ORPORAL ANTON SCHAP, after whom Schapville was named, has done more for this town than any other man. He is a large-hearted, whole-souled gentleman, very liberal and public spirited, obliging and courteous, a man of more than ordinary abilities, with a sensitive nature and cultivated tastes. He enjoys the warmest regard of hosts of friends, and is one of the most companionable men whom it has been the lot of the biographer to meet. For the land of his adoption he has the deepest affection. He signalized this by his service in the Union Army, and continues it by his faithful adherence to the Republican party. His occupation is that of a blacksmith, and in connection with this industry he is remarkably skillful, putting out some of the best work ever seen in Northern Illinois. In consequence of this he has been able to accumulate a competence, and, with his intelligent family, enjoys a pleasant and attractive home, combining all the conveniences and comforts of modern life.

Before proceeding further it may be well to glance at the family history of our subject. He is the fifth son of Jacob and Catherine (Witter) Schap, who were natives of the Kingdom of Saxony; the father was a skilled mechanic, a millwright, and a carpenter. Their family consisted of nine children, six sons and three daughters. All the latter are deceased, and only four of the sons are living. John and Gustav continue to reside in their native Germany. Frederick makes his home in Dubuque, Iowa; Anton, our subject, was born Sept. 12, 1842, at Operneuprunn, in the Parish of Hieldburghausen, Saxony; and in Germany he was named John Anton Christian Schap. His cheerful and buoyant disposition was manifested at an early age, when he lay laughing in his cradle. When a lad of about six years, in accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, he was placed in school and pursued his studies quite regularly until fourteen years old. In the meantime he met with an irreparable loss in the death of his mother, which occurred when he was eleven years old, and three years later he was wholly orphaned by the death of his father. The small estate was placed in the hands of a guardian, and Anton was received into the home of a stranger. When fifteen years old he entered an art studio and employed himself in the first rudiments of painting and sculpture for two and one-half years. This, while entirely congenial to his fine tastes, did not afford the financial remuneration necessary, and so, reluctantly, he turned his attention to the more practical business of blacksmithing. He was then a little over seventeen years old, and had already been seized with a desire of emigrating to America. Determining now to make the trip, he bade farewell to his old associates, and embarked at Bremen on the sailing-vessel "Ocean." The voyage was filled with trials and adventure, and he landed alone, a stranger upon foreign soil, not able to speak a word of English. In the city of Baltimore some sharpers managed to get what little money he possessed by over-charging him for his ticket to Chicago. Upon his arrival in that then unimportant town he managed to procure means by which he made his way to Galena. Leaving his baggage in pledge at Chicago, he boarded the wrong train, was discovered by the conductor, and sent back to the latter place. Having had nothing to eat for some time, he was ravenously hungry, and as we may suppose, considerably discouraged. A kind-hearted girl in the railway station, probably noticing his downcast appearance and suspecting the truth, invited him to go in and get something to eat; but his modesty prevented his accepting this kind invitation, and, instead, he lay down on a lounge and was soon afterward fast asleep.

While our hero was resting from his troubles in the oblivion of sleep, the landlord of the house came along, covered him up, and when he awoke set before him a generous breakfast. He was thus fortified for the journey which lay before him, and started on his way to Galena rejoicing. He, however, departed from this first intention of stopping here, going on to East Dubuque, and at this point became bewildered, and was at a loss what steps to take next. He fortunately, however, met one of his countrymen, who administered to him a gentle rebuke for his evident want of business talent, placed him once more on the right track, and he finally arrived in Galena. He had no definite idea what he should do with himself, but wandered aimlessly about for days, hunting for his sister, Mrs. Arnold, in Guilford Township. It is hardly necessary to say that he was much relieved when at last he found her.

The last night after the arrival of Mr. Schap, in Galena there was a great torch-light procession, and he met one of his countrymen, who took him into a restaurant for supper and tried to explain to him the reason of all this noise and hilarity. Young Schap, however, was so exhausted that he fell asleep while seated at the table. He finally took up his abode with Henry Winter, a blacksmith in Guilford Township; and upon the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men, young Schap was one of the first to respond, enlisting in Company F, 96th Illinois Infantry, April 11, 1862, under Capt. Greene, for three years. He was mustered into service at the city hotel at Galena, and that same day they began to drill on the old fair-ground. They drilled there three weeks, and also at Rockford the same length of time. The winter following was spent at Covington, Ky., and at Nashville, Tenn., and they met the enemy in some lively skirmishes. Later our subject took part in the battles of Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, and afterward fought at Lookout Mountain above the clouds. Later he was at Chattanooga, the siege of Atlanta, and at Rockyface Mountain, Ga., was wounded, although not seriously. After a time, his skill as a blacksmith having been discovered, he was detailed to shoe horses and mules, and received an injury, from the effects of which he probably never will recover.

Young Schap acquitted himself bravely in the defense of his adopted country, and was promoted first to the rank of Corporal, and later to the Color Guard. He endured all the privations and hardships incident to army life without complaint, and after the surrender of Lee received his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tenn., June 10, 1865.

Soon after his return from the army Mr. Schap was married, Feb. 11, 1866, to Miss Maria Winter, who, like her husband, is of German birth and parentage, and came to America when a child eight years of age. This union resulted in the birth of ten children. The two eldest of whom, Amanda and George, died when young. The others, Caroline Gertrude, Martin, Augusta, Georgie, Freddie, Anton, and Joseph, are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Schap began their wedded life in Galena, where they lived about one year, and in the spring of 1867 removed to the vicinity of Mill Creek, in Thompson Township. Mr. Schap established a blacksmith-shop on his present farm, around which in due time grew up the village which was named in his honor. He was soon recognized as a citizen of sterling worth, a man whose word was as good as his bond, while his readiness to assist those less fortunate, drew around him hosts of friends. He owns and occupies a commodious two story frame residence, and his domestic affairs are presided over in a most admirable manner by his estimable, genial and industrious wife, whose kitchen floor is far cleaner than the tables of many people. The children are growing up amidst refined surroundings, being well-educated and musically inclined, more than usually bright and good looking. The eldest daughter is quite beautiful, and the parents have reason to be proud of the whole group. The parents and children are all connected with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Schap evinces his sound Republicanism at every opportunity, and has erected a tall liberty-pole on the principle street of the village. He also purchased a cannon, which, upon special occasions, is utilized in giving force to his patriotic sentiments, and in the celebration of all Republican victories. It is hardly necessary to say that there was no little noise around Schapville, and vicinity as soon as was made known the result of the Presidential election of 1888.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889) Pg. 432