Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES


 

.SCHAUB.
Dennis Schaub



. .
Ahnentafel Chart for Benson Casper Schaub



First Generation

 1. Benson Casper Schaub  was born on 12 Jul 1891 in Clinton, Rock, Wisconsin. He died on 2 Nov 1962 in
Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin. He was buried on 4 Nov 1962 in Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin.

moved to Oconto Falls with family at age 16. He met Mary Emma Johnson in this new hometown.

completed high school, but never attended college. at age 21, married Mary. immediately worked as a
timekeeper at the Falls Paper Mills, and later was a rural mail carrier, and a farmer. And also ran a
struggling milk route. Always had 5 or 6 milk cows, and a large garden. Farmed hay, grain, and ensilage
for the dairy cattle and work horses. Also grew beans and sweet corn for the canning factory in town.
Had a potato patch out back.

retired 1956 from Mail Carrier employment with postal service after 36 years
Oconto Falls—
Benson Schaub, who has been carrying the mail to rural folks of this community since April 16, 1919,
formally retired from this very important branch of government service on November 30th of this year.
He is only retiring from the service, but expects to keep actively engaged in farming after a good rest
and learning how to enjoy a little more sleep in the morning after so many years of early rising.
He was appointed to carry mail on rural route 2, on the retirement of the late Frank O’Neill, out of
Oconto Falls in 1919 and served this route for seven years. During these early years he had to drive
horses and “used up” twelve of this kind of motivation before he got his first Model T Ford. It would be
interesting to compare this first automobile with Benson’s twentieth horseless carriage he has owned.
His first route was 27 miles long with 120 patrons, and his last route 62 miles with 320 families to serve.
Even after he had a car, it took some time before the roads were plowed out and it still called for horses
and an enclosed mail rig in the winter months—Schaub had two of them—one on runners and one on
wheels. The latter was for the muddy seasons.
The life of a mail carrier as Schaub knew them was made up of long hard days. Up long before daylight
and often it was impossible to get home before dark. Many days he would have to leave his rig and
horses with some farmer, then hire the farmer with a bobsled and a team of heavy draft horses to bring
him home. Then the next morning, they would pick up the mail, go back to the farmers place and from
there his rested team would take him the rest of the route.

death age 71
 

Benson married Mary Emma Johnson  daughter of James (Sven) Johnson and Jennie Lind Porterfield on 9
Oct 1912 in Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin. Mary was born on 30 Aug 1887 in Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin.
She died on 12 Oct 1958 in Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin. She was buried on 16 Oct 1958 in Oconto Falls,
Oconto, Wisconsin.
 

Second Generation

 2. Albert Edward Schaub  "Ed" was born on 19 Oct 1856 in Burlington, Racine, Wisconsin. He died on 4 Dec 1931
in Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin. He was buried on 6 Dec 1931 in Evergreen Cemetary, Oconto Falls, Oconto,
Wisconsin. He married Elizabeth Perrine "Lizzie" Benson on 21 Jun 1888 in Clinton, Rock, Wisconsin.

graduated from the University of Wisconsin, where he majored in Greek and Latin. apparently he
regularly took mid-winter dips in the lakes in Madison

at about age 28, met and married Emma Willey. Two children were born to them. Then only as fate and
misfortune could do it, his wife died shortly after the second child was born, just as happened to his
father.

school principle or superintendent of high schools for 34 years
While principal in Clinton as school principal, and singing in the Methodist choir, with 2 children and no
wife, he met and married Lizzie (Elizabeth Perrine Benson). Lizzie had come from a wealthy Benson
family from the eastern shores of Maryland. She seemed to be a woman of significant culture and
perserverance. He records in his own journal that for his honeymoon, they took the 1:15 train to Chicago.
On the way, they visited his brother, Charley (and his wife Kitty) who ran a butcher shop in Boyne City,
Michigan, and then on to visit his mother Elizabeth who still lived at the old homestead at Honey Creek,
Spring Prairie. Upon return to Clinton, Ed rented a home from Mr. I. L. Hoover, and returned to the
routines of life. He was most likely involved as a scholl teacher and subsequently as the school principal.
It is also recorded that he sang in the Methodist church choir. About 1907, at age 51 and with 20 years
as a principal, Albert Edward and his wife Elizabeth and 4 teenage children moved north to the town of
Oconto Falls to again become principal and superintendant of schools.

Also, in his later years, he became a minister for the local Methodist Episcopal church and was referred
to as "Reverend". Grandson Art remembers traveling a few Sundays with his grandpa to minister at the
state house for mental patients in Peshtigo.

death age 75.
OBIT:
Albert Edward Schaub , December 4, 1931
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD SUNDAY FOR ALBERT E. SCHAUB
Funeral services for Albert Edward Schaub were held at the Methodist church in Oconto Falls, Wis.,
Sunday afternoon, Dec. 6th, at 2 o'clock. Rev. Nearhoof, pastor of the church and Rev. Anton Hatlestad,
a life long friend, and a former pastor of the Oconto Falls M. E. church officiated. Burial was in
Evergreen cemetery.
Mr. Schaub was born at Honey Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin, Oct. 19, 1855. He was educated in
the public schools of Wisconsin and graduated from the State University of Madison in 1880.

In 1881 he married Emma Willey. To this union two children were born, William and Alice. His wife died
in 1886. In 1888 he married Elizabeth Benson at Clinton, Wisconsin. To this union three children were
born, Marguerita, Benson and Reginald. He is survived by his wife and all of the children except
Marguerita, who died in infancy.

He was high school principal in Clinton, Hudson, Berlin, Ripon, West Allis and Oconto Falls. In 1912 he
gave up teaching and lived in Oconto Falls. Later he was prevailed upon to become supply pastor for
the Methodist churches in Hickory and Suring and later in Algoma, Sun Prairie, North Freedom,
Peshtigo and Mattoon.
In September, 1930, he returned to Oconto Falls where he died on December 4, 1931.

Those from out of town who attended the funeral were: Mrs. H. F. Johnson, Racine; Mrs. John Schaub,
Burlington; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schaub, Boyne City, Mich.; Mr. Oswald Schaub, Milwaukee; Mr. and
Mrs. Weston Haseltine, Baraboo; Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Schaub, Duluth, Minn.' Mr. and Mrs. James Selkirk,
Des Moines, Iowa; Rev. Anton Hatlestad, Milton Junction; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Johnson, Marinette; Mrs.
McDermid Johnson, Mrs. McDermid, Miss McDermid, Gilbert McDermid, Rev. Guy Wilkinson, all of
Marinette; Mrs. Weeks and son Peshtigo' Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hemingway and two sons, Mrs. E. E.
Hemingway, Mrs. Peter Johnson, Mrs. George Jersey, Mrs. Woodard, Mrs. Darling and Mrs. Boyink all
of Mattoon; Mr. and Mrs. H. Dieck, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Dieck, and Rev. and
Mrs. Carr, of Suring' Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rierdon, Hickory; Mrs. Loomis, Glendora Lomis, Mrs.
Sweningson, and daughter, and four young ladies of Suring.

The pall bearers were J. P. Johnson, Wilton G. Johnson, Dr. R. J. Goggins, A. J. Peterson, A. W.
Johnston and James Johnson.  Mr. Schaub had endeared himself to Oconto Falls and by his passing
has lost an outstanding citizen and friend. He possessed a sterling character and was true to his
convictions. While principal of our school some years ago and since he settled here after his retirement
from the ministry he contributed much that is lasting and permanent.
The large representation at the funeral from other communities where he had served bear testimony to
the fact that he was loved, esteemed and respected by many.  The bereaved family has the deep and
heartfelt sympathy of their many friends in the great loss which they have just experienced.
 

 3. Elizabeth Perrine "Lizzie" Benson  was born on 19 Dec 1862 in Russell Gulch, Gilpin, Colorado.
She died on 3 Oct 1943 in Oconto Falls, Oconto, Wisconsin. She was buried on 5 Oct 1943 in Oconto Falls,
Oconto, Wisconsin.

Lizzie grew up in Clinton, Wisconsin, some time during her teen and young woman years she attended
the finishing school, Conservatory of Music, Buffalo, N.Y. at her Aunt Cordelia's in New York with her
sisters. This is where she learned to play the organ and piano.

The Schaub and Benson families were probably acquainted for several years. Albert's "Book of Accounts
" ledger has record of payments to Lizzie's siblings Jamie and Nellie, including some medicine and
doctor bills.

Albert previously married to Emma Willey about 1884, and had two children, Alice and William Willey.
Emma died, for reasons we have not yet discovered.

Albert, principle of the local high school, then remarried to a family friend, Lizzie Benson, on Thursday,
June 21st, 1888, at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clinton, Wisconsin where she attended faithfully.
Rev Dr. A. T. Chester of New York (uncle of the bride; second husband to Cordelia) performed the
wedding ceremony.  Two of the bridesmaids were sisters Ellen and Irene. Albert's best man was
Captain J. F. Cleghorn. This newly wed couple settled in Clinton (southern Wisconsin) where the
Benson family primarily resided, while the Schaubs were basically from Honey Creek and Spring Prairie

in neighboring Walworth county. The youngest child of Principal and Mrs. Schaub died in October, 1889
of cholera infantum, after a brief illness.

About June 1899 they sold the farm and bought Champion Knitting Works in Hudson. Within a few short
years, the business failed and they lost the business. Over the next several years he was a high school
teacher or principal in the towns of Clinton, Ripon, Burlon, Hudson, West Alice and finally moving north
to Oconto Falls in the fall of 1907. Somewhere during this time period he took a break from school and
worked in the papermill, then returned to serve in high schools in East Depere, Algoma, and Kewascum.
Albert at one point became the Superintendent of High Schools. After retiring from the school system,
he began his transition towards his other lifelong pursuit of being a minister in the Methodist
congregations. He lived and preached in Baraboo, Peshtigo, Matoon, and finally again in Oconto Falls.

One of her cousins (Helen) married Herbert Fisk Johnson, who founded Johnson's Wax and floor care
products, of racine, Wisconsin. (Helen Converse and Elizabeth Perrine "Lizzie" Benson are 1st cousins.
Their common ancestors are John L. Perrine and Mary Hibbard.) Lizzie received gifts, clothes, and
salon visits regularly from this cousin who was always a good friend.

In their final years, they retired to live on the farm of son Benson Casper Schaub in Oconto Falls. Along
with music, Elizabeth also enjoyed writing and literature. She had some of her poems published,
included in the Poetic Voice of America, 1940. Albert died in 1931 at age 75, and Lizzie died in 1943 at
age 81. Both were buried in the Oconto Falls Woodlawn Cemetery.

1940
Oconto Falls-
Mrs. Elizabeth Schaub, 77, Oconto Falls, is one of the authors whose poems are included in the Poetic
Voice of America, 1940, a 736 page volume just published. More than 11000 poets living in every part of
the United States and Canada competed for a place in this important volume; only a few hundreds of
these were found to write poetry of sufficient merit to be accorded a place in the bool. The volume
contains the work of little-known authors as well as that of writer whose poems have been published in
magazines and books. The poems published and written by Mrs. Schaub are, "My Guide," "Communion,
" and "Violets." Mrs. Schaub is the widow of the late Rev. A.E. Schaub. She attended a seminary in
Buffalo and is a music teacher. Her work has appeared mainly in church papers. Her hobby is music
and she enjoys writing and literature.

1943 Obit:
SCHAUB RITES WERE HELD HERE  ON TUESDAY P.M.
Simple impressive rites were conducted by the Rev. Marvin Schilling for Mrs. Elizabeth Perrine Schaub
at the Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoon with the Flatley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
The flowers were in charge of Mrs. Edward Ama, Mrs. John M. Birr, and Mrs. Arthur Rice, and the
casket was borne to its last resting place in Woodlawn Cemetery by Wilton Johnson, Adolph Peterson,
Russell Putnam, William and Herbert Temple and John Debbertin. Miss Elaine Sinrud sang "The Lords
Prayer" and choir members rendered "Abide With Me" with Mrs. Blaine Peterson at the organ.

Mrs. Schaub was born Elizabeth Benson, December 19, 1862, at Cuvers Gulch, Colorado and was
married to Albert E. Schaub on June 21, 1888, at Clinton, Wisconsin. They came to this community in
1907. Always active in church circles, Mrs. Schaub, established a record by holding a continuous
membership in the Women's Foreign Missionary Society since she was sixteen years of age. She
studied music in Buffalo, and was well known for her talent and kept up her piano work until she became

ill six months ago. Her life was an exemplification af the Christian ideals, and she will be greatly missed
by her fellow workers in the church. She loved poetry, and was a composer of ability.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Alice Hazeltine of Baraboo; three sons Benson of this city, William
of Duluth, Minnesota and Reginald of Claredon Hills, Illinois; two sisters, Mrs. James Selkirk of Des
Moines, Iowa, and Miss Irene Benson of Augusta Georgia. There are a number of grandchildren, two of
the grandsons being in the Armed Forces in the African and South Pacific Theaters, as well as several
nieces.

Eighty-one years of a beautiful life have been brought to a close and one cannot mourn the passing of
Elizabeth Schaub. Her faith, which has now received its reward, is depicted in the following lines from
one of the last poems she wrote entitled "The Winds of God."
 
 

Third Generation

 4. Casper Schaub  was born on 25 Jul 1832 in Hoenebach, Hessen-Nassau, Preussen, Germany. He died
on 17 Jun 1887 in Spring Prairie, Walworth, Wisconsin. He married Katherine Schwartz about 1852 in Wisconsin.

came to America around the year 1850, Casper being avbout age 18, with Conrad Schaub,  most likely
an older brother.  Not sure what family was left behind, or what was their lot. Most emigrants were poor
farmers that saved for years, and spent all that they had to pay for travel to the new country and all of its
opportunities. The most difficult and dangerous part of the emigration from the Old to the New World
was the voyage on the sailing ship. The average time of crossing was 43 days. The normal
accommodations for the emigrants was steerage. The quality of food suffered from these lengthy
voyages due to inadequate preservation. Their port of departure was likely Hamburg, and their port of
entrance New York. Like most German emigrants, they made way for the new frontiers around the Great
Lakes.

at first he had a place about a mile north of  the German Settlement church, but changed to one only a
few rods west of the church on the same side of the road. This is the place that the Schaub
descendants call the old homestead.

1860 Census of Prairie Springs, Katherine and Elizabeth's mother, Mary Schwartz, also lived in his home
. his occupation recorded as a farmer, and that he owned real property.

died by drowning in Lake Michigan, age 54
 

 5. Katherine Schwartz  was born about 1836 in of Hoenebach, Hessen-Nassau, Germany. She died about 1858
in Walworth Co., Wisconsin.

 6. Rowletter Markland Benson  was born on 5 Apr 1825 in Pittsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He died on
23 Dec 1911 in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa. He was buried on 27 Dec 1911 in Clinton, Rock, Wisconsin.
He married Ellen Cooper Perrine on 28 Feb 1861 in Russell Gulch, Gilpin, Colorado.
Rowletter's name is a variation on a family surname, Rolliter (from Pennsylvania). Markland is also a
family surname (from Maryland) He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
(near Pittsburgh) on 5 April 1825.

Because of his father's trade as a shipbuilder, Rowletter developed an early passion for boats and
waterways. When twelve years old, he made a trip as a cabin boy on a steamboat down the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers to the Arkansas River, then returned to Sharpsburg, PA, and for a time attended public
schools. After leaving school, he entered the shipyard with his father, learned the trade and worked
there until he became of age. On attaining his majority, young Rowletter shipped on board the ill fated "
Colonel Yell" which was wrecked off Eranses Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.  He lived on wormy hard-tack
and stale pork for a while. Along with the others on board, he reached St. Joseph island, whence they
were taken on a government vessel to Point Isabel and then to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. They
remained here, apparently on active duty, until the close of the Mexican War, serving in the
quartermaster's department.

Rowletter returned home to Pennsylvania and worked as a ship's carpenter for another 12 or 13 years,
then in 1860 went out to Colorado where his brother James was living.

The following was reported in Rocky Mountain News (Colorado), March 6, 1861, p. 3.
"Married at the residence of Mr. James P. Benson, in Russell Gulch, on Thursday, February 28, 1861,
by Reverend Louis Hamilton, Mr. Rowletter M. Benson (age 35) and Miss Ellen C. Perrine (age 30).
How many hearts will throb with disappointment on reading the announcement above! But she has gone,
and her many admirers are left to "curse their unfortunate stars" for their tardiness in not proposing ere it
was too late. We feared that such would be her fate when we saw her journeying across scene. But we
trust that she may live long and happy, and have no cause to regret the hardships, breakdowns,
runaways, and somersaults, consequent upon a pilgrimage over the plains. The choicest flowers bloom
latest in the season, but better late than never."

Just why Ellen C. Perrine happened to be in this Colorado wilderness at this time is not precisely known.
She was born in Lyons, New York, in 1830, about the time that the prophet, Joseph Smith, was
organizing the Mormon Church in Fayette (just 30 miles away!). Ellen was the daughter of Mary Hibbard
and John Perrine, a rather wealthy and well-educated family. The family apparently moved to Clinton,
Wisconsin in the mid-1840s and became successful farmers. Ellen's younger sister, Irene Hibbard
Perrine, met and married Rowletter's younger brother James Power Benson in Leavenworth, Kansas in
November of 1859, and then moved on to Colorado. It's highly possible that James and Irene were the
first to adventure into this Colorado frenzy, and that Rowletter and Ellen came out to join their siblings.
The wedding took place in their home!

Their first two children, Mary Montana (b. Dec 1861) and Elizabeth Perrine "Lizzie" Benson (b. 19 Dec
1862 ) were born in Russell Gulch. It is not clear where their next child, Ellen Richmond "Nellie" Benson
(b. 4 Apr 1865 ) was actually born. While living in Russell Gulch he conducted a general store with
groceries, drugs, etc., in addition to attempting his own luck at finding the golden treasure.

The family packed their bags as the mining town began to dwindle, and moved back to Clinton,
Wisconsin about 1865 to rejoin Ellen's parents and family. They settled on a 600-acre  farm half a mile
west of the village where Rowletter and his wife and four surviving children lived the remainder of his
years. They carried on farming and raising cattle and livestock until about 1900 when he finally retired

from farm work and leased his land. One news article labeled him a leading prohibitionist, an active
church worker, and a YMCA advocate.

Rowletter Markland died on January 23, 1912 at age 87, and eleven years after Ellen had died. He was
taken ill with pneumonia while at his daughter Nellie Selkirk's home in Des Moines, Iowa. His daughter,
Miss Irene Benson, a trained nurse, was called to care for him and all possible was done to prolong his
life. He was subsequently buried in the family lot of the Clinton, Wisconsin cemetery next to his wife,
Ellen and their daughter Mary Montana and son Jamie, after services in the Methodist church and burial
under stormy weather conditions.  Under the same monumental grave marker in Clinton also lay
Rowletter's brother and life long pal, James P. with his wife Irene and their son Paul. Rowletter was the
final survivor of his many siblings.
 

 7. Ellen Cooper Perrine  was born on 4 Dec 1830 in Lyons, Wayne, New York. She died on 24 Sep 1900 in
Clinton, Rock, Wisconsin.

About 7 generations prior to Ellen C. Perrine, the first Daniel Perrin immigrant came over about 1687
with a group of French Huguenots from the Isle of Jersey, France, to flee heavy persecution.

Just why Ellen C. Perrine happened to be in the Colorado wilderness in 1861 is not precisely known.
She was born in Lyons, New York, in 1830, about the time that the prophet, Joseph Smith, was
organizing the Mormon Church in Fayette (just 30 miles away!). Ellen was the daughter of Mary Hibbard
and John Perrine, a rather wealthy and well-educated family. The family apparently moved to Clinton,
Wisconsin in the mid-1840s and became successful farmers. Ellen's younger sister, Irene Hibbard
Perrine, met and married Rowletter's younger brother James Power Benson in Leavenworth, Kansas in
November of 1859, and then moved on to Colorado. It's highly possible that James and Irene were the
first to adventure into this Colorado frenzy, and that Rowletter and Ellen came out to join their siblings.
The wedding took place in their home!
 



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