Biographies
S

This page contains biographical sketches (full or extract) of former Kalkaska County residents.
The majority come from pre-1923 published sources as cited in italics with the sketch.

** Schneider, John **

John SCHNEIDER

This gentleman is native of the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, as were also his father and mother. He was born March 18, 1844, and when nineteen years old he decided to come to America. He set sail from Havre, France, leaving his parents behind, among the mountains of the beautiful and interesting little republic of Switzerland. It may not be amiss to say in this connection that the name of Switzerland is derived from Schwytz, one of the twenty-two cantons of the confederation. Switzerland is the very pinnacle of Europe, nestling in the Alpine crags, protected from France, Germany, Austria and Italy by mountain barriers. With an area of fifteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-four square miles and a population about as large as Michigan, only sixty-nine per cent. of the land can be called productive and not much of that is really good soil. The stupendous mountain ranges are peculiarly valuable, as they attract tourists, thousands of whom go there yearly from all parts of the world. The first real triumph over the Alps was achieved when the Mount Cenis tunnel was completed. That grand work of engineering is one of the wonders of the world. It was begun in August 1857, and completed in December, 1870. It was thrown open to the public the following September. It lacks only thirty yards of being eight miles long and it cost fifteen million dollars. Trains run through it in about thirty minutes and it connects Italy and France. The swiss are a very simple-minded people. Their one prominent native name, aside from the mythical Tell, is Zwingle, one of the illustrious names of the religious reformation. The national hero of Switzerland was William Tell, whose very existence, though, has been questioned, and certain it is that all that is known of him is more legendary than historical. An Austrian bailiff raised a cap on a pole in the market place of Altorf, and before this every one was ordered to bow down, in token of submission to the government. Tell belonged to an organization formed for the purpose of throwing off the yoke of oppression, that of the Hapsburg, which claimed sovereignty over Switzerland. Tell was condemned to death, but was reprieved on condition that he shoot an apple from the head of his own son. Being a remarkable bowman, he ventured the shot, however, and hit the apple without harming the boy. The tyrannical bailiff noticed that Tell had two arrows and asked him why he had more than one, to which Tell replied "If I had hit my son I should have shot you!"

Our subject received his early education in his native land, and was thirty-three days on the trip across the ocean. He finally landed in New York, however, but was in the harbor three days before being permitted to come ashore. He then proceeded to Canada and worked on a farm, for seven dollars a month, near Markham. This was in 1864. He remained there but one and one-half years, when he found his way to Michigan, Canada being then too much like Europe. He worked in Bennington township four years, for twelve dollars to sixteen dollars per month. He spent three months in the lumber woods north of Greenville, and passed one and one-half years in all at lumbering. He.then returned to Kalkaska county, and worked eight months on a farm, for a Mr. Harding, of Owosso. His next important move was to take unto himself a wife, in the person of Mary Wenchell, a native of the Empire state. She is still living. She is a daughter of Frederick Wenchell, an early pioneer of Saginaw county. Mrs. Schneider was one of four children by her father's first marriage. His second mar. riage resulted in eight children. Those were days when men and women believed implicitly in "multiplying and replenishing the earth." One of these children is a resident of Kalkaska county-Mrs. Elizabeth Purves, who lives in Fairfield township.

In 1873 Mr. Schneider came to Kalkaska county a second time, and bought eighty acres of virgin forest, in Rush township. He first erected a frame house on this property, and the building is still standing. This was followed in due time by barns and other buildings and he continued to live there until five years ago, when he erected a large new house on fifty-two acres of land, adjoining his original eighty, having bought the property nine years previously. He made a beautiful farm of this original purchase and his son now lives on it and works the place on shares. Our subject thus rents out his farm and takes life easy. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider have seven children, all living: Louise is the wife of Henry S. Northrup, of Owosso, where he works in the Bentley factory; they 'have no children. Elizabeth married Calvin Willoughby, of Middlebury, and they have one child, Myrtle. John, who lives on the old farm, married Mlaude Loomis and they have five children. Gertrude, now Mrs. Jones, is a twin sister of John and lives in Brant township, Saginaw county. Rose is single and lives in Owosso. Henry lives on a farm in Rush township; he is married and has two children. William, who is a farmer in Rush township, is married and has one child.

Our subject has always been a Republican. He is treasurer of his school district but has never held any other office. He was brought up in the Lutheran church but is not now a member. He was formerly an Odd Fellow but is not now affiliated with the order.

Eighteen years ago he visited Switzerland, a few years before the death of his parents. He did not find many changes there, however, the people not being so progressive as in this country. He greatly enjoyed his trip but would not like to stay in his native land. His father was a blacksmith by trade, but he was a farmer most of the time. He died at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife, Rachel (Fretche) Schneider, was seventy-eight years of age whei she died. They became the parents of five children, four of whom are living; Anna, who lives in Zurich, Switzerland, married a man named Folcott, now dead; Susan married John Demuth and they live in Switzerland; our subject, John Schneider, was the third child; Jacob, who died at the age of fiftyone, in Switzerland, married a Miss Haugarnter; Henry lives in Fairfield township, Kalkaska county.

Mr. Schneider is an excellent farmer and a good citizen and has the respect of all his neighbors.

The Past and Present of Kalkaska County, Michigan - Historically - Together with Biographical Sketches of many of its Leading Citizens And Illustrious Dead
The Michigan Historical Publishing Association, Lansing, Michigan
Page 471

Contributed 2009 by Pat McArthur

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