SCHALL, EDWARD, has made a fine record as a farmer since reaching years of maturity, at which time, 1891, he rented his first farming land and started out in the world for himself. Constant application to the task he had in hand, economical management, frugality and good judgment have won for him a measure of success that gives him recognition among the best grain raisers and milk and butter producers in Cass County. All this progress has been attained, moreover while still a comparatively young man, for, he was born as late as March 11, 1866, at Peoria, Ill., and his parents were Charles and Mary (Dechert) Schall, the father being an emigrant from Hesse, Germany, and the mother of American nationality. Charles Schall located in Cass County, Ill., in the sixties, where he began his married life, after a few years spent as a clerk in Beardstown. He was variously engaged until he ultimately bought a farm, on which he lived until January 1913, dying then at the age of seventy-two years. He married Mary Dechert and they had the following children: Edward; Henry C., of Morgan County, Ill.; Charles H. of Cass County; Caroline (Mrs. Ed. Bierhaus), of Cass County, and Albert H. of Cass County. The mother of these children died and the second wife of Charles Schall bore him the following children: Julius, of Beardstown; Alexander and Harry of Cass County; and Edith and Irene, on the home place.

Up to the age of twenty-one years, Edward Schall stayed at home. At that time, having received a common school education, he went to farming on rented lands, and in June, 1893, bought 120 acres, partly improved, in section 20, township 18, range 10, Cass County. On this he completed the improvements, erecting a fine house, good outbuildings, barns, etc., and building a modern, up-to-date creamery. Here he conducts a dairy farm, keeping from fourteen to sixteen cows, and making butter, and he also carried on general grain farming.

On February 23, 1893, Mr. Schall, who was educated in the district schools, was married to Annie Kruse, who was born August 12, 1867, in Cass County, Ill., a daughter of Mathias and Anna (Biehl) Kruse, the former a native of Switzerland, and the latter born in Beardstown where she attended school in youth. At an early day, Mr. Kruse came to Beardstown with his first wife, buying a farm in township 18, range 10, where the wife died. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Schall were John and Margaret Biehl, natives of Germany, who located in Cass County at an early period, and carried on farming. Mrs. Schall was the oldest child of her father, the others being: John, of Jule Station, Cass County; Henry, of Adams, County, Ill.; Mathias, of Chase County, Nebr.; and David, Edward, Barbara (Mrs. Willis Davis), Jacob and Albert, all of Cass County, and Sophia and Emma, on the home place.

Mr. and Mrs. Schall have had the following children: Elmer C., Nadine N., Nita P., Clifford M. and Le Eda, all at home. Edward Schall belongs to the Lutheran church, while his wife is a Presbyterian. In politics, Mr. Schall is a Democrat. He has served as a school director, and since 1912 has been a trustee of township 28, range 10, Cass County.