Biographies

Herman Schaefer a former member of the New Bremen city council, and for years engaged in that city as a building contractor, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of the pioneer families here, and has lived here all his life, a resident of New Bremen for many years past. He was born on a farm in St. Marys township on August 21, 1868, and is the son of Henry and Louise (Brune) Schaefer, both of whom also were born in this county. Henry Schaefer, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who is now living retired on his well-kept farm in St. Marys township, was born in that township, a member of one of the pioneer families in that part of the county, and grew to manhood. When the Civil war came on he enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and went to the front as a member of the 37th regiment of Ohio volunteer Infantry, with which command he served from 1862 to the close of the war. During this period of service Mr. Schaefer participated in some of the most important engagements of the war, including the siege of Vicksburg. It was during this siege that he was severely wounded, May 19, 1863, and was for several months thereafter confined to the hosiptal. Upon the completion of his military service, Henry Schaefer returned home, and after his marriage established his home on a farm in St. Marys township, where he continued his thus actively engaged in farming until his retirement some years ago, though he continues to make his home on the farm, where he is very comfortably situated. To him and his wife were born seven children, the subject of this sketch having four sisters, Flora, Emma, Laura and Martha, and two brothers, Edward and Henry Schaefer. Reared on the home farm in St. Marys township. Herman Schaefer received his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and for some time during the days of his young manhood worked with his father on the farm.He then became engaged in carpentering and learned the building trade thoroughly, following that vocation until in 1895, when he became engaged as a cabinet-maker in the Klanke furniture factory at New Bremen. For eight years Mr. Schaefer followed this latter vocation, and then resumed his building operatins, starting in as a building contractor on his own account, and ever since been thus engaged one of the best known contractors in this part of the state. During the long period of service as a builder, Mr. Schaefer has built houses in all parts of this section of the county, and the substanial character of his work will long stand as a monument to his skill and ability in that line. Mr. Schaefer is a republican and has for years given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs, for eight years having served as a member of the town council at New Bremen. Herman Schaefer married Rosa Luebkermann, daughter of Gerhart Luebkermann, of Mercer county, this state, and to this union three children have been born Leota, Harold and Erna. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran church, and for some time Mr. Schaefer served as a deacon of that congregation.