| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.archive.org/stream/quincyadamscount01wilc/quincyadamscount01wilc_djvu.txt
310 QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
John Schell, born in Erbweiler, Rhenish Bavaria, 1787, learned the blacksmith's trade. Then he served under Napoleon the First for eleven years. During the latter 's campaign in Spain John Schell was taken prisoner by the enemy. The Spaniards treated him in a brutal manner, only releasing him under the condition that he enlist in the British army. Although this went against the grain with John Schell, he complied with the conditions, and the British sent
him to Canada, where he served three years. Being released, he returned to his home in Bavaria. In 1817 John Schell married Barbara Zwick, who was born in Bruchweiler, Rhenish Bavaria, April 4, 1799. A daughter being born to them, May 2, 1819, she was named Appolonia, and in 1838 became the wife of John A. Roth in Quincy.
One son, John, was born to John and Barbara (Zwick) Schell, June 25, 1821, in Dann, Rhenish Bavaria. Later John Schell, Sr., went to Havre, France, where he resided for seven years, as overseer and superintending the transfer of freight to and from the ships. During that period, in the year 1830, a son was born to them who was named
Peter. In Havre it was where John Schell, Sr., became acquainted with the great American author, Washington Irving. The latter took a fancy to the little son, John, whom he took along to New York, the father consenting. But the boy's mother became uneasy about her son and so John Schell, Sr., had to take a special trip to New York, to bring the boy back. In those daj's trips aci'oss the ocean required many weeks, and when John Schell arrived in New York,
he learned that Washington Irving was on his return trip to Havre with the boy. John Schell, Sr., and family came to America in 1831, locating in New York City. There a daughter was born to them November 25, 1833 ; she was named Philippine, and later was married to John Schwietring, a molder, in Quincy; her husband died many years ago, while she is still living, with the following sons : John, Edward, George, Rome and Frederick Sweetring, the name having
been changed some to conform with the English pronunciation; and two daughters, Cecelia, wife of John Worth, and Edith, widow of Charles Foster, live in this city.
In 1835 John Schell and family left New York for the west, coming by way of Buffalo, New York, then across Lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio, thence by canal to the Ohio River, by boat down this river and up the Mississippi to Quiney. Here another daughter was born to John and Barbara (Zwick) Schell, Marie Anna, who in the course of time
became the wife of Casper Jenner, a stonecutter. And another son, George, was born in Quiney in 1839. John Schell, Sr., together with Simon Glass, conducted a smith-shop at Sixth and Kentucky streets. In later years he became city weigh-master, and had charge of the city scales at the old market house. Third and Hampshire streets. Feb-
ruary 15, 1864, John Schell died, aged seventy-seven years, while his widow lived for many years, departing this life in 1891, at the high old age of ninety-two years.
John Schell, Jr., the eldest son of John and Barbara (Zwick)
QUINCY AXU AUAMS COUNTY 311
St'hell, born Jum' 2.'). 1S21, became prominent iu public life in Quincy.
Ue served in the German Guards during the Mormon war, repre-
sented the Sixth Ward iu the city council for three years iu succession,
1857, 1858 and 1859, also served as justice of the i)eacc. For many
years lie was prominent in business, conducting a distillery north of
the city. His wife was Cecelia Suppiger. born May 2, 1822, in Sursee,
Canton Luzerne, Switzerland. John Schell, Jr., died December 25,
1875, and his wife lived until August 2, 1897, when she departed this
life. Two daughters survive. Miss Cecelia Schell, for many years a
music teacher, at pz'csent in the Anna Brown Home, and Miss Emilie
Schell, for a number of years teacher iu the public schools; also three
sons, Edward Schell, Los Angeles, California, Irving Schell, Chicago,
Illinois, anil William Schell, St. Louis, ilissouri.
Peter Schell, born in Havre, France, came to Quincy with his
parents. Here he married Sophia Sanders, who was born iu Germany
eighty-two years ago, and came to this city with her sister, ilrs. Joseph
Aschcmann, early in life. Peter Schell died fifty-nine years ago.
The widow is still among the living, and one son, Peter Schell, member
of the firm of Schell & Kroner, tinners and sheet metal workers.
George Schell, born in Quincy in 1839, grew up in this city, where
he for years conducted teaming, became prominent in public life
and was elected as street commissioner. In 1860 he married Anna
Marie Ertel, who was born in Xeuburg on the Rhine in 1839, and
had come to Quincy with her parents. George and Elizabeth (Zoller)
Ertel, in 1849, when she was ten j-ears of age. George Schell died
about thirty-eight years ago, his widow surviving him. Besides Mrs.
Schell the following children arc among the living: George, in Kansas
City, ilissouri ; Frank, employed in the gas works ; Edward, in the
fire department ; William, teamster, and Anna Schell, all iu Quincy.
William Diekhut, born April 10. 1809, in Muehlhausen, Thuringia,
emigrated in 1832, coming to America, where he located in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. In 1834 he came west with the Pfaiisehmidt family,
looking for a place to settle down, accompanying them to Quincj'.
Returning to Pittsl)urgh, he there married Catherine M. Wcngert, who
was born in Sperlbach, near Landau, Bavaria, Jlay 27, 1814. Soon
after their marriage in 1835 the couple came to Quincy, settling down
here for life. William Diekhut was a glazier by trade, and established
the first factory for the maiiui'ac-ture of sash, doors and blinds in this
town; he also opened the first lumber yard in Quincy. In later years
he was one of the foundei*s and main stockholder of a large saw-
mill on the bay north of the city. September 8, 1892, William Dick-
hut died, and his wife followed him in death July 21, 1893. The
children of William and Catherine (Weiigert) Diekhut were: Henry
E. Diekhut, who was associated in business with his father and now
lives in Chicago; Edward C. Diekhut, was manager of the Quincy
Lumber Co., and died throe years ago; Philip L. Diekhut, who is in
the real estate business in Quincy. Daughtei-s were: Anna, wife of
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1788 - 1864 (75 years)
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