WI BIO - Dane Co - SCHOEN, Philip
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 529-530

Philip SCHOEN, deceased, for many years a prominent resident of Madison, Dane 
County, Wisconsin, died in Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, WI] while there for 
treatment, 13 July 1889. He had settled in Madison as early as 1852, 
establishing himself in the hotel business. Later he removed to Columbus 
[Columbia County, WI], spending two years in that city and Watertown [Dodge 
or Jefferson County, WI?], after returning to Madison, where he entered the 
bakery and restaurant business, under the name of the Capital City Bakery and 
Restaurant. He was thus successfully engaged for many years. Although he 
made money in his business he found it more profitable to sell it and 
conducted a saloon for a few years, after which he retired and lived a life 
of leisure for a few years previous to his death. Mr. [Philip] SCHOEN was 
born in a Rhine province in Prussia, Germany, 24 June 1824. He came of good 
German stock who were noted for their industry and frugality. The parents of 
our subject, Peter and Elisabeth SCHOEN, were devout members of the German 
Catholic Church. They followed their sons to the United States, settling in 
Milwaukee [Milwaukee County], Wisconsin, where the wife and mother [Elisabeth 
SCHOEN] died when sixty-three years of age. After her death the father came 
to Madison [Dane County, WI] and died in this city when seventy-six years of 
age.

Our subject [Philip SCHOEN] was reared to manhood in his native place 
[Prussia, Germany], learning the trade of baker, and in 1848 [the same year 
WI became a state] he and his brother, Charles, came to the United States and 
settled in Albany [Albany County], New York, for a while. Later the brother 
[Charles SCHOEN] went to Owatonna [Steele County], Minnesota, where he has 
since that time carried on a successful carriage making establishment and 
blacksmith shop. Our subject [Philip SCHOEN] selected Milwaukee as his next 
place of residence, and it was while living in that city that his parents 
joined him. Later, in 1852, he came to Madison [Dane County, WI] and 
continued to reside here until his death. He was an upright, industrious and 
honest man, a leader among the German-American citizens of Madison, and one 
who made hosts of friends wherever he chanced to be. At the time of his 
demise, he [Philip SCHOEN] had reached his sixty-fifth year.

Our subject [Philip SCHOEN] was married the first time in Milwaukee 
[Milwaukee County], Wisconsin, to Miss Annie M. SILBERNAGEL, born near the 
birthplace of Mr. SCHOEN in Germany, daughter of Jacob and Catharine 
(LOBUSCHER) SILBERNAGEL, who were natives of a Rhine province, Germany, where 
they resided until their entire family was born. The parents [Jacob and 
Catharine], with their family of six children, started for the United States, 
leaving the land of their nativity on 04 March 1851, taking passage on a 
sailing vessel from Havre de Grace. One daughter was married and remained 
behind, but is now deceased. The family arrived in New York City, from where 
they proceeded up the Hudson River to Albany; thence to Buffalo [Erie County, 
NY] by canal and around the great lakes to Milwaukee, reaching there 03 May 
1851. Here they remained for thirteen years, when they came to Madison [Dane 
County, WI], and here the parents and [paternal] grandmother lived retired 
until their deaths, the father [Jacob SILBERNAGEL] dying 11 June 1872, aged 
sixty-seven, his wife [Catharine nee LOBUSCHER] having preceded him five 
years, her demise occurring 08 November 1867, when she was fifty-four years 
old. The paternal grandmother died 04 April 1868, aged seventy-seven years. 
Mr. [Jacob] SILBERNAGEL was a lifelong Democrat in politics. He was a 
hardworking man all his life, and with the assistance of his good wife had 
amassed a comfortable fortune.

Mrs. [Philip] SCHOEN died in this city [Madison, Dane County, WI], 12 August 
1867, when only thirty years of age, leaving six children, four of whom are 
now [1893] deceased, namely: (1) Annie, aged twenty-seven years; (2) 
Philip, aged twenty-two years; (3) Mary, aged [p 530] twenty-two, married 
George HETTRICK; and (4) Louis, aged three years. Those living are: (1) 
Clara, wife of Frank HANACHER, of Madison, a saloonkeeper; and (2) Frank, a 
bookkeeper for Mr. George SOELCH, a meat dealer.

Our subject [Philip SCHOEN] was married a second time, his choice being a 
sister of his first wife, Margaret SILBERNAGEL, born in Germany, 03 June 
1845, and was only six years of age when the family removed to America, 
consequently received her education in this country. During her life she has 
been a true, good wife and mother, rearing the six children born to her 
husband and herself in a truly Christian manner. The names of these children 
are: (1) Charles W., a bookkeeper for Sheasby & Smith of Madison; (2) 
Theresa, wife of George HETTRICK, now a resident of Milwaukee [the same 
George HETTRICK that was married to Mary, deceased, who was a daughter of 
Philip SCHOEN and his first wife?]; (3) Katie M., at home; (4) Edward G., 
at present learning the trade of plumber with E. C. MASON and residing at 
home; (5) William F., at home; and (6) Joseph F., at school. Mrs. SCHOEN 
[Margaret nee SILBERNAGEL] and her children are, as was her husband [Philip 
SCHOEN], devout members of the Holy Redeemer [Roman] Catholic Church of this 
city [Madison], with which body they have been connected for many years. At 
the time of his death, Mr. [Philip] SCHOEN left some very valuable property 
in the city of Madison [Dane County, WI], which is now owned by his family.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly