John Schoenewald - My Grandfather - Timeline of his Life

 Life Story for John Schoenewald and Emmeline Hollingsworth

The last story I wrote about was on Adam and Otillie Schoenewald, my Great Grandparents.  It’s time to now dive into their children.

• Tillman (1894-1981)
• Carl (1897-1965)
• Johann (1900-1988) * My Grandfather
• Mary (1902-1994)
• Ida (1904-2002)
• Emma Margrete (1908-2001)
• Fred (1910-1988)

 

Since today is the day my Grandfather, John married Emmeline Hollingsworth (2 Oct 1928), I thought it would be a great place to start. Today’s story will be a brief outline about his life growing up and his marriage to Emmeline Hollingsworth using a timeline.  Emmeline was also born on this day in 1910.  She turned 18 on her wedding day.

In past blog posts, I have written about his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  Since I knew John and Emmeline (my grandparents) and have gathered lots of various pictures / stories; I thought it would be fun to write little stories along the way that included bits and pieces of their life. But I wanted to start with a brief outline that showed their timeline to put the stories in perspective. I will also include Stories of his Siblings between the bits and pieces of John and Emmeline’s life.  Look under the “Schoenewald tab” for links to various stories that could include additional pictures.

October 2, 1928

Timeline:

1900 – John was born to Adam and Otillie Schoenewald on the 13^th of September in Sibley County, Minnesota, USA. His birth name is Johann Herman Schoenewald. Both his parents and Grandparents did not speak the English Language, John did not learn English until he started to school, around 8 years old.

John's Birth Certificate in German

John sitting on his father's lap about 3 years old

1910 - Emmeline, was born on October 2, 1910 in Bridgeport, Nebraska.  Her parents moved around several time before settling in Sandpoint, Idaho sometime in the mid 1920's.  Her birth name is Claudia Emmeline Hollingsworth. Her life before marriage is told in a separate story.

Emmeline and her little sisters

1913 – When John was 13 years old, his family moved from Minnesota to Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho to be closer to family since most of them had already moved west. It was the same year his Grandfather, John Kujawski, passed away.  The name Johann was passed on by both sets of Grandparents. A common name in Prussia/Germany where his ancestors are from. 

1920 – John was still living at home and working as a farmer.  It could be presumed that he was working along side his father who owned a farm. A family story has been that John did not finish high school.  I have not yet confirmed otherwise. On this census, he still had 3 siblings living under the same roof with him. Ida age 15, Emma age 11 and Fred age 8.  They were all going to school.  But I am sure they had their chores to do before and after school as life living on a farm was hard work and never done.

John Schoenewald

1928 – John and Emmeline’s wedding day is 2 October 1928.  Such a special day to also be celebrating her 18^th birthday. Their marriage certificate states they were married by a Probate Judge residing at Bonners Ferry in the County of Boundary in the State of Idaho in the presence of Silvia Olds and A.T. Aronson. Were these witness friends or someone in the courthouse?

1930 – The Census dated in April in the Bonner County, Idaho lists John and Emmeline Schoenewald living on a County Farm Road.  They own their farm, no children listed. John is listed as 29 and Emmeline is listed as 19. This census does not give any details on their schooling. On one side of their farm is a household for William and Eliza Hollingsworth which are Emmeline’s parents. And a couple of farms on the other side of them is a household for Adam and Ottelea Schoenewald which are John’s parents. Both of their parents own their own farm. At this point, I do not know how John and Emmeline met but maybe since both their parents did not live far from each other, they all attended the same church or community activities.  Or even helped each other on the farms as neighbors did in those days.

John, his parents and siblings

Then the depression hit.  The story I have been told is that my Grandparents, John and Emmeline Schoenewald lost their farm.  This is something that needs to be researched further to understand the details. John went to work in the logging industry throughout northern Idaho and Montana while his wife, Emmeline, cooked at the logging camps.

Loggers

1931 – Their first Child was born, Patricia Jean, in her Grandparent’s house in Sandpoint, Idaho.  She grew up in the logging camps with her parents and at the farm with her Grandparents, William and Eliza Hollingsworth.

Parents with baby Patricia

Patricia at the Logging Camp

1936 – By this time, Patricia, was growing up and needing to start school soon so John and Emmeline decided that they should find a different kind of life.  Emmeline’s parents, William and Eliza Hollingsworth, had already moved to Ashland Oregon so that is where they decided to go.  They all lived on the Chicken Farm that William Hollingsworth had up in the Siskiyou Mountains outside of the Ashland city limits, about 10 miles. John and William built a saw mill to assist in building the house, then tore the saw mill down once the house was built.  Patricia has lots of memories living on this Chicken Farm. While William ran the farm, John was working at the State Highway Department on the road crew.

Eliza and William Hollingsworth on the Chicken Farm

1940 – This census is still showing them living on the Chicken Farm with the Hollingworth household.

Sometime before 1942, they all moved into the town of Ashland where John helped William remodel homes to sell. The families were very involved in the Church.  Emmeline would create cakes for events as well as work at a Dry Cleaners alternating clothes.

1943 – Birth of their 2^nd Child, Darlene Fay, who was born in the hospital in Ashland, Oregon.  She was 12 years younger than her sister.

Emmeline and baby Darlene

John and his daughters

1946 – John and Emmeline decided to move across the state of Oregon to Vale to join Emmeline’s parents (William and Eliza Hollingsworth).  John helped William on his farm as well as owned an Ice Cream and Hamburger Café in town.

Vale Oregon - BlueBird Cafe

1952 – John and Emmeline moved back to Ashland Oregon to live by William and Eliza Hollingsworth who had moved sometime around 1948 timeframe. 

Sisters - Pat and Darlene

1978 – John and Emmeline celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary with family.

1978 - 50th Anniversary

1980 – Emmeline passed away from Cancer, buried at the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Medford, Jackson, Oregon where her parents also are buried.

Emmeline's Obit

After Emmeline’s death, John sold their house in Ashland Oregon and lived with both his daughters until sometime in the 1980’s where he was living in an assistance home in Portland, Oregon.

John in 1980

1988 – John passed away and is buried with his wife at the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Medford, Jackson, Oregon.

 

John Schoenewald - his favorite outfit

Sources:

• 1900 Census, Minnesota
• 1900 Birth Certificate for John
• 1910 Census, Minnesota
• 1910 Birth Certificate for Emmeline
• 1920 Census, Idaho
• 1928 Marriage License for John and Emmeline
• 1930 Census, Idaho
• 1931 Birth Certificate for Patricia
• 1940 Census, Oregon
• 1943 Birth Certificate for Darlene
• 1978 Pictures of the celebration with family
• 1980 Death Information – findagrave.com
• 1988 Death Information – findagrave.com
• Family Stories from various people

Stay tuned for more stories.....