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WILLIAM SCHULENBERG. No name in the memorial department of
this work is more worthy of mention than that of William
Schulenberg, Postmaster and merchant of New Bremen, Auglaize
County, Ohio. In him the community has a faithful and
unswerving friend, ever alert to serve its best interests, and
generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to
the general advancement. He was born Sept. 7, 1838, in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and comes of German parentage, his father and
mother, Henry F. and Wilhelmina (Buck) Schulenberg, being
natives of the Old Country. Their marriage was celebrated
in Germany on the 7th of May, 1832, and there the father
followed his trade, that of miller and millwright, until 1833,
when they took passage for the United States. After an
ocean voyage of two months they landed on American soil and came
immediately to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mr. Schulenberg
followed building and contracting for several years. From
there he subsequently moved to New Bremen, Auglaize County,
Ohio, and a few years later to Cincinnati. However, he was
not satisfied to remain in that city and soon afterwards he
returned to New Bremen, where he settled permanently, being one
of the first residents of that town. He followed his trade
of carpenter and builder, and all the first-class houses of that
town are monuments to his work. He was Captain of a
company of State Militia here for a number of years. When
Randolph freed his slaves, he purchased a tract of land
in Mercer County where he sent them to school. They camped
near New Bremen until the people objected, when Mr.
Schulenberg loaded them on a canal boat and sent them back.
Mr. Schulenberg was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran
church, which he built, and he was one of the most prominent and
well-known men of the county. He served in the army in
Germany. He died of cholera in 1849, when only forty years
of age, and his wife passed away the year previous.
Our subject, the sixth in order of birth of twelve
children, three of whom are now living, was but eleven years of
age when his parents died, and he received such educational
advantages as the times afforded, attending the common schools
of the county in log schoolhouses with slab seats, etc.
After the death of his parents he painted wagons in the shop of
a wagon-maker, with whom he remained until fifteen years of age,
after which he hired out to work on a farm for $3 per month.
He was thus engaged for about three years, after which he boated
on the Miami and Erie Canal during the summer and followed
coopering during the winter months. In 1858, he ran the
stage and carried the mail from New Bremen to Piqua, Ohio, and
continued thus engaged until 1862. On the 25th of August
of that year, he enlisted in company C, Thirty-seventh Ohio
Infantry, under Col. Siebert and participated in the
battle of Vicksburg, siege and assault of Jackson, Missionary
Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and
Bentonville. Two of his brothers were in his company and
another brother was in the First Ohio Calvary. Mr.
Schulenberg had several bullet holes shot through his
blouse, and was shot through the hair once, but never received a
flesh wound. The last six months of his service, he was
sent to Columbus, Ohio, and acted as forwarding officer,
forwarding substitutes to the front. He became clerk in
that department. On the 28th of May, 1865, he was
discharged and returned to New Bremen. He was in the
hospital about a week during his service.
Returning to New Bremen, Mr. Schulenberg was
married to Miss C. Helwig, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio,
and settled down to the duties of life, first working in a
brewery. Later, he secured a position in a hardware store
and still later was in the saloon business for himself. In
1868, under Gen. Grant, he became Postmaster at New
Bremen, which position he continued to hold in a very
satisfactory manner until 1885. In 1868, he engaged in the
book and stationery business and continued this in connection
with the postoffice business. In 1886, he was elected
Sheriff of Auglaize County on the Republican ticket and was
elected with a majority of 331 in a county of from 1,800 to
2,000 Democratic majority, thus showing his popularity. He
served one term, during which time he resided at Wapakoneta, the
county seat, but he continued his business at New Bremen.
After his term had expired, Mr. Schulenberg
returned to New Bremen and was re-appointed Postmaster under
Gen. Harrison.
Mr. and Mrs. Schulenberg are the parents of three
children: Anna, wife of Edward Lanyhert of
this town; Herbert, who is assistant Postmaster and
carries on the store, and Francis, twelve years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Schulenberg have adopted a child,
Franklin Huenke, whom they took when but six months old.
He is still with our subject and wife. Mr. Schulenberg
has been Mayor of the town of New Bremen, has been Chief of the
fire department, and has been a member of the City Council.
He is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. He and
wife are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church and he is at
present Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr.
Schulenberg owns a fine dwelling in New Bremen, a handsome
business block and other town property, including three acres
adjoining the corporation. He operated a tile yard for a
few years and also started a mineral water factory but soon sold
this. He has also been connected with an agricultural
implement store here. He and the Postmaster at St. Mary's
are the two oldest of "Uncle Sam's boys" in the county, having
been in the United States service nearly twenty-five years.
Our subject has a fine large store and has a select stock of
books and stationery. He is wide-awake and thorough-going
and one of the prominent men of the county.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Auglaize, Logan
and Shelby Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 -
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