PHILIP SCHEURER, who is engaged in general farming on sections 14 and 15, Brighton Township, is one of the worthy German citizens of the county. He was born in Nassau, August 25, 1836, and is a son of Christian and Catherine (Meichael) Scheurer. Under the parental roof Philip was reared to manhood and in his native tongue acquired a good education, such as fits one for the practical duties of life. On attaining his majority when he felt it time to begin life for himself, he decided to make America the scene of his future labors and in September, 1857, sailed from Havre, France, reaching New Orleans in December following. Boarding a river vessel he came up the Mississippi to Alton, and thence to Brighton, where he has since made his home. He had no capital, in fact had borrowed $40 with which to pay the expenses of the journey but he possessed a resolute will, a strong right arm and a determination to succeed. He began as a farm hand and as soon as he had acquired some capital made purchase of land and developing a good farm has since been numbered among the leading agriculturists of the county.
After ten years Mr. Scheurer went back to his native land on a visit and on his return to his home brought with him his parents who continued to reside with their son until their deaths. The father, who was born in 1798, died in 1883, and the mother who was born in 1811, died in 1885. They were members of the German Lutheran Church and held in high esteem by all who knew them. Mr. Scheurer at once resumed his farming operations and developed the wild prairie into rich and fertile fields. He now has one hundred and sixty acres of arable land under a high state of cultivation besides considerable timber land.
Mr. Scheurer has been twice married. In Brighton Township he was joined in wedlock with Emma Diel, who was born in Germany and when a child came to this country with her parents, where she was reared. She died in 1865, when not quite twenty years of age, in the faith of the Catholic Church of which she was a member. One child was born of her marriage, who died before his second birthday. Mr. Scheurer was afterward united in marriage in Madison County with Miss Margaret Fiinfer, also a native of Germany, who came alone to this country in 1867. Her parents spent their entire lives in the Fatherland. By this union have been born seven children and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are as follows: Henry, Frank, Anna, Mary, Philip, Louisa and Rosa. The parents are both members of the Lutheran Church and in the social world they hold an enviable position, while throughout this community their friends are many. In politics, Mr. Scheurer is a democrat, having voted with that party for many years.On another page appears a view of the homestead of Mr. Scheurer, which is justly considered one of the finest in the community, the improvements on it speaking volumes for the thrift and enterprise of the owner.