WI BIO - Kenosha Co - SCHAEFFER, Peter & Peter G.

History of Kenosha & Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Clarke Publishing, 
1916, v 2, pp 560-561

Peter SCHAEFFER, deceased, who for a third of a century he had been a 
resident of Kenosha County, where he worked at farm labor for several years 
and then engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account, was born in 
1838 [24 September 1826] in Germany, and acquired a common school education 
there. When thirty-two years of age he crossed the Atlantic and made his way 
at once to Kenosha County, Wisconsin, where he was employed in the fields for 
a time. He afterward went on a prospecting trip to Colorado, where he 
remained for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he returned 
and again was employed by others for two or three years, but during that 
period carefully saved his earnings, until his frugality and industry enabled 
him to purchase eighty acres of land in Somers Township, upon which he 
continued to make his home until his death. During that period he converted 
his land into a rich and productive farm, supplied with modern equipments, 
while from the fields he annually gathered rich harvests.

In 1878 Peter SCHAEFFER was married to Miss Elizabeth HENN [who was born 04 
February 1848]. To Peter and Elizabeth (HENN) SCHAEFFER were born four 
children: (1) Peter G.; (2) Jacob P., a resident of Montana; (3) Louise, 
the wife of Gust PALMER of Wheaton [probably Wheaton in Du Page County, but 
could be Wheaton in Randolph County], Illinois, by whom she has two children; 
and (4) Katherine, the wife of Otto PAPHOP, by whom she has one child. In 
his political views Peter SCHAEFFER was a Republican. He belonged to the 
German Lutheran church, and his life was upright and honorable, commending 
him to the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he came in contact. When 
death called Peter SCHAEFFER [13 November 1902] he was a resident of Somers 
Township, Kenosha County, and he was laid to rest [in Paris Lutheran 
Cemetery] in Paris Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. [Elizabeth (HENN) 
SCHAEFFER died 20 September 1904, and is also buried Paris Lutheran Cemetery.]

Peter G. SCHAEFFER, son of Peter SCHAEFFER, was born 10 January 1875 in 
Somers Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and at the usual age became a 
public school pupil. He began working with his father when quite young, 
being early trained to the best methods of tilling the soil and cultivating 
the fields. Since that time he has lived upon the old home place on Section 
18, Somers Township, where he now [p 561] owns eighty acres of land that is 
rich and productive. The farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance, and it 
is evident to the passerby that the owner is both practical and progressive 
in his methods.

On 20 April 1904 Peter G. SCHAEFFER wedded Miss Rose HETZLER, a daughter of 
William HETZLER. Peter G. and Rose (HETZLER) SCHAEFFER have two children, 
Alma and Stanley, both in school. Mr. SCHAEFFER votes with the Republican 
party. He has never been aspirant for public office, and concentrates his 
energies upon his business affairs. The diligent manner in which he performs 
the work of the farm is bringing him a good financial return.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly