Early Tell City Settlers
CHARLES W. REIF, merchant of Tell City, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born Januray 20, 1850. His father, also Charles W. Reif, who was a merchant, came to Perry County in 1857 as a member of the Swiss Colonization Society to select a site for the settlement. He remained and acted as treasurer and president for the board a number of years and was one of the chief founders of the town. During the Rebellion he was a staunch Union man, and as captain of the Home Guards did much to protect the border fro guerillas and marauders. He was born in Baden, Germany, January 17, 1817, and married Barbara Graf, of his native town. They came to the United States in 1848. At the time of his death, which occurred May 15, 1882,he was successfully engaged in the hardware business in Tell City. Mrs. Reif died about five years previous to her husband’s death. Charles W. Reif, Jr., remained at home until he was fourteen years old, when he went to Cincinnati and was employed in a hardware store for two years. He then learned the machinist’s trade in that city, serving a three years’ apprenticeship. In 1869 he returned to Tell City and worked for his father for several years. From 1875 to 1880 he taught school in the county, and since his father’s death has had charge of the store. May 5, 1876, he married Lillie Sein, of Cincinnati, Ohio, by whom he is the father of five children: Arnold W., Oscar W., Amelia M., Nora L. and Flora M.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885
JOHN H. SCHERGENS, of Tell City, is a native of Prussia, born September 4, 1821. He came to the United States in 1848, and located at Cincinnati, where he followed his trade and engaged in the business for himself. In 1858 he came to Tell City as a member of the Colonizatin Society, and engaged in the cabinet-maker’s and carpenter’s trade. He was a member of the firm, Combs, Hartman & Co., manufacturing furniture and chairs for ten years, and then engaged in the undertaking and picture frame business, in which he has since remained. He is one of eight children born to the marriage of John H. Schergens and Marie Engel, both of whom lived and died in Prussia. He remained at home until reaching manhood, receiving a fair education in his native language. He learned the cabinet-maker’s trade, and followed it until he came to America. In 1852 he married Catharine Reuber, a native of Germany and to this union have been born nine children: William, Mina (widow of Charles Bettinger), Anna (wife of Renig Einsiedler), Henry, Sophia (wfie of Henry Hetterich), Christina, Louisa (wife of Robert Haulsmann), August and Charles. His wife and daughter are engaged in a dry goods, millinery and notion business in Tell City. He is a Republican and a member of the I.O.O.F.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885
WILLIAM SCHERGENS, foreman of the Southwestern Furniture Company was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 18, 1852. He is a son of John H. Schergens, a sketch of whom appears in this work. William was reared at home and received his education in the schools of the town. At the age of fourteen he began working at the cabinet-maker’s trade and worked as foreman for Combs, Hartman & Co., in which company hw owned an interest for two years. In 1879 he bought an interest in the Southwestern Furniture Company, and assumed the position which he has since held. July 29, 1875, he was united in marriage with Gertrude Lindauer, a native of Switzerland. The fruits of this union are three children: Amelia, Harry H. and William. Mr. Schergens is a Protestant in faith, but is not a member of any religious denomination. His wife is a member of the Catholic Church. In politics he is a Republican, and was a member of the town council for two years.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885
AUGUST SCHREIBER, a prominent merchant of Tell City, is a native of Prussia, his birth occurring December 6, 1837. He is the eldest of three surviving sons born to the marriage of Henry Schreiber and Wilhelmina Colshorn, who were also natives of Prussia, where the mother died about the year 1846. The father, a manufacturer by trade, immigrated to the United States in 1854, locating first at Galena, Ill., but later removing to Dubuque, Iowa, where he died in 1876. The subject of this sketch was reared to early manhood in this native country, receiving a good high school education, also studying the French, English and Latin Languages. In 1855 he joined his father in America, clerking one year at Galena, and from that time to 1864 doing a similar work in Dubuque. For the succeeding two years he was engaged in the produce and commission business, shipping goods largely to New Orleans but in 1866 came to Tell City and embarked in the drug trade. Mr. Schreiber has ever since continued the business, and although at various times has had competitors in his line of business at Tell City, he has outlived them all, and at the present writing has the only drugstore in the place. This fact is largely due to Mr. Schreiber’s courtesy, his large and well selected stock, and the uniform low price at which he diposes of his goods. He first embarked in the business with a limited capital, but economy and industry have brought about their legitimate reward in a comfortable and well-established income, which is the result. Mr. Schreiber has been one of the most active and enterprising men of the place since his location here, contributing liberally from his means in the support of all laudable public enterprises, and in various ways contributing to the advancement of his town, county and State. He belongs to the I.O.O.F., F.&A.M., and A.O.U.W. fraternities, being a charter member of the two latter and also a charter member of the I.O.O.F. (encampement), and the present Master of the Masonic Lodge at Tell City. Since 1876 he has held the position of Deputy Revenue Collector for this district. As as Republican in politics he has been honored at various times by nominations for Representative, but owing to the hopeless minority of his party in the county he has always been defeated. He is the present president of the town school board. Although a member of no church he is a Protestant in his religious views, his family being connected with the Evangelical Church. Mr. Schreiber was married August 25, 1861, to Miss Eva Schloth, a native of Saxony, Germany, by whom he is the father of two living children named Ida M. and Charles Robert Darwin.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885