Located in Evergreen Cemetery, Campbell County, is the gravestone of Heinrich Schulte.  Heinrich has a beautiful stone with much symbolism.  Note the columns on two levels of the gravestone.  At the top is a wreath of roses which encircle three chain links.  The chains are representative of a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows – IOOF.  Roses represent virtue.  On the second level of the gravestone is a lyre – symbol of heavenly music – with a calla lily on each side, a representation of marriage or resurrection.     

Written in German we find that Heinrich Schulte was born December 15, 1824, in Prussia (Preusen is the German word for Prussia).  He died July 7, 1880.  This beautiful stone was purchased by Heinrich by his second wife and/or children. 

His first wife, Margareta Thedlen, died August 30, 1855, she was twenty-five years old.   Margareta’s stone has her information in German and English.  Unfortunately her gravestone is now in three pieces, the portion broken off and in two pieces, with the stump in the ground.

I found Margareta’s maiden name in the Campbell County 1852 birth records.  A son, John Schulte, was born to the couple, January 29 of that year.  Parents are named, giving us Margareta’s maiden name. 

The 1850 Census of Campbell County, for the city of Newport, we find Henry ‘Schulta’, 26, laborer, $600 in real estate, born in Germany.  Margareta was 25, also born in Germany.  Rebecca, 3, and George, 1, were born in Ohio.  Son John was born two years after this census was taken, and Margareta died three years after his birth. 

Heinrich Schulte married four months after Margareta’s death – it seems quick, but he had three small children to care for.  On the 18^th day of December, 1855, Henry Schulte married A. S. Birnmann, Sophia. 

I could not find the family in the 1860 census for Campbell County – or any other.  Perhaps they were missed?  However, Heinrich was listed in the 1866 Newport Directory.  He was a carriage manufacturer with his business located at 88 Monmouth, his home at 86 Monmouth – next door.  I went to Google Maps for reference to this street and it is still there, now known as US27.  Today there is no #86 or 88 – but given these numbers I would say Heinrich’s business and home were located near the Ohio River. 

In the 1869 Newport Directory we find Schulte & Bro., (John & Henry) blacksmiths, Carriage and Spring Wagon Manufacturers, also Planing and Flooring Mill, office at 88 Monmouth.  Henry Schulte (S. & B.) house at 86 Monmouth.  John Schulte (S. & B.), house at 84 Monmouth.  John Schulte, clerk 88 Monmouth, boards at 86 Monmouth.  Since this lists John and Henry as brothers, I would say Henry’s brother joined him in his wagon and carriage venture at this time.

In 1870 “Henry” Schulte was 45, a carriage manufacturer, real estate worth $16,000 and personal estate of $5,000, born in Prussia.  He was doing very well for himself!  Sophia was 45, born in Hanover, Germany.  Son George, 21, was a blacksmith.  John, 18, was an apprentice blacksmith.  There is no mention of daughter Rebecca.  It is possible she married and lived with her husband since she would have been 23.  It is also possible she had died by this point – such a reason to find the 1860 census!  Anna, daughter of Heinrich and Sophia, was 9.

In the 1872 Newport Directory there were three other Schulte’s listed, but they did not live on Monmouth.  George and John Schulte who board at 86 Monmouth, are the sons of Henry Schulte.  John Schulte, that used to be in business with Henry, his brother, is still listed at 84 Monmouth.  Perhaps Henry continued the Wagon and Carriage business, and John took care of the mill.  The John Schulte that is a carpenter could possibly be Henry’s nephew, son of his brother John?  I feel that since they live on the same street they must be related.  I did find James Alley off of Monmouth, running east to west.  One street north of James Alley is 5^th Street.

In an 1880 census of manufacturers for Newport, beginning June 1, 1879, and ending May 31, 1880, Henry Schulte is listed, business was carriages and wagons.  $5,000 of capital was invested in the business.  The most employees hired at any time during the last year was 20, 9 males above 16 years.  The number of hours in an ordinary day of labor was 10 for May to November, and 9 for November to May, with the average day’s wage for a skilled mechanic being $2.00.  The total amount of wages paid for this period was $3,000.  Eight workers were full time, three 2/3 time and one, ½ time.  The business was located on the Ohio River.  One boiler, one engine, 8 horsepower.  I thought this most interesting, especially since the wages were listed.

Again, I could not find the family in the 1880 census. 

With Heinrich Schulte’s death in 1880, Sophia was left to care for the children – who were not so young at that time. Sophia Schulte died September 30, 1894, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. I do not believe she has a gravestone.

What was very unusual about this family is there was not any family tree on Ancestry for Heinrich Schulte, but I feel we have learned much about the Schulte family with original records. 

The entire time I was writing this post I thought of Mr. Herb Schulte, a bus driver for Burgin Independent Schools during the last ten years or so before my retirement as finance officer.  Herb was a jolly man, short and round – the kids loved him, as well as the faculty.  He always called me Miss Phyllis and made time to tell a story or two.  And he made the best peanut brittle which he gave as Christmas gifts.  Herb died a few years after I retired, but just hearing the Schulte name made his memory come to the forefront.  Who knows – perhaps he could have been a descendant of Heinrich Schulte?