Edward married Helen Lucille Balding on 9 Jun 1945 in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Biography of Andrew Schiffli, pages 808/809/810. History
of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.,
Indianapolis, 1914.



DeKalb county, Indiana, is characterized by her full share
of enterprising and progressive farmers, who have been the
mainstay and backbone of the wonderful development which
has marked this section of the state during the past few
decades, and today among this class stands Andrew Schiffli,
whose finely improved and cultivated farm lies in
Smithfield township, where he enjoys a high standing among
his fellow citizens. Andrew Schiffli was born on January
25, 1874, in Alsace, Germany, which formerly, however,
belonged to France, and is one of nine children born to
John and Victoria (Hahn) Schiffli, both also natives of
Alsace, the father born in 1837 and the mother in 1844, the
latter being a daughter of George Hahn. John Schiffli and
Victoria Hahn were married in their native country, and in
1881 they and their children came to the United States, at
which time the subject of this sketch was but seven years
of age. Andrew well remembers a stormy day on shipboard
during their voyage when, because of the high waves which
broke over the ship, the passengers were not allowed on
deck. However, he disregarded orders and went out to the
end of the deck, where he ran great danger of being washed
overboard. He was found by a sailor, who gave him a liberal
spanking and sent him to the safer spot. Upon their arrival
in the United States, the Schiffli family came at once to
DeKalb county, where the father bought twenty acres of land
in the northern part of Smithfield township, about one-half
mile south of the county line. After remaining there four
years he sold that place and bought forty acres of land in
section 11, on which only about seven acres had been
cleared and on which was a big house. The greater part of
the land was covered with swamp water and brush, and so bad
was condition that the cows mired in the barn lot. In the
hope of improving the condition they moved the house, log
at a time, to a better location, and gave their attention
to the ditching and draining of the soil. At the beginning
it was necessary to go through water waist deep to get the
cows. Eventually by tireless effort, conditions were
improved, and when, about fifteen years ago, the big ditch
was put through their land, the soil rapidly became more
cultivable, and now the farm is one of the best in the
locality. From the time they came to this land until 1900,
it took about all the efforts of the family, including the
help given by the boys who worked in the shops, to pay off
eight hundred dollars owning on the purchase of the farm.
In 1900 Mr. Schiffli built a good bank barn; in 1902 a
splendid house, and in 1903, a hog house. They are now
prospering and reaping the result of their former years of
strenuous endeavor. The farm is well supplied with all the
implements necessary for intelligent labor and, under the
wise direction of Mr. Schiffli, the farm is one of the best
in the township. To John and Victoria Schiffli were born
nine children, namely: Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Bapst, of
Garrett; Matthias, who owns ninety-two and one-half acres
in the eastern part of Smithfield township; Andrew, the
immediate subject of this sketch; Emil, who owns a farm
north of Barker?s church; August, who lives on the home
farm; Ada, the wife of Louis Steinkohl, of South Bend,
Indiana; Theresa, Mary and Louise, who are unmarried;
Theresa at home; Mary and Louise, residing at South Bend,
and one child a boy, who died in Alsace in early infancy.
The father of these children died in 1908, and his widow is
still residing on the home farm. Andrew Schiffli lived at
home until attaining his majority, having ably assisted his
father in the efforts to reclaim the farm and he secured
what education was possible in the district schools. After
arriving at legal age he started work on his own account in
the railroad shops at Garrett, where he remained nine years
and then during the following four years he engaged in farm
work by the month. After his marriage in 1908 he began
farming on the Taylor farm in Franklin township, but two
years later moved to the George Shoner farm in section 13,
Smithfield township, where he is now engaged in the
operation of one hundred and forty-three acres of land. His
early farming efforts under his father?s direction were
strenuous years, but they well qualified him for the later
duties of life, and now he is achieving a splendid success
under favorable conditions. He keeps his farm up-to-date in
all particulars, using none but the best of farming
implements, keeping high grade live stock and giving his
personal attention to every detail of the farm work.
Steady, industrious and exercising sound discretion in his
labors, he so maintains the fertility of the soil as to
realize abundant crops, and among his fellow agriculturists
he is held in esteem of the splendid success he has
achieved. In 1908 Mr. Schiffli married Katie Shoudel, the
daughter of Michael Shoudel, and to them have been born two
children, Agnes and Wilfred. Mr. and Mrs. Schiffli and
their children are members of the St. Michael?s Catholic
church, in the success of which they are interested and to
which they contribute of their means. Mr. Schiffli has
gained his success through his own efforts, is regarded as
a man of splendid character and is highly esteemed by all
who know him.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com

Andreas married Kathryn Shoudel on 16 Feb 1909 in DeKalb County, Indiana, USA. Kathryn (daughter of Michael L. Schaudel Shoudel and Johanna Reinig) was born on 17 Feb 1884 in Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, USA; died on 12 Aug 1963 in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, USA; was buried in Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery, Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jean married Victoire Hahn on 13 Nov 1867 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. Victoire was born on 8 Sep 1844 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France; died on 29 Sep 1933 in DeKalb County, Indiana, USA; was buried in Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery, Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIOGRAPHY:
Biography of Michael L. Shoudel, pages 865/866/867/868.History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company,Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.No other people that go to make up our cosmopolitancivilization have better habits of life than those who comeoriginally for the great German empire. These people aredistinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these twoqualities alone in the inhabitants of any county will inthe end make that county great. When with these twoqualities is coupled the other quality of sound sense, astrong German characteristic, there are afforded suchqualities as will enrich any land and place it at the topof the countries of the world in the scale of elevatedhumanity. Of this excellent people came Michael L. Shoudel,who for many years has been one of the well known farmersof DeKalb county, Indiana. He comes of a race that producedthe famous "Iron Chancellor," the greatest statesman, allthings considered, that ever walked this terrestrialsphere. He comes of a race that is famous for its originalinvestigations in the problems of civilized life, such menas Goethe and Heckel, to say nothing of the coterie of thegreatest musicians of all lands, and climes. The Germanicblood is found in the veins of the greatest men and womenof this and former generations and the Shoudel family maywell be proud of their descent from such a race. Thesubject of this brief sketch is easily the peer of any ofhis fellow citizens in all that constitutes right livingand correct citizenship. He is a close and intelligentobserver, has read much, and takes pains to keep himselfwell informed upon current events. He is quiet indemeanor, a thinker, and a man of deeds rather than word.He is essentially a man of the people because he has largefaith in humanity and is optimistic in his views. MichaelL. Shoudel, who for many years has been one of the bestknown and influential citizens of Smithfield township,DeKalb county, Indiana, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in1844. He is a son of Matthias and Magdalena (Miller)Shoudel, whose personal sketch appears elsewhere in thiswork, therefore further mention of the subject'santecedents will not be made at this point. Michael L.Shoudel was about eleven years of age when the familyemigrated to the United States, locating in Chicago, in1865. Two years later they came to the little patch of wildland in Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, wherethey made a start in their struggle for financialindependence in a strange land. Here the subject of thissketch performed his full share of the strenuous toilincident to the clearing of the land and putting it inshape for cultivation, and he distinctly recalls havingplowed a six-acres field which required ten days' work witha yoke of oxen, for the ground was full of roots and stumpsand progress was exceedingly slow and wearing on both menand beasts. Soon after his marriage in 1872, Mr. Shoudelcommenced farming on his own account on forty acres ofland which he had received from his father, and as he wasprospered in his undertaking he bought more land from timeto time, until he now owns two hundred and eighty acres ofas fine land as can be found in DeKalb county. He is up-to-date and progressive in his methods of work and hasachieved a distinctive success in his vocation. He has beena hard worker continually from his first initiation intothe pioneer struggle and indeed in that early day at onetime they would have returned to Chicago if they couldhave done so, but they had not been able to make the trip,so they struggled on and the struggle became a triumph. Mr.Shoudel, although about seventy years old, is still activephysically and is able to perform a good day's labor on thefarm. He has never been sick much and has always beenactive in anything to which he has applied his efforts. Hehas been an eye-witness and a participant in the wonderfulgrowth which has characterized this section of the stateand remembers well when Waterloo consisted of but threestores, a saloon, a hardware store, and dry goods store,and a few buildings, and when the court house at Auburn wasa very primitive and poorly furnished affair. Mr. Shoudelhad but limited educational opportunities, never havingattended school a day until after sixteen years of age. Hethan started in the primer and in fifty-eight days was inthe third reader. The second winter he again attendedschool and worked hard to gain knowledge and has been acontinual reader throughout his life and is todayconsidered a man of wide and unusual information on manysubjects. One of his leading qualities is his persistencyin his application to any task to which he applies himselfand this has enabled him to conquer where many others wouldhave failed. In the public and civic life of the communityMr. Shoudel has for many years been an influential factorand has always exerted his influence in favor of suchmovements as had tended to advance the best interest of thecommunity. In 1872 Mr. Shoudel married Joanna Reinig, whowas born in Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of Frank andJoanna (LaFroise) Reinig. She came to America late in 1872with her mother, her father having already emigrated tothis country. Here they applied themselves to agriculturaloperation, as had their fellow citizens, the Shoudels,Millers and Smiths. To Mr. and Mrs. Shoudel have been borneleven children, six boys and five girls, namely: John, wholives on the Hezekiah Leas farm, married Margherita Hoff,and they have four children, Albert, Clara, Michael andEsther; Annie is the wife of Frederick Gfeller, who livessouth of the Catholic church, and they have eight children,Freddie, Dora, Matthias, Mary, Celia, Joseph, Herman and ababy girl; George, who married Marie Hoff, lives on one ofhis father's farms near Summit, and has two children, Agnesand a baby boy; Michael is unmarried and helps his fatherrun the farm and also operates a threshing machine;Matthias, who is also unmarried, is at home; Kate is thewife of Andrew Shiffli, who lives two and one half mileseast of his father on the Shoner farm, and is the father oftwo children, Agnes and Wilford; Lena, Mary, Caroline,Joseph and Frank are all unmarried and at home with theirparents. The subject and his wife also reared Fred Elliott,who was born November 26, 1880, the son of George andCaroline (Rennig) Elliott, the latter having given up herlife at birth of her son. Fred Elliott died on September 8,1910. Mr. Shoudel and members of his family are allconnected with the Catholic church, in the prosperity ofwhich they are deeply interested and to the support ofwhich they contribute liberally. Mr. Shoudel is a man whomto know is to respect and admire, for, having started in alowly capacity, he gradually forged to the front and byfaithful effort and prompt discharge of every dutydevolving upon him he finally acquired a comfortablecompetency and has won and retains the good will and regardof all who know him. He has ever tried to do the right ashe has seen and understood the right and as arepresentative citizen of his community he is eminentlyentitled to representation in a work of the character ofthe one at hand.Submitted by:Arlene GoodwinAuburn, IndianaAgoodwin@ctlnet.com

Michael married Johanna Reinig on 29 Jan 1872 in Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, USA. Johanna (daughter of Franz Anton Reinig and Johanna Lefrois) was born on 14 Nov 1855 in Bundenthal, Pfalz, Bayern; died on 8 Mar 1919 in Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, USA; was buried in Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery, Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]