| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.genealogy.com/users/c/h/r/David-Alan-Christianson/FILE/0004text.txt
JOHN AND MARY SCHELL
John Schell was born May 23, 1903 in Moscow Township, Eureka, South Dakota to
Christian Schell and Rosa Schell. Christian Schell was born August 18, 1875 and
Rosa Schell was born January 25, 1876. They came to America in 1899 from
Gluckstal, near Odessa, Russia. Christian Schell passed away May 18, 1945 and
Rosa Schell passed away May 26, 1945, both are buried at Salem Lutheran
Cemetery, 18 miles southeast of Eureka, South Dakota.
John was one of six children. He attended school in Moscow Township. He was
self-employed as a farmer on the family homestead 18 miles southeast of Eureka
and retired due to ill health, moving into Eureka in 1965.
On June 21, 1931 John Schell and Mary Pfeifle were united in marriage. She was
born at rural Ashley, North Dakota on January 8, 1911. She attended rural grade
school and became a housewife and homemaker. Her parents were John Pfeifle,
born at Friedenstal, South Russia March 13, 1872 and Kathern Sayler Pfeifle,
born in Johnnestal, South Russia on December 24, 1877. They lived in the Ashley
area from 1903 till their death. John died in 1957 and Kathern in 1961. Mary
was one of ten children.
When John and Mary Schell were married, these years of the 1930's are
remembered as being very dry and the dust was blowing pretty hard. There were
no crops, hay, or pastures for the cattle. The majority of the cattle were
sold. John and Mary kept only ten head of cattle for milking. They farmed with
horses in their early years. The horses were kept to do the farm work,
especially in the cutting, raking and hauling of both hay and straw that was
needed for survival of all the animals around the farm. Straw and hay was
brought in by the trucks from Fargo, North Dakota and Sisseton, South Dakota.
During the first four years of their marriage the weather was the driest and
farming was a trying experience, and made it hard to get started in farming. In
the early years they sold cream and eggs for income. The prices for these
products were very low but survived these early years.
John and Mary Schell had one child, Frieda, born March 21, 1927, married
Gustave Hermann of Richardton, North Dakota. They have three children: Gary J.,
Gerald G., and Marie M.
The Schells' are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Eureka. John passed away
September 3, 1972. Mary resides at the Sunrise Plaza Apartments. She is a
member of Mary-Martha Circle and does volunteer work at the Lutheran Home in
Eureka.
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1903 - 1972 (69 years)