Biographical Sketch of

Godfrey Schaal

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 746 - 747 


Godfrey Schaal, hardware dealer of Princeton, is numbered among the enterprising and successful business men of that 
city.  He was born in Germany, June 18, 1841, and is a son of Frederick and Willhelmine (Franke) Schaal, who were also 
natives of the same country.  During the earlier days of his manhood, Frederick Schaal engaged in blacksmithing in the 
Fatherland, continuing that business until 1848, when with his family he emigrated to America.  His first location was 
Mayville, Dodge Co., Wis., where he resumed his old trade, carrying on the same until his death, which occurred in 1851, 
only three years after his arrival in this country.  Three months previous his wife had been called home and they who 
had traveled life's journey so many years together, were laid side by side in the city of the dead.  Their children, 
twelve in number, were as follows:  Charlotte, wife of Gotleib Albert, a resident of Mayville, Dodge County; Ferdinand, 
who is living in Oconto, Wis.; Louisa, wife of Adam Tillman, of Mayville; Minnie, now deceased; Mary, wife of August 
Johns, a resident of Algona, Iowa; Emilie, wife of F. T. Yahr, of Princeton; Godfrey, of this sketch; William, deceased; 
Augusta, widow of Henry Smith, now living in Madison; Bertha, whose home is in Dakota; Ernst, who is located in Oconto, 
Wis.; and Lena, the youngest, who was born after the arrival of the family in America, but died in infancy.  Frederick 
Schaal is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Dodge County, and though his residence in that community was of short 
duration he is still remembered by many early settlers.  He and his wife were earnest Christian people who daily 
endeavored to do their duty as they saw it and were respected by all.
 
He whose name heads this sketch has been a resident of Wisconsin since his early boyhood days and in the common schools 
acquired his education.  The death of his parents occurred when he was but ten years of age.  He was then thrown upon 
his own resources.  The world indeed seemed dark for without the comfort and council of father or mother he was left 
to meet the hardships and difficulties which fall to the poor man's lot.  At that tender age he engaged to work as a 
farm hand near Hustisford, Dodge County, remaining with his first employer for two years, after which he obtained a 
similar position with a farmer near Watertown.  At the end of three years he returned to Mayville, obtaining a position 
with a farmer near that place, with whom he remained but seven months, when he was taken sick.  He went to the home of 
his brother-in-law, that he might receive the care and attendance of his sister who ministered to him until he had 
sufficiently recovered to again engage in business.  He now determined to devote his attention to other than agricultural 
pursuits and for three years worked as an apprentice to the wagon-maker's trade in the shop of Adam Tillman, another 
brother-in-law, after which he went to Berlin, Wis., with the hope of securing employment, but was unsuccessful.  He 
then visited Beaver Dam, Waupun and Ripon, then continued on his way to Ceresco, where he was promised a permanent 
position should the man who had previously been engaged fail to put in an appearance.  He began working by the piece 
but after a week the other party arrived and he was thus thrown out of employment.  Forced to seek work elsewhere he 
started for Princeton.  He had earned $10 as his week's wages but as he had no prospect of soon securing employment 
he decided to walk the distance between Ceresco and Princeton in order to save stage fare.  He had previously met 
with many disappointments but now his search was soon rewarded by a good position with August Thiel, with whom he 
remained three years.  In the meantime he received $93 from his father's estate which sum he invested in a pair of 
colts.  This was his first purchase of any importance, but from that time his affairs were in a more prosperous 
condition and step by step he had worked his way upward until he has now a comfortable competence, his income being 
such as to enable him to enjoy the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
 
On leaving the employment of Mr. Thiel, Godfrey Schaal formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, F. T. Yahr, in 
the wagon manufacturing, the latter doing the iron work, while our subject had charge of the wood work, but after a 
short time that connection was discontinued, Mr. Schaal selling his interest to his partner.  He then went to Leavenworth, 
Kan., where for two years he engaged as salesman in the boot and shoe store of Henry Smith, husband of another sister.  
At the end of that time Mr. Smith sold out and removed to New York, where he engaged in the fur business, taking his clerk 
with him.  Mr. Schaal remained in the Eastern metropolis for two years and then came to Mayville, Wis., when he entered 
into business relations as a partner with Kroesing & Kloeden, also his brothers-in-law, the firm carrying on a hardware 
store, a brewery and also engaging in agricultural pursuits.  Six years of prosperity followed, and at the end of that 
time he sold his interest and came to Princeton, where he has since made his home.  That was in 1874, and the same year 
he engaged in the hardware business with F. T. Yahr as partner, that connection continuing for seven years.  He then 
again sold out and began the erection of a large storeroom, 26x86 feet, constructed especially for hardware, since which 
time he has there carried on operations.  Systematic and methodical, carefully attending to all details, straightforward 
and upright, he has secured a reputation as one of the leading merchants of the community and well deserves the success 
which has been his.  Few men, similarly situated would have pressed forward with such perseverance and energy but those 
characteristics so essential to success were his and he used them to the best advantage.
 
Mrs. Schaal, wife of our subject, was in her maidenhood, Miss Augusta Kroesing.  She was married Feb. 23, 1867.  Her 
parents, Carl and Johanna (Franke) Kroesing, came to America in 1850, locating in Mayville, where the death of the father 
occurred in February, 1888.  His excellent wife is still living in that city with her eldest daughter and with them also 
resides the mother of Mrs. Kroesing who is now ninety-seven years of age.  The family circle of the worthy couple of whom 
we write numbered eight children, but three have since been called home.  Those who still survive are Robert, who was born 
Sept. 15, 1871; Laura, born April 3, 1875; Waleska, born Oct. 3, 1879; Otto, born Sept. 3, 1882; and Ernst, born Jan. 17, 
1884.  Mr. Schaal intends providing his children with such educational advantages as will ably fit them for the duties of 
life.  His eldest son, Robert, has already been graduated from the High School of Princeton.  In political sentiment he 
is a Democrat and in his social relations is an Odd Fellow, holding membership in Princeton Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F.
 
 




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