Schleigh, Peter bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 599–600; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Peter Schleigh. The lithographic portrait on the opposite page will be immediately recognized by the reader as representing the lineaments of a progressive and influential citizen of Fulton County. His fine farm of two hundred and forty acres is pleasantly locate on sections 31 and 32, Fairview Township, and is embellished by a commodious residence and substantial outbuildings. He takes pleasure in reviewing the active career which has raised him from a position of want in Germany to one of independence in the United States.
He of whom we write is a native of Dunningen Oberampt Rhodtwell, Wurtemberg, Germany, and was born April 29, 1841, to Jacob and Mary (Webber) Schleich. The father having heard of the grand opportunities for the poor and oppressed in the New World concluded to try his fortune, consequently he collected his worldly goods and in 1847 embarking on a sailing vessel, proceeded to America, where after a rough voyage of forty-two days he arrived safely. His wife and six children remained in the Fatherland until May, 1850, when they set sail from Havre and after a voyage of twenty-one days, landed in New York City, whence they travel to Connecticut to join the father. In the meantime the latter, after a short time spent in New York City, had gone via steamer to Norwich, Conn., and engaged as a farm laborer for Isaac Avery near Poquetanuck.
The incidents of the voyage across the ocean are well remembered by our subject, who was at that time a lad of nine years. After reaching Connecticut he was taken into the family of William M. Williams, a descendant of Roger Williams, and from him he received a strong impetus toward a higher education that has through life proved of inestimable value to him. From this gentleman he also learned habits of industry, temperance and morality and he regards his meeting with Mr. Williams and his family as almost providential since they were instrumental in aiding him to attain the enviable position he occupies to-day.
While still a resident of Connecticut, the father of our subject made the acquaintance of the Hon. Henry Bill, of Norwich, that State, and the latter advised him to go West, at the same time offering him the use of his farm in Fulton County. Accordingly in 1855 Jacob Schleich once more gathered together his worldly possessions, and with his family proceeded to Illinoss. When he arrived here he found the Bill farm a tract of broken timber land, and instead of locating on it, selected the prairies of Fairview Township. After renting for several years, by the exercise of prudent economy, he was enabled to purchase a farm of four hundred acres, where our subject now lives. The parental family included seventeen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity. The father died in 1874 when sixty years old, and the mother passed away in 1875, after attaining her fifty-ninth years.
When Peter Schleich accompanied his parents to Illinois he was about fourteen years old. His education was limited to the pioneer schools of the day, but subsequent reading has enlarged his sphere of knowledge and he is well posted upon current events, both local and national. His eldest brother, Casper Schleich, taught school in this county and upon the outbreak of the late war enlisted in Company A, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, of which he was First Lieutenant and afterward Captain. The Ellisville G. A. R. Post was named in his honor. He fell in the defense of his country, being shot in the breast at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou. He was quite prominent in the affairs of the county and was a public speaker of considerable note, having taken an active interest in the campaign of 1860.
Our subject also served in the Civil War, enlisting August 29, 1861, at Prairie City, in Company A, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and drilling at Camp Douglas, Chicago, in what was originally the Douglas Brigade. In December of that year they were sent to St. Louis, and then to Paducah, participating in the battles of Forts Donelson and Henry, also Shiloh and Corinth, and in many skirmishes. At the siege of Vicksburg our subject was taken ill and sent to a hospital in Memphis. Upon recovering he did provost duty in Southern Michigan and was located at Jackson and Detroit. He was first elected Corporal of his company, and promoted to the position of Sergeant at Shiloh. While doing provost duty he escorted recruits from Jackson and Detroit to Louisville, Ky., and Washington, D. C., to be mustered into service. After serving three years and two months, he was honorably discharge at Detroit, October 31, 1864.
Returning to the peaceful pursuits of life our subject entered the seminary at Abingdon, Ill., where he remained a part of three terms, and for several years taught school in Fulton County. He was united in marriage September 28, 1870, with Miss Mary Elizabeth, daughter of James R. and Mary E. (Myers) Wilson. She is an estimable woman and belongs to a family highly esteemed in this community. Her life has been devoted to her family and Mr. Schleich says that it is to her good management, frugal industry, wifely graces and motherly love he is indebted for his happy and prosperous family. Of her union with our subject six children have been born, namely: Mary Bell, Charles Wilson, John Hayes, Ada Maria, Nellie Elizabeth, and Peter Harrison. Both Mr. Schleich and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, of which he is Deacon.
In 1876 Mr. Schleich purchased his father’s estate, which he has since improved and cultivated. The farm is a valuable one and is embellished with all modern improvements. As an agriculturist, he is industrious and energetic, and as man universally esteemed. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post at Fairview, of which he is the present commander. He gives the Republican party his hearty support and takes a lively interest in public affairs. Though a native of Germany he speaks English fluently, and is well educated in both languages.