SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Herman Schaeferkort, Page 464

HERMAN SCHAEFERKORT, a prosperous and successful farmer of Rhine Township, has been a resident of Sheboygan County since May, 1855, and a land-holder since November of that year.  He is a native of Lippe-Detmold, Germany, born May 1, 1825, and is a son of Henry and Emilie Schaeferkort.  The father and mother lived to the ages of sixty-nine and fifty-nine years, respectively.  Our subject was reared and educated in his native "dorf," receiving a common-school education.  After leaving school, he went in service as a farm hand, but later was employed in a brick-yard in Ostfriesland, Holland, where he spent some seven years.  Next he served about two years with a minister in Fuerstenthum Lippe, and later was three years with another minister of the Reformed Church.

    Mr. Schaeferkort was married on the 23d of July, 1854, to Elizabeth Bunte, a daughter of Christopher and Louise (Kuester) Bunte.  Her father reached the age of seventy-five, and her mother fifty-nine years.  Mrs. Schaeferkort was born in Donop Amt Blomberg, May 16, 1827, and received her education in the common schools of Germany.

    In September, 1854, our subject with his young wife sailed from Bremen on a two-mast vessel, called the "Beta," on which one hundred and fifty passengers were listed for the New World.  After encountering several severe gales and voyaging for fifty days, they reached the harbor of New York in safety.  Coming direct to Wisconsin, they spent about six months in Germantown, Washington County; then, coming to the town of Rhine, Mr. Schaeferkort purchased forty acres of land, which he still owns, though its appearance now is very different from what it was then, as it was at that time covered with woods and stones.  To clear this tract and put it under cultivation required no small amount of labor.  Since that time he has added eighty acres more, making a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres.  The log house in which the subject of this article made his home for several years was replaced in 1862 by the comfortable frame residence which is still his home.  In September of the same year he was bitten by a mad cow, but was fortunate in completely recovering.

    Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schaeferkort, August is the eldest.  he was born on the old homestead, June 26, 1855, was educated in the district schools, and is operating his father's farm.  For a wife he chose Miss Henriette Uhl, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Zeiger) Uhl, who was born December 25, 1856, being the second in a family of eight children.  The second child in the family of Mr. Schaeferkort, Anna, was born May 7, 1857, and was married on the 3d of October, 1879, to Adolph Speckman, of Sheboygan; Bertha, born July 29, 1858, wedded July 4, 1882, Gerhardt Vaanker, a minister of Ashton, Iowa; Louise, born March 11, 1861, became the wife of Samuel Klinksborn, a fruit-buyer of Elkhart; Mary, who was born on the 23d of May, 1862, was married March 19, 1884, to Peter Kramer, a farmer of Rhine Township; Caroline, born March 6, 1864, became the wife of Frank Grether, June 25, 1880, Mr. Grether is a professor in the Mission House.  Hermine, the next child in the above family, was born on the 4th of December, 1866, and is the wife of William Grether, pastor at Poland, Ind.  Mr. and Mrs. Schaeferkort are happy in knowing that their children have become respected and useful members of society.

    Of our subject's farm about twenty-four acres are covered with timber, the rest being in a good state of cultivation and well improved.  Mr. Schaeferkort has filled a number of official positions in his township, having served as Supervisor four terms, Town Treasurer three terms, and for thirteen terms was a member  of the School Board.  he has also been Appraiser for the Town Herman Fire Insurance Company since January 1, 1875.  In the upbuilding of the Mission House, he has lent a helping hand, and in the work of the German Reformed Church has taken an active part, having been an Elder for twenty-five years, and for an equal period Superintendent of the Sunday-school.  Both he and his son are stanch supporters of the principles of the Republican party.