Schisler, Henry bio

History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 458, Astoria Township
Henry Schisler, was born in York Co., Pa., in 1835. Passing his boyhood and youth in his native State, at the age of 18 he determined upon locating in the West, and selected Astoria Twp., where, in 1858, he was united in marriage with Miss Magdalena Wise, also a native of the Keystone State. Sarah, Samuel, Amanda, Charles, Lydia, Mary and Edward are the children born to them. On his arrival in the West Mr. S. turned his attention to different pursuits in Astoria. Twelve years ago he rented a shop and started in the cooper business; after a moderate business he sold out and purchased the tannery formerly owned by John Gilliland. In this new departure he was successful and accumulated some means, and purchased 8O acres of land in this Twp., and now is engaged in farming, owning 160 acres of well-improved land near Astoria, his post-office.
The young boy by the name of Henry Schisler, left in 1835 from York County, Pa. to locate in the west and selected Astoria Twp. IL to live.
He came from a family of 14 children and was the son of John Schisler of York County, Pa.
Henry started the cooper business, also tannery and was a farmer. He built the brick homestead south of Astoria.
Note: A bathtub is in the Schuyler County Museum donated by Dr. R. R. Dohner, which has been made by his great-grandfather, Henry Schisler, and was used by the Dohner family.
submitted by Sara Hemp

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, Illustrated 1908, and the History of Fulton County, by Newton Bateman, LL.D. and Paul Selby, A.M., Edited by Jesse Hevlin, page 1088-1089
Henry Schisler. During his long residence within the borders of Fulton County, Henry Schisler has worked out an admirable destiny, and from small beginnings has drawn around him for the comfort and happiness of his later years such substantial compensation's as wealth, the affectionate devotion of his well established children, the credit for having contributed largely to the general development of the community, and the confidence and good will of his business and social associates.
   As his name indicates, Mr. Schisler is of German ancestry, and his family was established in this country by his grandfather, who crossed the ocean after the Revolutionary War and settled in York County, Pa. Here Henry Schisler was born May 20, 1835, and here also was born his father, John Schisler, and his mother, Lydia (Schinbarger) Schisler. The Schisler farm in York County was in the neighborhood of Loganville, and one of the most vivid early memories of Henry Schisler is of the two opposing armies crossing the river at that point and robbing the town of provisions. The oldest son of the family was taken a prisoner, at that time, and forced to lead the Confederate Army to its desired destination. Besides Henry, there were four other children of the first marriage of the father: Catherine deceased wife of Samuel Hollinger, also dead John, who owns what was left of the old home in York County, but lives in Manchester; Eliza deceased, former wife of J. Hartman, who settled in Michigan prior to the Civil War; and George, a farmer of Eldorado Township, McDonough County. John Schisler married for his second wife a Miss Miers, who bore him five children, one of whom died in infancy, and two o£ whom are living: Jacob, of Hartford City, Ind., and Samuel, of Denver, Colo.
   As a means of self-support Henry Schisler learned the cigar making trade, and by the time he was eighteen years old had saved quite a few dollars. Lured hither by reports of larger opportunities, he started west in 1854, and after a short stop in Ohio, came on to Fulton County where he soon found employment in a brickyard. He later learned the brick-mason's trade and for five years followed brick laying and building in different parts of the county. October 14, 1858, he was united in marriage to Magdalene Wise, a native of York County, Pa. and daughter of Peter and Sarah (Kare) Wise.
   After the death of her parents, Mrs. Schisler came to Fulton County with her sister, Mrs. John Bricker, settling in Summum in 1855, Mr. and Mrs. Schisler are the parents of nine children: Sarah E., wife of Joseph Strennell, of Astoria, this county; Samuel, a farmer of Astoria Township, who married Lydia Eppert; Amanda, wife of Emanuel Fitz, of Redcloud, Neb.; Charles, deceased husband of Ellen (Davis) Schisler; Lydia, wife of Granville Sayers, of Astoria; Mary, wife of John Rowland; Edward, a farmer in Astoria Township, who married Josephine Blanchfield; Rose Ellen, wife of David Sullivan, a farmer in New Salem Township, McDonough County, Ill.; and an infant, deceased.
   After his marriage Mr. Schisler was variously employed until 1866, when he bought eighty acres of land in Section 26, Astoria Township, upon which had been erected a small log house, and a few inferior outbuildings. The land was covered with a heavy growth of timber and hazel bushes, also hundreds of labor-defying stumps, and much effort was necessary before even a small patch could be cultivated. From time to time this land has been added to, and now the farm consists of 387 acres, which, however, gives but partial impression of the real work accomplished by Mr. Schisler. At one time he owned 800 acres of land, but as his children have grown up he has given to each a farm, with the result that he is surrounded by those near and dear to him, and within a small compass is a large community of family interests.
   Mr. Schisler has large and liberal ideas regarding general affairs, and while politically & Democrat, is not hide-bound in his belief or exactions. Particularly has he encouraged and insisted upon the best possible educational opportunities for his own and the children of the other settlers, and he has given generously to enterprises which appealed to his humanity and reason. He has demonstrated what a man can accomplish by pursuing practical and straightforward methods, and by exercising always in his associations with his fellowmen the qualities of integrity, consideration and kindness.
submitted by Sara Hemp