An example of pluck and perseverance and the just reward which is accrued
to these qualities is to be found in the life of Joseph Schott, who landed
in America a poor youth, without friends, money, knowledge of the language
spoken here or any of the advantages which the average young man takes as a
matter of course in this ''land of the free.'' Nevertheless, he possessed
the spirit of a hero and a firm determination to succeed, at the same time
being willing to work and to work hard at whatever he could find to do
whereby he might earn an honest livelihood; and therein lies the secret of
success.
Joseph Schott and his parents, John and Hedwig (Jachcgyk)
Schott, were natives of the same place, Krojanke, kreis Flatow,
regierungbezirk Marienwerder, West Prussia, Germany. The father and mother
spent their entire lives there, dying some years ago. John Schott held a
very responsible position as gamekeeper and forester, having charge of a
large tract of heavily timbered land belonging to the government.
One of eight children. Joseph Schott received a good education in the public
school of his fatherland. Later he learned the trade of harness-maker,
saddler and apholsterer, and when eighteen years of age left his home and
friends to seek his fortune in the New World. Landing on the shores of
America he continued his journey westward until he reached LaSalle, where he
was, perforce, obliged to halt, as he had but sixty cents left. Failing to
find work at his trade immediately, he accepted a position as a common
laborer in the yards of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Works, working ten
hours a day at a dollar and a quarter a day. Before long he was given a
place in the furnace room of the plant, and the Fourth of July, 1879, was
made memorable to him by his being promoted to the post of foreman in the
same department. Faithfulness and strict attention to duty resulted in his
being given the trustworthy position of day foreman in 1883, and as such he
is still acting. He has never been absent a day on account of illness, and
has been particularly fortunate in this respect, as all together, he has not
been ill more than two weeks in his entire life. Since becoming a voter he
has given his allegiance to the Republican party, whose policy, as he
believes, has been largely the cause of the prosperity and high standing of
this nation since the close of the civil war.
On the 23d of June,
1873, Mr. Schott married Miss Eve Perra, of LaSalle. She was born in
Germany, not far from the town in which our subject's childhood days were
spent, and in 1872 she accompanied her parents to the United States. Her
father, George Perra, who was a carpenter by trade, died in 1895, aged
eighty-three years, and her mother, who attained the same age, departed this
life in 1897, both living at the home of our subject, who was a knd and
dutiful son. subject, Mrs. Schott, who is one of three children, has become
the mother of eight children by her marriage. The family are identified with
the Catholic church, and always lend a helping hand to those who are sick or
in need of assistance.
Extracted 13 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 649-650.
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