Claus Heinrich Schultz (1842 - 1917)

Born Sep 1842 in Germany

Husband of Anna Margaretha (Holck) Schultz — married about 1868 in New Buffalo, Berrien, Michigan, USA

Descendants

Died 19 Oct 1917 at age 75 in New Buffalo, Berrien, Michigan, USA

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Biography

CLAUS H. SCHULTZ, has been a leader in the German settlement at New Buffalo, Berrien county, and his influence has been felt as a moving factor in business life and political interests, his entire career being characterized by an allegiance to those principles which everywhere command respect and confidence. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 29th of September, 1842, a son of Claus Henry and Mary (White) Schultz, also natives of Germany. The mother died when her son Claus was only four years of age and the father married again before coming to the United States. There were two sons and three daughters of the first marriage but no children were born to the second union. The members of the family were: Detlof, who served in the Ninth Indiana Infantry for the first three months of the war and was disabled, his death occurring later in Indiana; Johanna, who resides at Rolling Prairie, Indiana; Sophia, the wife of Christopher Freeze also of Rolling Prairie, who was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in the same company with the subject of this review; Claus H. ; and Lena, the wife of John Rickert, who makes his home in Laporte, Indiana.

Claus H. Schultz spent the first seven years of his life in his native country and then came to the United States with his father in 1849 on the sailing vessel Anna Mary, which was nine weeks and four days in making the voyage from Hamburg to New York. The family located at Buffalo, New York, where they remained for three years and thence came to New Buffalo, Berrien county, Michigan, about 1852. Here Mr. Schultz of this review has resided since, with the exception of a few years. He acquired his education in the common schools, after which he turned his attention to farming, following that pursuit in the midst of a district covered with stumps, for this had been a timber tract and the trees had been cut down in order that the farmer might plant his grain and cultivate his crops. When eighteen years of age Mr. Schultz learned the trade of blacksmithing at Laporte, Indiana, and followed it continuously until 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Union army, enrolling his name at Laporte on the 4th of August, 1862, as a member of Company B, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served under Colonel Hathaway and Captain G. C. Gladwin. He was engaged in the battles at Lexington, Kentucky, Renville, Kentucky, Cumberland Gap, Stone River, Murfreesboro, and was wounded by grape shot, resulting in the fracture of three ribs on the left side. On account of his injuries he was in the hospital at Nashville for seven months, after which he returned to his regiment, but he was not able to carry his equipment. He had the closest calls not in battle but in skirmishes, at Larkinsville, Alabama, on the 14th of April, 1865, and in a big skirmish on the 24th of the same month when seven Union men were attacked by eighty rebels and it was with difficulty that Mr. Schultz and his companions managed to extricate themselves from the dangerous position in which they had been placed. He served for three years as a loyal and able defender of the Union cause and was then honorably discharged at Nashville and mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana, in July, 1865.

Mr. Schultz returned home with a most creditable military record and for a year thereafter engaged in farming. He then went to Laporte, Indiana, where he was employed as a clerk in a confectionery store. Subsequently he bought a grocery store, which he conducted for three or four years and about that time he was married and returned to Michigan, where he began farming, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits for four years. He was then obliged to abandon that business on account of the difficulty which he experienced on account of the wounds that he had sustained in battle. Taking up his abode in New Buffalo, Mr. Schultz here began the manufacture of ornamental rustic work for floral purposes. He also grew and raised wild grasses and imported flowers and grasses. He continued in the business for twenty-four years on an extensive scale, his products being sold in all of the states of the Union. He sold to the wholesale trade and in job lots, having a good patronage in Chicago and other large cities. He employed from ten to fifteen men and carried on a profitable business, being a leading representative of the industrial and commercial interests of his town.

Since retiring from the trade Mr. Schultz has filled a number of local positions of honor and trust. His political support has always been given to the Republican party, and he has filled nearly all of the township offices. He was justice of the peace for twenty-eight consecutive years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning him high commendation. He served as supervisor of his township in 1883 and 1884 and again in 1904 and 1905. He has been township clerk and treasurer for a number of terms and the confidence reposed in him has been well placed, as is proven by the capable, prompt and reliable manner in which he has discharged his duties. In April, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Claus H. Schultz and Miss Anna M. Hoick, who was born in Holstein, Germany, October 8, 1843, and in 1865 came to the United States with her parents, John and Anna Hoick. The children of this marriage are: Carl J. Schultz, who is now filling the position of county treasurer and makes his home in St. Joseph; Mary, the wife of W. W. Dickinson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who is purchasing agent for the Michigan Central and New York Central railroad lines; Henry D., who is engaged in the insurance business at Los Angeles, California, and is a graduate of Kalamazoo College, having thus prepared for the Baptist ministry ; Emma C, who is a graduate of music and is now teaching piano in Oak Park, Illinois. All of the sons have had college educations and have thus been well equipped for life's practical and responsible duties.

Mr. Schultz was at one time owner of ninety acres of land and also had several farms, but sold them. He now has about thirteen acres planted largely to peaches. and in addition he owns village property, including residences and public buildings. His interest in community affairs is deep and sincere and has been manifest by active co-operation in many movements for the general good. He served as president of the village for a number of years until he declined to longer accept the office and during his incumbency he gave a public-spirited administration, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare. He belongs to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, and has been both president and secretary of the congregation, filling the former position since 1873. He was at one time a member of Minor Pratt Post, G. A. R., and was its first commander. The post has ceased to exist owing to the few members in this part of the county. Since 1867 he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, No. 231, at New Buffalo. His name is closely associated with the material progress and political advancement of the community and an investigation into his life History shows many elements that are worthy of emulation. He has ever had due regard for high and honorable principles and he awakens the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen by his allegiance thereto. He is a man of influence among the German-American citizens and belongs to that class of the sons of the fatherland who have proven a valued acquisition to the citizenship of the new world.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Orville W. Coolidge, A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County, Michigan (Chigaco: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), 514-515.

• Source: S-675110648 Repository: #R-1144918910 Title: 1860 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. APID: 1,7667::0
• Repository: R-1144918910 Name: Ancestry.com
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• Source: S-677602102 Repository: #R-1144918910 Title: Michigan, Death Records, 1897-1920 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. APID: 1,1561::0
• Source: S-678076081 Repository: #R-1144918910 Title: 1880 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc APID: 1,6742::0
• Source: S-678083350 Repository: #R-1144918910 Title: 1900 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc APID: 1,7602::0
• Source: S-678083818 Repository: #R-1144918910 Title: U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. APID: 1,60525::0