John (Johannes) Schoenauer married Magdalena Salzman date unknown.   It is recorded that they lived in Berne Switzerland where unto them two sons (possibly 4 children) were born, john (Johannes) and Frederich.  (according to another biography it states that John and Magdalena had 4 children)
 
On May 12, 1852, the three set out for America.  They boarded the Ship Hungarian in France and headed to America. The journey took 58 day to cross the seas before landing in the Port of New York  Ellis Island was not yet opened.  When the "Schoenauer's" arrived, it was recorded that the emigration department asked Johans to change his name to "Schonauer"  the reason was never known.  However Johannes decided that he wanted to Americanize his first name and made the change to John.

The Ship Hungarian carried 584 passengers.  The boarding cost for 200 pounds of baggage  was $37.00.  Each family was responsible for cooking their own meals in a kitchen approximately 10 feet by 14 feet with only a limited supply of coal for each family.  Needless to say many fights broke out among the passengers.

After entering the United States of America the three immediately set forth towards the mid west.  According to the documents, John, Anna and Frederich traveled by railroad to Rochester, New York on to Buffalo by canal boat, to Cleveland by steam boat and on to Winesburg by wagon with only $10.00 in John's pocket.

John and Anna settled in  Salt Creek Township in Holmes County Ohio. While Frederich headed on to Whitley County Indiana.  Frederich married  Sara Fabra who was a native American.

John Schoenauer was born in Berne, Switzerland on April 19, 1828.  He emigrated to America with his brother Frederic and his wife Anna Schupbach. According to descendants of Frederic, when the three landed in the states the emigration office told John to change the spelling of his name.  Therefore we have some descendants with the family name spelled, "Schonauer".  John and Anna settled in Holmes County, Ohio.  According to the Whitley County census, John and Anna had 11 children 4 of which died at an early age.  Upon traveling to the Midwest the couple first settled in Salt Creek Township, near Middleton.  John found work as a day laborer.  In 1855 he purchased 40 acres of his present farm. John was a hard worker and eventually accumulated 240 acres. 

John was a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He also served as a school director and supervisor.  The chosen religion was Protestant.

Children of John and Anna Schonauer

Mary born about 1851

John Adolph borne about 1855 married Elizabeth Zucher who was born in Switzerland
children :  Daniel E born 1898,
Daniel  married Nellie and they had 4 children: Elwood, Dorotha R, Barbara, Dewayne, (Duey Schoenauer's Father) who lives in Payne, Ohio.

Sarah Anne  born 1856 and died at age 6 unknown death

Harvey Schoenauer born abouth 1859

George Henry born about 1859 and married Rachel Croskey
resided in Coshocton and Fredericktown Ohio

Emma born 1860 married Ellsworth Matheyn

Anne elizabeth born 1861 died at age 11 unkown death

Ida born 1862 died at age 3 unkown death

Elena  born 11, 1862 in Killbuck, Holmes County Ohio  married David McKelvey
she died in Hardin County Ohio
children :  Illa, Zola, Hobart, Jack and Ivey

Robert Edward born 1865 married Elnora Brink
children : Weldon, Ernie, Laverna, Clarence, Lola, Sadie, Gifford

Joseph Franklin born 1868 and possibly died at age 2 according to the 1870 census

Albert Willian born 1869 married Pearl Durler on November ,20, 1890 Albert died in 1950
children : Walter, Lloyd, Selma H born, 1895, John A born 1897, Charles born 1899, Ralph S born 1902, Wayne born 1904, Paul F born 1908

Albert and Pearl inherited the family farm.  They started a peach orchard which became a show place. A 5 foot picture of the farm was on display in the SWCD (office in Millersburg, Ohio.

There are many many more great grandchildren of John and Anna, however this is the begining of an ongoing list.

I spoke to Dorotha daughter of Daniel, son of John A. who is the son of John Schonauer.  She told me a story about her Great  Grandfather John.  When he and his wife Anna first settled in Whitley County the Miami Indians were still very plentiful.  They were friendly and she went on to explain that the indians would come by and wake up John in the middle of the night to go and dance.

Another story I recieved was about the prounciation of the "Schoenauer" name.  The Old Pennsylvania Dutch pronounced it as "Shin-auer"  which is German.  However the Swiss pronounce it as "Shoe-nauer"

  FREDERICH  SCHOENAUER (changed to Fredrick) was born in Switzerland April 3, 1831, the second of four children born to John and Magdalena (Salzman) Schoenaner, and at the age of twenty-one came with his elder brother to America, and began working in Holmes County, Ohio, on a farm by the month. Two years later, he went to Wells County, and in 1857 returned to Holmes, and married Sarah Fabra, a native of that county. In 1859, he came to Elkhart County, this State, farmed one year, then changed to Cold Springs, Etna Township, this county, invested in a stock of dry goods and groceries, and ran a store for four years. In 1864, he was drafted, and served till the close of the war. In 1865, he settled on twenty acres of land in this township he had purchased before the war, remaining on it a little over a year; in 1867, he bought forty acres of the farm on which he now lives, which he has increased to 120 acres of as fine land as there is in the township. Of ten children born to him, eight are living, as follows: Alfred, William, Mrs. Mary L. Hasty, John F., Edward C., Sarah A., Ella J. and Clara E. In politics, he is a Democrat, and his religion is that of the German Reformed Church.


"Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana. Historical and Biographical" by Weston A. Goodspeed and Charles Blanchard
Published by F.A. Battery & Co. in 1882
Jefferson Township


Frederick Schoenauer enlisted Oct. 5, 1864, at Kendallville, Ind., when 33 years of age as a private in Co. C, 39nth Ind. V.I., 2d Brig., 11st Div., 4th A.C.; he took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and March, 1865, was detailed at Huntsville, Ala., to guard wagon trains to Strawberry Plains, Tenn., one week, He was again detailed Oct. 4, 1865, at Goliad Texas, to see that a squad of men received their discharges at Victoria, and received their pay at New Orleans, about ten days. He received his honorable discharge Oct. 5, 1865, at Victoria, Texas. Two brothers of his wife, Anthony and David, served in the late war the latter served in 102d O.V.I. and was killed on Mississippi River by steamboat exploding. Comrade Schoenauer was a native of Switzerland, born April 3, 1831, in Berne, Switzerland, where he received his education. He is the son of John and Magdalena (Salzman) Schoenauer, both deceased, and emigrated to America in 1852, settling in Whitley county, Ind., in 1861. He was married July 2, 1857, in Holmes county, O., to Sarah Fabra, born in that county Jan. 14, 1838, a daughter of Anthony and Susan (Candel) Fabra, deceased. Their children are Alfred, William, Mary L, John F., Edward C., Sarah A., Emily C., Ella J., and Clara E. Comrade Shoenauer is S.V.C. of J. P. Grace Post, No. 427, of which he is a charter member, he receives a pension, is by occupation a farmer, and his address is Laud, Ind.


Biography of Frederick Schoenauer. Vol. II, page 676. Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, New York, Toledo, and Chicago, 1894.
Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana