 |
|
 |
|
ANDREW W. SCHILD, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Benton county, Iowa, dates his birth March 25, 1861, in Iowa township, where he has always made his home.
John Schild, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Lippe Detmold, Germany, October 1, 1835, and when ten years old was brought by his parents to America, their settlement being near Freeport, Illinois, where they made their home about seven years. In the spring of 1852 they came west to Iowa, and grandfather Schild entered land in section 5, Iowa township, where he built a log house and established himself in primitive pioneer style. Their journey from Freeport, Illinois, to Benton county, Iowa, was made with ox teams. At Cedar Rapids, where they forded Cedar river, their wagon containing household goods and supplies was drawn by six yoke of oxen; the river was high and the current swift, and the leaders started to swim down stream off the ford. John, then a youth of seventeen, jumped on a saddle pony and plunged into the stream to try to get them back on the ford. The pony, too, became unmanageable, and he jumped from it to one of the lead steers, and finally succeeded in getting the wagon safely across and thus saved their outfit. John Schild grew to manhood on his father's farm in Iowa township. There he met and married Dorothy Body, a native of the same town in Germany in which he was born, the date of her birth being September 15, 1835. After their marriage they settled on a farm of eighty acres given him by his father. As the years passed and he prospered he acquired other lands until at one time he was the owner of five hundred and forty acres. For a number of years Muscatine and Iowa City were his nearest markets, and he was one of a party of men who helped to erect the first log house on the present site of Belle Plaine. He died January 19, 1909. His widow still lives at the home place in Iowa township. Of the nine children which comprised their family, seven are living, namely: Lydia, wife of Adolph Gavake; Annie, wife of John Werhman; Amanda, wife of Otto Morris, all of Minnesota; Jane, wife of Alien Ditzler, Belle Plaine, Iowa; Alta, wife of Fred Nolte, of Waverly, Iowa; Andrew W., whose name introduces this sketch; and Henry J., who has charge of the old home place.
Andrew W. Schild grew up on his father's farm and received his early training in the district school. Later he spent two winters attending Tilford Academy. After his marriage he engaged in farming on forty acres, a portion of his present farm, which now comprises four hundred and twenty acres, in section 16, Iowa township. Also he has three hundred and fifty acres of improved land in Kansas. On his home farm is a modern residence, large barn and other buildings, all placed there by him, and everything about the premises is indicative of prosperity, from the buildings to the well cultivated fields and broad pastures with their fine cattle and fat hogs, Short-horn cattle being a specialty with him.
Mr. Schild has been twice married. His first marriage was January 13, 1887, to Caroline Dinzler, who died in January, 1907, at the age of forty-eight years, leaving four children: John, a resident of Nebraska; Frana, Lulu and Cora, all at home. On September 23, 1909, he wedded Miss Katie Hieleman, a native of Indiana.
Politically Mr. Schild is a Democrat. He has served efficiently in several local offices, incuding those of justice of the peace, township clerk and school director.
 |
