HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Biographical Appendix

JOSEPH SCHULTE

Joseph Schulte, judge of the first district of Madison County Court, is a native of Westphalia, Germany, where he was born in 1832, being a son of Anton and Antoinette (Willeke) Schulte. The father was also a native of Westphalia, Germany, and he and wife were both born the same year, 1801. The former was a miner by occupation, and in 1845 immigrated to the United States, locating in Madison County, Mo. Here he died in 1865. His wife died in 1860. Six of her children lived to be grown, and four are now living. Joseph is the second child. He was thirteen years of age when his parents located in Missouri. In 1850, he, in a company of about twelve persons, started on a perilous overland journey to California in search of gold. After making the trip successfully in five months and eleven days, he mined there for over three years, meeting with fairly good success. After his return to Madison County, Mo., in 1853, he resumed lead mining with his father, and followed this occupation up to 1871. Since 1872 he has been a resident of Fredericktown.   In 1873 he and two brothers, John and Frank, established a general merchandise store in the town and carry on an extensive business. He was married to Mary Belkin in 1857. She was born in Germany, and died in 1865, leaving two children: John and Lizzie (Mrs. J. P. Conley, of Fort Worth, Texas). In 1867 Judge Schulte married Kate Troube, who was born in Germany. They have one child, Katie. The Judge is a Democrat in politics, and in November, 1884, was elected to his present position, which he has since held by re-election. He owns 400 acres of land and a one-half interest in 720 acres, besides owning considerable town property. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., K. of H. and A.O.U.W. He was reared a Roman Catholic, but his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.