WILLIAM SCHMITZ, saloon, restaurant and stabling, Cassville; was born in Prussia Sept. 14, 1830; came to America in 1850; settled at Galena, learned the trade of tinsmith; engaged in business at Galena with M. Gribbs; then went to Dubuque, where he remained until 1855; he came to Cassville and engaged in the hardware business; then built the Cassville brewery, and continued to run that until he sold to Hugo Grimm of St. Louis; then started the present business in his own house July 24, 1880, also owns a farm of 60 acres. His wife, Sebbila Drecsen, was born in Prussia in 1852; came to America in 1868; they married April 13, 1871; they have five children - Otto C., born at Cassville March 13, 1872; William M., Oct. 7, 1873; Christ H., Oct. 5, 1875; Henry, Dec. 3, 1877; Frank E., June 16, 1880. In politics, Republican; member of Town Board. In religion, Catholic; a member of the Union League. While firing an anvil during the early part of the war, he came near being killed by the bursting of an anvil. His brother Peter was in the 25th W. V. I., and died in the war; he is buried at Cassville; William erected a beautiful monument to his memory - a worthy tribute to a fallen hero.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.