Carl Theodore Schilling

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Nicolaus Schilling By Sister M Angelus Schilling

Nicolaus Schilling, one of six children of Theodore and Catherine (Heintz) Schilling, was born in Rhineland, Germany, May 8, 1950. In 1877 he came to the United States, later retuned to his native country, but soon came back to America with his brother, John. They took up work in Missouri. After some time they parted and Nicolaus went to Waterloo and LeMars, Iowa. The two brothers never saw each other again but kept up a close correspondence. Nicolaus left LeMars in the 1890s and took up a claim near White Lake, South Dakota. Here he met Agnes Klose and they were married on February 24, 1896.

Agnes Klose, third child of Carl and Theresa (MItsche) Klose, was born December 30, 1864, in Prussia, Germany. In 1881, the family immigrated to America and settled in Allison, Iowa. They moved to a claim near White Lake. Agnes worked for a wealthy Sioux City family then returned to White Lake where se married Nicolaus Schilling. Hardships marked their pioneer days, especially the loss of farm buildings in a prairie fire.

On April 20, 1898, Anna Theresa was born. Carl Theodore was born April 10, 1899, Paul Theodore ‘Ted’, December 11, 1900; and Gertrude Elizabeth, March 24, 1902. In 1903 the family moved to a farm in Lakeport Township, Woodbury County, Iowa. On May 7, 1903, John Edmund was born. Mary Rosanne and Magdalena died in infancy and were buried in the old St Joseph parish cemetery located a few miles from Salix.

As the Missouri River was cutting away its banks and getting too close, the farm was sold. For a year they rented a farm near Salix while Nicolaus sought and purchased another near Woodstock, Minnesota, in 1911. Incidentally, at about this time, Nicolaus changed the spelling of his name to Nicholas. During the land boom of 1919, this farm was sold and a new one purchased near Comfrey, Minnesota. The buyer of the Woodstock farm was unable to make payments so Nicholas was forced to foreclose. He, his wife, and Ed returned to their Woodstock farm while Carl remained in Comfrey. Gangrene claimed the life of Nicholas, April 23, 1934, age 84. He is laid to rest in St Martin’s Cemetery near Woodstock. His wife, Agnes, died on January 15, 1942 and was buried near her husband.

The oldest child, Anna, and Frank Klosterman of Ashton, Iowa, married in Woodstock in 1920, had seven children. Later they moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota. Anna died in New Rockford, North Dakota, and is buried in Wahpeton beside her husband.

In 1933 Carl married Gertrude Gieseke of New Ulm, Minnesota. Three children were born to them: Amelda, Carl Jr, and Bernard. They lived in Minnesota and Spokane, Washington before settling in Salix in1945. Carl was a carpenter and cabinet maker and worked in Sioux City many years. He was a member of the Salix Fire Department. After retirement he made woodwork a hobby. His specialty was coffee tables, sawing lumber into hundreds of small sizes, then fitting them together in beautiful artistic designs. After suffering form a heart condition for many years, he died August 21, 1975, and is buried in St Joseph Cemetery, Salix. His wife, Gertrude, still lives in Salix.

Theodore ‘Ted’ went to Minneapolis in 1921 where he became a barber. In 1940 he enlisted in the army. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Minneapolis where he remained, unmarried, until his death on June 2, 1975. He is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.

In 1926 Gertrude joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, Minnesota. For fifty-four years she taught in schools in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Washington. She now teaches reading in Good Counsel, Mankato.

Ed came to Salix in the early thirties and was employed at the Murray hatchery. HE lived at the home of his aunt, Mrs Charles ‘Anna’ Leesch. When his parents returned to the former Woodstock farm, he took over its management. In 1943 he married Agnes O’Connor of Sioux City. They lived on the family farm until 1970 when Ed retired and they moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. On July 14, 1973, Ed died of a heart attack and is buried in St Leo’s Cemetery, Pipestone. His wife returned to Sioux City where she still resides.

Thus ends this chapter of the history of the Nicholas Schilling family, the only living member being Sister M. Angelus, Mankato. The history continues in the lives of the three remaing children of their daughter, Anna, and the three children of their son, Carl; Amelda, LPN, Iowa Falls; Carl Jr, Meteorologist of Kansas City, Missouri; and Bernard, accountant, Minneapolis, Minnesota, former Salix residents.