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Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Pages 253
Ernst Schreiber, a well-known citizen of Sherman Township, was born in Prussia, January 31, 1814, and is the fourth
in a family of eight children, whose parents were John and Elizabeth {Conschagack} Schreiber. Of the number, four
are now living: Charles, a resident farmer of Sherman Township; Dorothea, widow of John Gabriel, and a resident of
Clark County; Rosina, wife of Charles Froelich, a farmer of Germany; and Ernst. The parents were farming people and
both died in their native land. The father served for three years in the German army. The family came to this
country in 1860, embarking at Hamburg on a sailing-vessel commanded by Capt. Benst. The trip consumed thirty-six
days, and was a very stormy one. Landing in New York, they went by rail to Milwaukee, and Mr. Schreiber began
grading roads, while our subject drove the team.
In 1862, Ernst Schreiber enlisted for the late war, becoming a member of Company I, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry.
The troops were ordered to Virginia, and he participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At
the last named battle Stonewall Jackson was killed by a mistaken volley from his own troops. Mr. Schreiber was also
in the three-days fight at Gettysburg, where the regiment lost of its men. Gen. Reynolds, who was in command, was
killed at the place. The Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps then became the Twentieth, and joined the Western Army.
They went into winter quarters at Lookout Mountain, where the soldiers suffered severely from hardships and lack of
food. The next spring, Gen. Sherman started on his Atlanta campaign, and under Gen. Hooker Lookout Mountain was
captured. They fought on the mountain above the clouds, with the lightning and storm below them. This was a very
singular and never-to-be-forgotten sight. Mr. Schreiber also started on the march to the sea, but on the 20th of
June was wounded at the battle of Resaca, Ga., and was sent to Nashville. Later he rejoined his regiment, and
participated in the battle of Raleigh, where Johnston surrendered. The troops then marched to Richmond, and thence
to Washington, and he there took part in the Grand Review, where wave after wave of bayonet-crested blue passed by
the stand on which the President stood watching the victorious army. He received an honorable discharge near
Washington, June 23, 1865.
Immediately after Mr. Schreiber returned home, and worked in Milwaukee until 1868, when he removed to the farm which
his parents had purchased in the mean time, and upon which he has since lived. He was married October 13, 1870, to
Miss Wilhelmine Ferk, and they have become the parents of ten children, seven of whom are yet living: Ida, wife of
Louis Wemhold; Emma, who is working in Milwaukee; Clara, Louisa, Freddie, Lisetta and Anna, at home.
Mr. Schreiber is recognized as a practical and progressive farmer, and is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres
of rich land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He has made many good improvements thereon, and
the buildings are models of convenience. The well tilled fields and neat appearance of the place indicate the
supervision of a careful owner. Mr. Schreiber cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1864, but is now a Democrat. He
holds membership with St. John's Lutheran Church.
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