The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: conscription/impressment
In Response To: Re: conscription/impressment ()

I wasn't aware that anyone would be interested in Frank's family background, or I would have included the information that was just posted. The F. J. Schaaf of Prussia is not this gentleman.

All the other information matches what I know of this man and his family. First wife was Zink, second Opferdinger. No, I haven't found him in the 1860 census, either, and I don't think he was here for the 1850.

This is his obituary:
"Prominent Citizen at Rest"
'Frank Schaaf Passed Away at Home in This City Saturday Night'

"The death of Frank Schaaf, September 18, marked the passing of one of Chandlerville's oldest and most highly respected citizens. He had always led an active life and was engaged in business in this city for 46 years, until about one year ago, when he disposed of his business on account of poor health. His illness took a serious turn about two week ago and he passed away on the 18th at the age of 75 years 6 months and 25 days.

"Mr. Schaaf was born in Onsbach, Germany, 2/23/1840, and was the son of Wolfgong and Magdalena ‎(Schmiederer)‎ Schaaf, who were the parents of eleven children, Matilda, Florence ‎(or Florentine?)‎, Ignatus, Josephine, William, Frank, Caroline and August, and three who died in infancy. On the death of the mother, the father moved to Algiers, Africa, where he spent a short time. The country not suiting him, he returned to Germany. In the meantime four of the children had come to America, and the father upon his return to Germany, followed them to America, accompanied by Frank and his sister Caroline. They landed at New Orleans in 1850 and went by boat to Cape Jeriado, ‎(Girardeau?)‎ Missouri There he spent a week or so with his oldest sister while a log cabin was being built for the family, but the father took sick and died before the home was finished, thus causing the children to be scattered about in the community with other families.

Frank lived in that community until he was twenty-one years old, when he became an apprentice at the blacksmith trade. He worked at this for a year or so, when the war broke out. With others of the community he was captured by a guerrilla band and held with the band's expectations of selling them to one side or the other of the warring factions as conscripts. Their privations during captivity were terrible. They were given little or nothing to eat and suffered greatly. Mr. Schaaf, however, owing to his trade knowledge was given more or less liberty, and on this account was able to escape with another prisoner and one horse, their escape being made on the morning of the well remembered great frost, August 29, 1863. The two men rode and ran alternately and managed to escape back to their home in Missouri, a distance of over seventy miles. When Mr. Schaaf reached home his relatives and friends refused to take him in or give him aid, owing to fear of being punished by one faction or the other, but he finally found a refuge and was nursed back to health.

He then took a boat for Peoria, where his sister, Sophia, Mrs. Valentine Schlink, lived, and remained there a short time and then went back to Missouri for a short time and again returned to Peoria in 1864. He then moved to Morton, ILL., and worked at his trade, which he afterward followed in Peoria. He came to Chandlerville in the fall of 1869 and has resided here ever since.

On October 31, 1865, he was united in marriage to Mary Zink, a native of Minonk, ILL, who was born 3/17/1846 and who died 11/22/1875. To them were born five children; Frank P. of this city, John K. of Peoria, Edward who died in infancy, Will of Pine Bluff, ARK, and Mary, who died 12/1876 at the age of one year.

Mr. Schaaf was united in marriage to Justena Ofterdinger at Peoria January 14/1876, she having one daughter, Mrs. Gus Neff of this city, and to them were born two children, Carl of this city, and Albert of Pine Bluff, Ark.

Mr. Schaaf was engaged in the blacksmith business in this city since the year 1869 and during that time made a host of friends who will always remember him as a man of integrity and character. The funeral services were held a the family residence Wednesday, September 22 at 9 a.m. with Father Cronin of Virginia, officiating, after which the deceased was laid to rest in the village cemetery.

So, there you have the total of what I know.

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