Joseph Schuler ²

  Noted events in his life were:

• Immigration: Baden, 1847, the United States. ¹

• Census, 1860, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁴ Joseph Schuler, age 19, male, occupation farmer, born in Baden

• Census, 1870, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁵ Dwelling 156, family #148: Joseph Schuler, age 27, male, white, farmer, real estate value $600, personal property $400, born in Bavaria, both parents foreign born, eligible to vote.

Mary Schuler, age 20, female, keeping house, born in Iowa, both parents born in Germany.

Anna Schuler, age 1, female, born in Iowa

• Census, 1880, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁶ Joseph Schuler, head of household, married, male, white, age 36, born in Baden, farmer, father's birthplace Baden, mother's birthplace Baden

Mary Schuler, wife, married, female, white, age 30, born in Iowa, keeping house, father's birthplace Prussia, mother's birthplace Prussia

Anna Schuler, daughter, single, female, white, age 11, born in Iowa, at school, father's birthplace Baden, mother's birthplace Iowa

Charles Schuler, son, single, male, white, age 8, born in Iowa, at school, father's birthplace Baden, mother's birthplace Iowa

John Schuler, son, single, male, white, age 6, born in Iowa, at school, father's birthplace Baden, mother's birthplace Iowa

Julia Schuler, daughter, single, female, white, age 3, born in Iowa, at home, father's birthplace Baden, mother's birthplace Iowa

Elizabeth Schuler, daughter, single, female, white, age 1, born in Iowa, at home, father's birthplace Baden, mother's birthplace Iowa

• Iowa State Census, 1885, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁷ Joseph Shular, age 44, male, married, farmer, born in Germany, both parents foreign born

Mary E. Shular, age 35, female, married, housekeeper, born in Des Moines County, Iowa, both parents native born (sic)

Anna Shular, age 16, female, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Charles Jr. Shular, age 13, male, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

John Shular, age 11, male, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Julia Shular, age 8, female, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Elizabeth Shular, age 6, female, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Ella Shular, age 4, female, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Edward Shular, age 0, male, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

• Iowa State Census, 1895, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ² Joseph Schular, age 53, male, married, from Germany, farmer, religion: none

Mary Schular, age 45, married, born in Des Moines County, Iowa, keeping house, a Methodist

Charles Schular, age 23, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa, farmer, religion: none

John Schular, age 21, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa, farmer, religion: none

July Schular, age 18, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Elizabeth Schular, age 16, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Ellen Schular, age 13, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Eddie Schular, age 10, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Pearl Schular, age 8, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Hattie Schular, age 4, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

Lilly Schular, age 1, single, born in Des Moines County, Iowa

• Census, 1900, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁸ Line 96, Dwelling 178, Family 177: Joseph Schular, head of household, white, male, born April 1841, age 59, married, married for 32 years, born in Ohio, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, (no occupation listed), could read, could write, could speak English, owned his home, free of mortgage, a farm not a house, farm #177 in schedule

Mary E. Schular, wife, white, female, born January 1849, age 50, married, married for 32 years, 10 children born, 10 living, born in Iowa, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, could read, could write, could speak English

Ella M. Schular, daughter, white, female, born April 1881, age 19, single, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Iowa, could read, could write, could speak English

Edward H. Schular, son, white, male, born April 1884, age 16, single, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Iowa, attended school for 4 months during the previous year, could read, could write, could speak English

Pearl Schular, daughter, white, female, born September 1887, age 12, single, attended school for 6 months during the previous year, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Germany, could read, could write, could speak English

(The rest of the family is continued on the ensuing census sheet)

• Census: (continued), 1900, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁹ Hattie E. Schuler, daughter, whie, female, born May 1891, age 9, single, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Iowa

Lillian E. Schuler, daughter, female, white, born ? 1894, age 6, single, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Iowa

• Biography: A Biographical Review of Des Moines County, Iowa, 1905. ¹ Joseph Schuler

One of the early settlers of Des Moines county and now among the most influential and substantial citizens of Benton township, is Joseph Schuler, who has been an interested witness of the development of this section of the State from a condition approximating that of a wilderness, and has borne his part in advancing the material and moral interests of the community. He owns and cultivates a rich farm of fifty-six acres in Section 23, Benton township.

Mr. Schuler was born in Baden, Germany, on April 10, 1841, and came to the United States with his parents in 1847. He was the son of Marcellus and Gertrude (Kinburger) Schuler. The father was a farmer, and upon coming to the new country he located in Shelby county, Ohio, where he purchased land and made his home for several years. At the end of that time he came to Burlington, where he engaged in the grocery business until 1860, when he removed to Benton township. There he purchased a forty acre tract of farming land, and made a home for himself and his family until the time of his death, which occurred at the ripe old age of eighty years. He was always a loyal Democrat in politics, having decided when he first became a naturalized citizen that party most closely represented his ideas of what a popular government should be.

The mother was also born in Germany, and she lived to the age of sixty-eight years. She was the mother of three children, all of whom are still living, our subject being the oldest. The other two are: Charles, who resides on the old home place in Benton township; Catherine, widow of William Hoppe, who resides in Burlington, Iowa.

Joseph Schuler received his early education in the public schools in Ohio, and later in Burlington. He remained at home, and after the family bought the place in Benton township, worked on the farm until the breaking out of the Civil War. Then his love for his country inspired him to take up arms in defense of the Union, and he enlisted in July, 1862 in Company E of the Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, and served with that company for one year. At the end of that time he re-enlisted, this time in Company F, of the Eighth Iowa Veteran Volunteers, and served till the close of the war. He was in some of the hardest sieges and most severely fought battles of the war during this time. He saw service at Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Fort Spanish, and at Mobile, Alabama. When the strife ended and the great host dissolved in peace, he received his discharge at Selma, Alabama.

After his discharge he returned to Iowa, and located in Benton township, where he farmed for some years, first renting land, then later buying the place on which he is now located, and where he has ever since lived. Here he carries on a business of general farming, with some stock-raising, and is very successful in the conduct of his affairs. He has made many improvements in the place from time to time, and has seen many changes in the county, always doing his share toward bringing about the advancement of the community.

Mr. Schuler was united in marriage on May 28, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Meyers, who was born in the city of Burlington, January 29, 1850, the daughter of Christopher Meyers. Christopher Meyers was an early settler of Burlington, who followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life, farming in Burlington township, where he died at the age of sixty-nine years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schuler have been born ten children, and the hand of death has never yet entered the circle. The children are: Anna, wife of Henry Tackenburg, being a liveryman of Mediapolis, whose life history is recorded elsewhere in this volume, and to whom has been born one daughter, Esther; Charles E., who lives in Benton township; John F., who resides in Burlington, where he is engaged in a retail grocery business; Julia, wife of Edward Colby, of Mediapolis, who has two children, Wesley and Maria; Elizabeth, wife of Martin Welch, a hardware merchant of Mediapolis, who has one child, Ralph; Ellen; Edward; Pearl; Hattie; and Lillian. All of Schuler's children were born and educated in Des Moines county. He has reared a nice family, of which he has every reason to be proud, as they are a credit to the various communities in which they make their homes, and reflect great credit on their upbringing.

Politically, Mr. Schuler is a Democrat, deeply interested in the growth and development of his party, and recognized as one of its powers in local ranks, although he has never aspired to the holding of public office. He always evinces a strong interest in public affairs, being a consistent advocate of all worthy movements having for their object the promotion of the community's interests. As a farmer he has been highly successful by reason of his business ability and his attitude of readiness toward opportunities, coupled with sane and sour judgment and keen foresight, which have enabled him to carry his ventures to the desired issue. As a man and a citizen he enjoys the general respect because of his honorable and upright methods in all matters in which he comes into contact with his fellow men.

Joseph married Mary E. Meyers, daughter of Cristopher Myers and Mary Elizabeth Dena (?), on May 28, 1868.¹ (Mary E. Meyers was born on January 29, 1850 in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa,^{1 2 3} died on August 22, 1930 ³ and was buried in the Kossuth Cemetery, Yellow Spring Township, Des Moines County, Iowa ³.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Residence, 1895, Benton Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. ^{1 2}