CHRISTINA (HOERGER) SCHOEN , was born in Wollenburg, near the city of Heidelberg, Baden, Germany, on Feb. 16, 1842, and died at Lanark on Dec. 8, 1903, aged 61 years, 9 months, and 17 days. She came to America under sad circumstances. Her father had taken active part in the Rebellion of 1848, against the German government, the object of which was the establishment of a Republic. The Revolution being a failure, the patriots fled to escape the State's prisons. Many came to America, among them being the father of the diseased, and such men as Hon. Carl Schurz, Gen. Franz Siegel, Col. Frederick Hecker, and many others who distinguished themselves in the Union Army during our late Civil War. Mr. Herger came to Louisville, Kentucky; from that place he went overland to California, during the gold fever, hoping to save sufficient means to return to Germany and bring back with him his wife and child, (the deceased). Having not written to his wife for several years, he went to Germany in disguise, and met his wife and child whom he found well. His wife, however, had remarried. Asking for the daughter, who was granted him, he returned to America. Taken from a mother's love and care, and under the guidance of her father, she came to live with an uncle in Louisville, Kentucky. The father, having married again, brought his daughter to his home in Chicago. The stepmother, who was a Catholic, tried to change the girl's belief, which caused her to leave home. Becoming tired of Chicago life and meeting a farmer from near Sterling, to whom she told her story, she went to live with him and there found a good home until she was of age. From her Sterling home she went to Dixon, where she lived several years. It was there that she met Mr. Carl Schoen, to whom she married on Feb. 22, 1861. They moved to Polo, where Mrs. Schoen became a charter member of the Lutheran church. In 1862 they moved to Lanark where both have lived to the time of their death. Of their marriage there were born 11 children, four of whom have passed from the scenes of earth and the remainder were present at the funeral. As a mother she was faithful and devoted to her family, endeavoring to lead them in the paths of righteousness, and in turn she enjoyed the confidence and esteem of her children. Referring to her religious life, she was converted at an early age, and when the Lutheran church in this place was organized she together with her husband were among its charter members. As her pastor for two years we found her a woman of positive Christian character. She leaves to mourn her loss four sons, John and Henry of Lanark, Carl of Chicago, and George of Mt. Carroll, and three daughters, Louisa, Mrs. George Diehl and Caroline (Mrs. Frank Harman), all of Lanark, also 7 grandchildren. These together with a large circle of friends sustain in her death a sore loss. The funeral service in charge of Rev. George Bollinger, assisted by Rev. JW Paetznick of Milledgeville, as held at 2pm Saturday, Dec 5th in the Lutheran Church. Internment was made in the Lanark Cemetery beside her husband.
COntributed by Melissa Harman Teague From the Lanark Gazette