Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 365 - 366 

HENRY SCHAD, manufacturer of harness and saddlery, is numbered among the honorable business men of Wichita. He was born in Richmond, Va., March 22, 1846, being a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Stephen) Schad. His parents were reared and married in Germany, and in the year 1843 left their old home in Giesaw, Germany, to establish themselves in the New World. They located in Richmond, Va., and there Mr. Schad entered into the hotel business, becoming the owner and manager of the famous William Tell House, which was one of the largest and best kept hotels in that city. To him and his most estimable wife were born five children, three of whom died in infancy, and Adam and Henry are the survivors. The former left home at the breaking out of the Rebellion, and took part in the entire struggle, enlisting in the 7th Maryland Regiment, Federal army, being wounded five times. After the war he reenlisted in the Union army, and is now stationed at Tucson, Ariz., having a position in the Quartermaster's Department. 

            The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of fourteen began to learn the trade of harness-maker. This thoughtful, intelligent lad watched with intense interest the progress of public affairs that finally culminated in the terrible civil strife. He saw the first rebel flag hoisted over the dome of the Capitol at Richmond, and in 1863, the youth, true to his sentiments of loyalty to the Union cause, and filled with patriotic desire to aid it, managed to escape through the rebel lines from Richmond, though at the risk of his life, it being a very dangerous undertaking, the Confederates kept such a close watch. He was, however, immediately arrested as a rebel spy and thrown into prison for five days at Fortress Monroe. When he was set at liberty he enlisted in the Union army at Camden, N.J., in Company E, 1st New Jersey Cavalry, being obliged to enroll himself under an assumed name as Henry Sanders. He was from Richmond, Va., and his family were well known, his father being the keeper of the popular William Tell House, and if young Schad were captured he might be recognized under his own name and be shot as a traitor to the Southern cause. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Trevilian Station, Weldon Railway, Hatchie's River, Five Forks and Ream's Station; he also took part in the capture of the South Side Railway, the capture of Lee's headquarters train, and in Lee's capture and surrender. He served under the gallant Gen. Philip Sheridan, remaining in the army eighteen months, until the close of the war. During that time he was never in the hospital, never sick. He had two horses shot under him at the Wilderness and one at Cold Harbor. In 1865 he was honorably discharged under general orders. Returning to Richmond he could obtain no work as he had fought in the Union army, and in 1866 he went to Warsaw, Ill., and resided there fifteen years. In the meantime he was married to Miss Louisa Rinckel, of German descent, but an American by birth. She has since been to him a faithful and devoted helpmeet, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children - George and Anne Adele. 

            In 1882 Mr. Schad went to Missouri, and in Edina was engaged in the harness trade the ensuing five years, doing an extensive and prosperous business. In 1887 he removed to Wichita, as he saw a good chance there for men of his calling, and opened his present establishment at No. 119 West Douglas avenue. He makes a specialty of the manufacture of fine harnesses, carries a large stock, and is already doing a fine business. He superintends his work himself in all its details, and to this personal supervision doubtless owes much of his success. Socially our subject is a member of the G.A.R., and of the I.O.O.F.; politically he is a stanch Republican, strongly upholding those principles for which he was ready to sacrifice his life in the early days of the party. He is a true citizen in every respect, and has an excellent reputation as a straightforward and upright man.

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