John Louis Schaible

JOHN LOUIS SCHAIBLE. - After a man has been working at the same trade for two decades, it is to be supposed that he has attained a certain amount of proficiency. Mr. Schaible is one of the most prominent horse shoers in Kansas City, where he has been identified with the trade for a period of twenty-one years, during which time he has been wonderfully successful, and since he first opened his own shop he has branched out in different directions. His work is never done on a haphazard basis, but is most carefully planned and executed.

Mr. Schaible was born in Kansas City, Missouri, January 27, 1875, and is the son of Henry and Jacabine (Baumer) Schaible, who claim Baden, Germany, as the place of their nativity. The two families were intimate in the old country and when Henry Schaible was fourteen years of age and the little Jacabine was but eleven, they came with their parents to the wonderful new world, where they hoped to be able to do better than they could in their old home. The two families embarked in an old sailing vessel, and after a long hard trip of about four weeks, the foreigners landed on American soil, and forthwith made their way to Henry county, Illinois. It was natural that the two young people should feel drawn to one another, and their friendship developed into love, which culminated in marriage. Mr. Schaible was employed in different capacities during his residence in Illinois, being at one time in the bakery business, in the machinery business in connection with the Fort Scott and Memphis railroad, and he also worked for an express company. The young man had not been in America very long when the whole country was torn by the conflict between the North and South, and when Lincoln's first summons for volunteers came, the young German was eager to offer his service to aid in the emancipation of the slaves. To him the idea of slaver was abhorrent and he felt that it was his duty and his pleasure to assist in the cause which he considered just. He enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Infantry, and was later assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and for three years he fought with heroism and bravery, but at the end of three years, the hardships and the exposure had so affected his health, that he was forced to retire on sick leave. He never fully recovered his physical strength, so that for him those three years of service resulted disastrously. He returned to Henry county, Illinois, but did not remain there long, as he believed he could do better in Iowa. After a short time he again made a change, moving to Wisconsin, and thence by steamboat to Missouri, where he took up his residence in Kansas City in the early seventies and died there in 1880. His widow married again in 1881, Powell Frankenbery, and her demise occurred in 1904.

John Louis Schaible is the youngest in order of birth of the three children who were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schaible. When he was a babe his parents removed from Kansas City, Missouri, to Kansas City, Kansas, and he had only just passed his fifth birthday when his father died. He was carefully reared by his mother, who trained him in those habits of industry and honesty which have been of such use to him throughout his business life. His education was obtained in the old Rock school in Wyandotte township and when he was fifteen years of age, he left school and began to learn the blacksmith trade. He entered the shop of Michael Shine in October, 1889, and finished his training with R. H. Carswell. During his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman in Chicago and various other cities in Illinois and the adjoining states, and in 1900 he started in business for himself at 422 Minnesota avenue, a location which he has not changed since. In addition to his general horse-shoeing business, he does horse-clipping and dog-clipping, having a special machine for the latter. In 1903 he bought the lot which he had previously rented, and on it he built a large modern shop, with living apartments overhead, and in this apartment he resided until he felt that his children needed more yard in which to run and play. He then bought a home at the corner of Seventh and New Jersey avenue, and there he lives at the present time.

In 1902 he married Miss Lona Courtney, the daughter of Francis and Catherine (Baker) Courtney, who maintain their home in Cloud county, Kansas, where their daughter, Lona was born. The marriage ceremony occurred in Kansas City, Kansas, and to this union four children were born, Harold, John L., Jr., Catherine and Lona. Harold is a student in the Horace Mann school, where he is making excellent progress in his studies.

Mr. Schaible became affiliated with Scottish Rite Masonry in 1904, his membership being with the Kansas City, Kansas, Lodge. Although he is greatly interested in all matters of public improvement and advancement, he has never dabbled in politics, but finds that his family and his business cares occupy him most fully.