THEODORE SCHAAR, dealer in guns and manufacturer of adjustable screens of his own patent, doing business in Beardstown, Illinois, was born in the Province of Posen in Prussia, where he grew up and was educated. From the time he was a small boy, he began to be educated in his native language, and also in that of Latin, French and English in the college of his native town, graduating from it when he was seventeen years of age. He is the son of Carl Schaar, also a native of Posen, who spent his life there and died when an old man. He was a skilled musician and a manufacturer of all kinds of musical instruments, being so known in his native country. He had taught his children the art of music, and our subject has been a successful and skilled teacher on different instruments. His mother, whose maiden name was Willhelmina Borkenhagen, lived and died in her Prussian home, having been a good wife and mother.

Theodore was the first of the family to come to this country, but he has since been joined by his brother, Charles, now a music dealer on State street, Chicago. He came to this city in 1861 and has since been a resident of the place. His adjustable screens are sold extensively to the trade and he employs some eight or ten men all the time. This business was established two years ago and has been built up successfully. He is one of the leading public-spirited men of Beardstown, holding the office of Alderman, with which he has before been honored. He is a member of the Board of Equalization of the Twelfth Congressional district, and he has filled that office with credit to himself and acceptably to his constituents. He has taken an active part in local politics, having been a delegate to the Congressional and county conventions. He returned to his native land in 1871, and came back to Beardstown after a pleasant visit.

He was married in 1870, to Miss Johanna Kulhen. She was born in Posen and was there reared and educated. She and her brother Fred, a farmer in Colorado, are the only members of the family now living in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Schaar have two children: Clara, wife of W. T. Quirk, now a train dispatcher of Jacksonville, on the Jacksonville Southeastern railroad. Mrs. Quirk was educated in music in a conservatory in Chicago, and was a teacher until her marriage. Martha, a recent graduate of the high school at Beardstown, is the other daughter. Mrs. Schaar and the children are members of the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Schaar has stood by the Democratic party, in whose ranks he has been a leader ever since he came to the United States.