two brothers of this notice are still single young men, and are among the 
enterprising merchants of the city. Their pleasant genial manners have made 
them many friends. They are connected in a social way with he local orders 
of the German faith. Both the boys and their father are Democrats in their 
political opinions.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly