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Schoenberger, John
| Last Name: | Schoenberger |
|---|---|
| First Name: | John |
| Dates: |
*1846 (Date of Birth)
*1938 (Date of Death)
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| Biography/History: | Johann Wolfgang Schoenberger left Bavaria for America with a thirst to “see what was over there.” By 1888, he and his wife Elizabeth and young family had arrived in Cheney. A hotelkeeper convinced them to stay despite the inhospitable terrain. The family rented a farm between Cheney and Spangle, sharing the proceeds with the owner, while also working as a carpenter in the area. Then he “took off into the sawmill business.” He opened his first sawmill on Latah (Hangman) Creek, and provided lumber to rebuild Spokane Falls following the 1889 fire. John’s sons joined the business and the company expanded, operating seven different sawmills at various times. Johann Schoenberger carried his belongings to America in this trunk, crafted from the wood of a tree he sat under when herding cattle in Bavaria. |
| Related Objects: |
2044.1 (Trunk, Johann Schoenberger's Trunk, 1871)
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