This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it just has the insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. NOTE: I don‘t know if there is any additional mention of this family in the book, it has no index.
Typed by Lora Radiches: 2-25-2005

Surnames in the biography of William Schmueser are: Schmueser, Stein, Buntenbach, Prost, Jones, Herkner, Posselt, Wittchen, Kuhn,





WILLIAM SCHMUESER, painting and decorating contractor, is proprietor of one of the largest organizations of its kind in Northern Indiana. His headquarters are at 420 Sibley Street in Hammond. Mr. Schmueser’s father was a master painter and the son learned the business at an early age, and his personal skill and experience have enabled him to train a competent staff of assistants. Mr. Schmueser was born at Lansing, Illinois, December 13, 1878, son of John H. and Christine (Stein) Schmueser. His father was born and reared at Holstein, Germany, attended school there, and for a number of years lived in Holland, where he married and where four of his eight children were born. In 1872 the family came to America and reached Chicago only a few months after the great fire of 1871. They soon settled in the southern part of Cook County, at Lansing. John H. Schmueser became a painter in Lansing’s chief industry, the Bock & Bissert Wagon Works, but later set up in business for himself as a painting contractor and built up a very successful business. He and his wife were active members of the Lutheran Church. He died in 1898, at the age of sixty-three, and his wife died in 1920. Both are buried at Lansing. A brief record of their eight children is as follows: Ricka, who died in 1920; Mrs. Katherine Buntenbach, a widow living in Chicago; Hannah, widow of William Prost, of Chicago; Alvina, who died in 1920, the wife of Henry Jones, of Harvey Illinois; August, painter and decorator at Niles, Michigan; John, a Buick car dealer at Hammond; William; and Jacob, also a painter and decorator at Hammond. William Schmueser acquired his public school education at Lansing, Illinois, and went to work at an early age with his father from whom he acquired a thorough knowledge of painting and decorating. After his father’s death he moved to Hammond, where for two years he was associated with J. M. Bradford. He and his brother John then established the firm of Schmueser Brothers, painters and decorators, with offices and store rooms at 420 Sibley Street. In 1919 Mr. Schmueser bought out his brother’s interest in the business and has since continued under his individual name. Mr. Schmueser has a professional attitude toward his business, and his personal skill, supplemented by the work of competent artists employed by him, has enabled him to carry out many important contracts throughout Northern Indiana. Mr. Schmueser is a member bf the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, is affiliated with Garfield Lodge of Masons, Hammond Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Hammond Council, the Scottish Rite Consistory, and is a Shriner, and he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and Modern Woodmen of America. Many civic movements have enlisted his time and energy and support. He owns some valuable real estate interests, including business property in and near Hammond, and has a beautiful home at 32 Wildwood Road. His hobby is hunting and fishing. He is a member of the Hammond Gun Club, Whiting Gun Club and Lake County Gun Club. Mr. Schmueser is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He married at Lansing, Illinois, April 26, 1901, Miss Anna Herkner, daughter of Adolph and Amalia (Posselt) Herkner. Her parents were born and reared in Austria, and after their marriage came to America and subsequently settled at Hammond. Her father was a butcher and was in the meat market business all his active life. He died in March, 1903, and her mother now resides at the home of Mr. Schmueser. Mrs. Schmueser was born in Austria and was one year old when brought to America. She grew up and attended school at Hammond and was always a very loyal Lutheran. She died in 1926. Of her six children three died in infancy. The daughter Myrtle is the wife of Joseph Wittchen, who is bookkeeper for Mr. William Schmueser, and they have a daughter, Ann; Miss Alice is a graduate of the Hammond High School and is in the class of 1932 at St. Mary’s of the Woods College at Terre Haute, preparing herself for work as an educator; and Edith is a pupil of the Hammond High School. On February 28, 1928, at Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Schmueser married Miss Emma Kuhn, daughter of Leonard and Julia (Posselt) Kuhn. Her parents were born and reared in Germany, were married in Boston, and her father was a Boston business man. He died in 1921 and her mother still lives in Boston. Mrs. Schmueser was well educated in the schools of Boston. She is a member of the Lutheran Church.