Peter Schlund (1831-1885)

Peter Schlund was born on December 9, 1831, in Immenstadt. He was the fourth child of Fidel Schlund and Maria Josepha Marchkhart Schlund. He had three sons and one daughter with Mary Bauer Schlund. He later married Sarah H. Schlund. He died on September 18, 1885, while traveling in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 53.

b. December 9, 1831 Immenstadt, Schwaben, Bavaria

d. September 18, 1885  Detroit, Wayne, Michigan (was traveling)

m. Mary BAUER Schlund  (b. abt 1830-d. February 21, 1876)

Married on April 14, 1855 Essex Co, Newark, New Jersey

 1. Charles W Schlund

     b. abt.1857 in New Jersey

     m. Lucy K SCHMITT Schlund

     Married on January 19, 1885

 2. Joseph H Schlund 

     b. abt 1858 in Illinois

     m. Ida A KRAEMER Schlund

     Married on November 25, 1884

        a. Marguerite Schlund

        b. 1890

        m. William Little Vance, Jr

        Married on December 31, 1910

 3. Geo A (George)  

     b. abt 1860 in Illinois

     Listed as 3 months old in 1860 census. Possibly died young

 4. Emma Schlund   

     b. abt. 1867

     m. Alfred B. Foster

     Married in 1898

          a. Edith Foster b. 1899

          b. Marguerite Foster b. 1901

          c. Louise B. Foster b. 1902

          d. Charles W. Foster b. 1904

          e. Alfred S. Foster b. 1909

m. Sarah H. Schlund  

     b. abt. 1832  

     d. May 31, 1903

Additional information about Peter Schlund

1860 Census- Ward 1, Chicago, Cook, Illinois (Peter Selund or Schind)

1862 Chicago, Illinois, City Directory

1870 Census- Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois

1880 Census- Braceville, Grundy, Illinois

Sept. 17, 1885 Chicago Daily Tribune Obituary

Peter Schlund Obituary

Life in Chicago, Illinois

Fidel Schlund lived in Chicago, Illinois from approximately 1859 to 1865. During that time he served as the President and as an Agent for the German Emigration Aid Society. He helped German immigrants who were settling in Chicago. Protecting them from swindlers or helping them after being swindled, helping find jobs, shelter, and helping with food and clothing for the especially needy. He was sworn in as Special Policeman for the German Immigration Aid Society June 9, 1860. He also served as temporary secretary of the German Immigration Aid Society and in many other clubs and groups.

The first documentation I could find of Fidel in Chicago was in the 1859 city directory. Notice his sons Alois Schlund, Anton Schlund, and Peter Schlund are also listed. 

Chicago city directory 1859.

The next record of Fidel in Chicago is in 1860.

Illinois State Archives 1860

On January 18, 1861 an assembly was held in Archer Road Hall in which Fidel purposed the organization of the South Side Union Club. Fidel Schlund was elected President. The following report by the German newspaper Staats-Zeitung describres the meeting. Two more reports by the newspaper follow, both regarding the German Home Guard.

Staats-Zeitung January 19, 1861

Staats-Zeitung March 15, 1862

Staats-Zeitung May 29, 1862

The following is an exert from the Illinois Staats-Zeitung on April 16, 1862, from the Annual Report of the President of the German Society of Chicago.

“It is true that the work of the organization is carried on through an agent, still I am sure that nobody will object if I, an officer, make a report on, and voice my opinion about the merits of the Society, especially its accomplishments of the past year. Among the many thousands of German residents of Chicago, there are undoubtedly hundreds who are unable to solve even the simplest problems of everyday life, and are therefore dependent upon the advice and guidance of an honest and intelligent person; then again, there are hundreds of others who need material assistance because they are unemployed, or because sickness or old age prevents them from working and earning a living. And all of them are directed to Mr. Schlund, the agent of the German Society of Chicago, and he will be gratefully remembered by many thousands of unfortunates for displaying a genuine German character--a kind, sympathetic disposition, and willingness to aid in any way he can.”

Fidel Schlund was listed in city directories for 1863 and 1864. He was listed as Agent of the German Emigrant Society.

Chicago city directory from 1863

Chicago’s Trade Assembly, Chicago city directory 1864

Immigration to America- Part 2

Fidel Anton Schlund's family immigration has been documented in the Herbert Haase papers. In them he writes that after Fidel's release from prison the German authorities found a stockade of firearms hidden under the floorboards of his factory. One family account says the weapons were submerged in water, in the stream that ran near the buildings. The guns were for revolutionary purposes. In danger of further imprisonment he began to dispose of his property as best he could and make arrangements to travel to America. According to the Haase papers, Fidel sent two of his sons, Peter and Crysant (Christian) ahead of the family to America to explore the possibilities. He hired an English governess two years before the families departure, so that when they arrived in New York they all had knowledge of the English language. In 1852 Fidel, Josepha, and 8 of their children left for America. His eldest daughter Anna had married and remained in Immenstadt. Fidel made ample provisions for her. They brought with them two servants or retainers who stayed with them until they died. 

Some of the above mentioned is collaborated or disproved through the following ship records. 

Inman Line’s City of Glasgow
Image from Wikipedia.

Records show that Fidel, his wife Maria Josepha, and their children departed from Liverpool, England on March 7, 1853 aboard the Inman’s Line SS City of Glasgow. They arrived March 22, 1853 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

The Haase papers claim that Crysant went ahead of the family to America, however records show that he was on the SS City of Glasgow with his family in 1852. If the Haase papers are correct then maybe Crysant had gone ahead to America and returned to Germany? I have not found records to show such a trip occurred. 

SS City of Glasgow Passenger List

Fidle Schlund	22 Mar 1853	47 Years	abt 1806	Male	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Josephina Schlund	22 Mar 1853	44 Years	abt 1809	Female	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Anton Schlund	22 Mar 1853	25 Years	abt 1828	Male	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Aloys Schlund	22 Mar 1853	18 Years	abt 1835	Male	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Joseph Schlund	22 Mar 1853	15 Years	abt 1838	Male	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Maria Schlund	22 Mar 1853	23 Years	abt 1830	Female	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Fidel Schlund	22 Mar 1853	10 Years	abt 1843	Male	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Max Schlund	22 Mar 1853	8 Years	abt 1845	Male	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Mary Schlund	22 Mar 1853	13 Years	abt 1840	Female	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76
Emily Schlund	22 Mar 1853	11 Years	abt 1842	Female	Liverpool, England	City of Glasgow	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	M425_76

Crysant is listed separately from the family, but on the same page of the ships manifest.

SS City of Glasgow Passenger List

Christ Schlund

22 Mar 1853

23 Years

abt 1830

Male

Liverpool, England

City of Glasgow

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

M425_76

I was able to find records that show that Fidel's son Peter and his daughter Katharina did immigrate to America in 1852 a year before the rest of the family.

SS Humboldt Passenger List

Peter Schlund arrived May 8th, 1852 in New York. He was 20 at the time. He departed from Bremen, Germany. He was listed as a merchant. He was aboard the SS Humboldt.

Samuel M Fox Passenger List

Katharina Schlund was 19 when she traveled to New York aboard the Samuel M Fox. She arrived Aug 4, 1852. She departed from La Havre, France. Also aboard the ship were her husband Anton Aniser and his family.

Sadly Fidel’s daughter, Maria Theresa Schlund, and his son, Karl Albert Schlund passed away in Germany before the family immigrated.

It is believed that Fidel and his family settled for 2 or 3 years in Newark, New Jersey, however about 6 years after immigrating they were living in Chicago, Illinois.