Post Card Courtship, SCHULER

      The SCHULER family arrived in Lockport, Illinois, about 1840 and remains there today. The I&M Canal, Illinois and Michigan Canal, plays a prominent part in their history. William John SCHULER, third generation, started walking with the mules and finished with a pilot’s license. The typical Sunday COUCH family dinner included fried chicken. How long had Will been invited to eat with the family? Elisha COUCH, Nettie’s grandfather, was a blacksmith. How many of the young lads were invited to Sunday dinner? In the early 1900s as he traveled down the canal, Will would somehow find himself in Seneca on Sunday and around meal time. The marriage of Will and Nettie took place 23 December 1908 at Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois.

These post cards were Will’s “love Letters” to Nettie before their marriage:

Relationship to me, Selma, maternal grandparents: William John Schuler, 1871-1964, Lockport, Will County, Illinois, and Nettie Ethel Couch, 1884-1965, Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois.

John Schuler 1815-1875

According to family records, Johannes Schuler was born 4 January 1815 in Endingen, Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.[Not being an European researcher, I have no idea what the full location names mean.] John died 21 August 1875 in Lockport, Will County, Illinois. He was buried 25 August 1875 in the Lockport City Cemetery. Not exciting news, what happened between the birth and death dates? Follow his migration path.

John Schuler emigrated from Endingen, Germany in June 1833. Johann Georg Schuler and his wife, Agnes Zimmermann, left sometime in June of 1833 with their five children. Johannes Schuler, the eldest child, was 19. David J. Sautter's Endingen research is available on Family Search.org.

Passenger records reveal the family arrived in Baltimore, Maryland between July and September 1833. In 1838, John married Anna VonGunten in Wood County, Ohio. What happened between 1833 and 1838? At this time, no records reveal their secret. After his wedding, John and his new bride set out for new territory in Illinois.

The 1840 U.S. Federal Census lists John Shuler in Kane, Illinois. Could this be John and Anna? Two people within the appropriate age range are enumerated in the household. From my personal searches, other canal workers resided in Kane County before working on the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The 1850 U.S. Federal Census lists John in Lockport, Illinois. He labored on the I & M Canal, purchased land from the Canal Commission and produced six children between 1840-1852: John 1840-1916, Elizabeth 1842-1915, Charles Henry 1845-1904, Mary Ann 1848-1933, Caroline 1850-1917 and Agnes 1852-1916. What happens next? 

He and his wife attended Christmas church services in 1852. Within the next year or two, John headed west. With the work on the canal completed, did he head west looking for work? Family lore tells of other family members looking for gold. Did this entice John? The 1860 U.S. Federal Census shows a potential male living in Long Barn, Yuba, California. The 1870 U.S. Federal Census lists a male living in Newcastle, Placer, California. In 1872, John wrote a letter to Ann that he was coming home. A long life, I would like to know John and all the family better. Also, I would like some photographs.

For more of my findings on John Schuler/Shuler Roots Digger Family Tree on Ancestry.com. My sources are documented. The tree is open and public.

Family history: SCHULER, William John (1871-1964)

My grandfather, William John Schuler was born in Lockport, Will County, Illinois 12 September 1871. By 1885, he was a mule driver and deck hand on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Many interesting stories have been handed down such as "Don't pay the deck hands before the boat is tied up." He related how once near Peoria, he paid the men and they jumped ship and swam to shore. During his courting years, he had to stop in Seneca on Sunday for chicken and to visit a certain young chick. William John and Nettie Ethel Couch were married in home of the bride in Seneca, Illinois on 23 December 1908. While on the boat, Nettie cooked for the crew. Eleanor Lena, their first child was tied to the washing machine so she would not fall overboard. By the time of the second child, William Lloyd, permanent residence was established on 8th Street in Lockport. They had five children with four living to adulthood, marriage and raising their own families. On 31 December 1964, Grandpa Schuler or Pa Shoo (privilege to call his name depended on family status) laid down on the bed for his afternoon nap. At 93 years of age, naps are a privilege no one will dispute. Grandma mentioned that it was time for dinner and time to wake him.  What a peaceful way to pass away.

The copies of his pilot license were obtained from the National Archives at St. Louis. MO.

The SchulerKampe family trees are a work in progress on RootsWeb, My Heritage and Ancestry. Or, if you have questions and comments, please write me at sbgenealogy@gmail.com.

Census: Research family relationships, part 3

This series of articles demonstrates how to research family relationships from digital census records. The further back the researcher traces the family, the more difficult it is to verify information. The records for several census years may be necessary to answer basic family questions. Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org offer census indexes.

Research technique: work backwards. The 1910 U.S. population schedule census rephrased the question from age at first marriage to number of years married. Married women were asked the number of children born and how many now living. For the 1900 census, the enumerators asked the birth month and year of each family member as well as the number of children born and living. The 1880 census is the first time the enumerator inquires into the relationship to the head of the house.

Research technique: use collaborating documents. Continuing with the Schuler ancestors, William and Nettie have not been found in the 1910 census. Family documents verify their marriage in Dec 1908. Family legends include his occupation as a boat captain with placement on the Illinois and Michigan Canal in Illinois.

1910 U.S. Census. Illinois, Will, Lockport. John Schuler family

Research technique: Do not read into the record what is not there. In 1910, the only Schuler in Lockport, Illinois is John Schuler. Is there a relationship? The 1900 U.S. population schedule census does enumerate William J. as the son of John Schuler. William’s occupation is boatman. This links William J. to his father, John.

1900 U.S. Census. Illiinois, Will, Lockport, John Schuler family

In the 1880 census, the enumerator inquires as to the relationship of each member to the head of the house. Research technique: connect to the right family. Two families are enumerated; one family is Anna Shuler; the other family is John Schuler. This census identifies John Schuler’s children. Research technique: abstract the information thoroughly and correctly. The abstracted information will reveal family name changes, births or deaths in the family. 

1880 U.S, Census. Illinois, Will, Lockport. John Schuler family

Research technique: do not read into the record what is not there. Wait for future research to connect the families of Anna and John.

Example, the second generation of the Schuler family is John and Lena Schuler, the author’s maternal great-grandparents. The 1910, 1900, and 1880 U.S. population censuses provide family information as follows:

• John Schuler is the head of the family.
• Laney, Lena, or Linna M. is his wife.
• The birth order and names of his five children are:
• William, William J., or Willie born Aug 1871
• Clara born about 1873
• Edward born Sept 1876
• Harriett M. or Juliana born Feb 1878
• Nellie born Sept 1891

Note the daughter’s name difference between Juliana in 1880 and Harriett in 1900. The birth dates indicate this is the same person. The daughter’s mother speaks German. Could a misunderstanding of the question account for the name difference?

Future research:

• As Clara was not enumerated on the 1900 census, look for death information between 1880 and 1900.
• As Harriet M. was not enumerated on the 1910 census, look for death information between 1900 and 1910.
• Anna Schuler is a widow in 1880. Who was her husband?

1880 U.S. Census. Illinois, Will, Lockport. Ann Shuler family

Census records offer hints or clues not absolute facts.

For comments and questions, please contact Selma Blackmon.

Treasure Chest Thursday – book used by Capt. W.J. Schuler, I & M Canal

Wow, what a treasure chest find yesterday, 20 July 2011, I found a book used by my grandfather William J. Schuler (1872-1965) for navigating the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The book is a government printing of Document No. 263, House of Representatives report with survey and maps of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The report was published in 1905. From 1898 to 1914, Captain Schuler piloted boats down the canal. In 1914, he piloted the last boat the entire viable length of the canal from Peru to Lockport. The boat “Niagara” was owned by the Morton Salt Company.

The book is in the collection of The Will County Historical Society, 803 S. State St, Lockport, IL 60441, 815-838-5080 and www.willcountyhistoricalsociety.org

info@willcountyhistory.org.

 Who stitched the cover? Every treasure adds more questions.