From:Annals of Brown County, Kansas, From the Earliest Records to January 1, 1900; Compiled and Published by Grant W. Harrington, Editor and Publisher of Kansas Democrat; Hiawatha, Kansas, 1903; Part II. Historical sketches and biographies; pages: Pages 421-422

CAPTAIN JOHN SCHILLING

In all the long list of Brown County pioneers, who have done something to make them remembered, there are none better known than Capt. John Schilling,  These Annals record the fact that for more than forty years he bas been one of the active forces In the county and has figured prominently In business, in public enterprises and in politics.

He was born in Germany near Bingen on the Rhine, Jan. 1st 1837. He attended school in his native land until 1848 when the German Revolution drove his parents from the Fatherland and. they came to Hudson, N. Y., where they made their home until 1851 when they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Here young Schilling continued his education in the common schools of New York and Michigan.  On the 6th day of March 1857 John Schilling settled in Brown county and preempted a claim one half mile south of what in now Hiawatha. In November of that year he was married to Susan Meisenheimer, a daughter of Martin Meisenheimer, who was a soldier under Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo in 1815, but then a Brown county pioneer.

When the war broke out Mr. Schilling enlisted and was elected as captain of Company I of the 13th Kansas, He served to the end of the war and was with the 13th Kansas in all its important engagements including the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. At the close of the war Capt. Schilling established the firm of Schilling: and Meisenheimer and company commenced a general merchandise business in Hiawatha. In 1870 this title was changed to J. Schilling & Co., and later to J. Schilling & Bro. In 1882 Mr. Schilling disposed of his interest in the mercantile business to his brother Adam Schilling and became president of the Union Loan & Trust Co from which he retired In 1892 and returned to his fine country home south of the city of Hiawatha where he now lives to enjoy the comforts of a successful business career.

Politics has always been Captain Schilling's delight and recreation. Very few Republican conventions have been held in Brown County since the war in which he has not only been a delegate but one of the controlling forces. For a number of years he was chairman of the county committee and in 1881 the convention was well pleased with his remarks in opening the convention that it decided to adopt his speech in lieu of a platform.  He has also been a delegate to more Republican state conventions than any man in the county and Schilling of Brown County is known all over the state.

For twenty-one years Capt. Schilling was a member of the school board of Hiawatha. In 1876 be was appointed County Commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Captain A. Walters and for four years was chairman of the board of commissioners. He was also the first Mayor of Hiawatha. In 1880 he was elected a presidential elector and cast his vote for Jas. A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. In 1882 he was elected a member of the state legislature. In 1888 he was elected to the state senate from the district composed of Brown and Doniphan counties. In 1896 he was a delegate to the National Convention at St. Louis which nominated Wm. McKinley for president.

Captain Schilling is an earnest and enthusiastic Mason.  He is a member of Hiawatha Lodge No. 35, a charter member of the Mt. Horeb Chapter No. 46, R. A. M. and a charter member and Past Eminent Commander of Hiawatha Commandery No. 13 Knights Templar. He is also a member of Diamond Lodge Knights of Pythias and Hiawatha Post 130 G. A. R.    

Captain Schilling's family consists of five sons and two daughters. The oldest son Simon died a few years ago in Marshall County.  Jacob G. and Martin V. are prosperous Brown County farmers. Albert J. resides at Leavenworth and has a lucrative position with the Missouri Valley Bridge Co. William, the youngest son and the two daughters, Anna and Ella reside with their father.