Frank J. Schebler Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. Surnames: Schebler, Cannon, Steffens, Burrows, Weigand, Moss, Hiegel, Rauch, Muellenbeck, Wachter, Siefred Niermann. The belief that favorable environment and influence area usually factors in success finds no proof in the life history of Frank J. Schebler, whose progress in the business world is attributable entirely to his own efforts. That he has own prosperity is due to the fact that close application unfaltering energy and firm purpose have been the salient features in his life. He was formerly well known as a grain dealer of Scott county but is now living retired in Davenport, enjoying well earned rest. He has passed the seventieth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Bavaria, Germany, June 7, 1839. His parents were John and Margaret Schebler, the former a baker who learned his trade in Vienna, Austria, and in other European cities, being employed in that way in Paris, Munich, Frankfort, Berlin and other places. The greater part of his life, however, was spent in the fatherland. Frank J. Schebler attended school in Germany to the age of thirteen years, when he came to the United States, landing at New York city in 1852. After two months passed in Williamsburg, New York. He came west to Davenport with an older brother, John, and sister, Mary. The brother had just completed a term of service in the Bavarian army and at the time of the Civil war in this country he joined the Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry as a musician, being thus connected with the regiment for a year. He afterward served for three years in the Twentieth Iowa Infantry and was thus with the army throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south. After arriving in Davenport Frank J. Schebler attended school for one winter and then started out to earn his own living, securing employment in John Cannon's sawmill. He afterward worked in different places until 1859, and all the time was actuated by the laudable ambition of one day engaging in business on his own account.! At length this course was made possible by his economy and industry. He had first become identified with the grain business, however, as an employe of August Steffens, but later he was employed by James D. Burrows until 1868. From that time until 1901 he was connected with the Davenport Elevator Company but in May of the latter year he opened a feed store on Ripley street in Davenport, of which he is still the owner, although the business is now being carried on by his son Lewis on account of the illness of the father. Having arrived at years of maturity, Frank J. Schebler was married to Miss Katherine E. Weigand, a daughter of Adam and Magdalena Weigand, who were among the early settlers of Davenport, coming in April, 1843, from Indiana, February 24, 1842, while her parents were natives of Hessen, Germany. Her father was one of the first aldermen of Davenport, serving in 1850. From the time of his arrival in the new world until his death he continued his residence in the city where he conducted his business as a butcher and teamster. He was born in 1811 and passed away at the age of seventy-one years, while his wife, who was born August 15, 1809, died on the 30th of January, 1892. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schebler was celebrated April 17, 1860, the wedding ceremony being performed by Father Niermann, the old Catholic priest who is still here and in the old stone church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schebler have been born twelve children. The eldest, Agnes, is now deceased. Frank J. C., who is ! engaged in the confectionery business in Davenport, married Catherine Moss and they have seven children: Celia, Vincent, Carl, Paul, Antone, Angela and Frank. Bernhard, the third, has passed away. Agnes M. is the wife of Aloysius Hiegel and they have nine children: Josephine, Antone, Clara, Marie, Frank, Leo, Agnes, Christina and Gertrude. Joseph A., of Davenport, married Katie Wachter and they had five children: Clara; Eugene, deceased; Agnes; Aloysius; and Bernadine. Theodore, of this city, married Rosie Siefred and their children are Margaret, Lena, Arthur, Theodore, Lawrence and Rose M. Albert, the next of the family, is at home. Julius died at the age of twenty-eight years. Lewis is also still under the parental roof; George died when seven months old, while Charles, the youngest, was nine years old at the time of his demise. Frank J. Schebler is a member of the Catholic church and of the St. Joseph's Benevolent Society. With one exception he is the oldest communicant of the Catholic faith in Davenport and Father Niermann not only officiated at his marriage but has also baptized and married all of his children and grandchildren and conducted the burial services of his parents, who arrived in this city in 1858. He was instrumental in securing the services of Father Niermann for the Catholics of Davenport in 1857 and has been numbered among his parishioners since that day. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schebler have spent nearly their entire lives in Davenport and have occupied their present home for half a century. He began building the house in 1858, erecting at first but two rooms, but now it is a comfortable residence of nine rooms. He has lived to witness many changes here, seeing the city grow from a small town into one of the important commercial centers of the Mississippi valley, and at all times he h! as rejoiced in what has been accomplished and has borne his full part in the work of general progress and improvement. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES