My Genealogy Hound

JOHN SHAFFER SCHREIBER is the son of Theodore and Anna (Shaffer) Schreiber. He was born July 29, 1857, at Broad Axe, in Whitpain township, where his father was proprietor of a hotel. He attended the public schools at Shady Grove and Sandy Hill, and later entered the school in charge of Miss Ellen Sheaff, at St. Thomas’s church, Whitemarsh, at which he remained until he had reached his sixteenth year. In the meantime, during school vacations and at other times, he assisted his father on the farm attached to the hotel, containing forty-six acres of highly improved land. He continued farming on this tract until his marriage, February 22, 1882, to Helen, daughter of John and Mary Ann (Butcher) Stiver, of Norriton township.

After Mr. Schreiber’s marriage he removed to the homestead farm in Whitemarsh township, and cultivated it for four years. At the end of that time he engaged as farmer with Thomas Shepard, of Upper Providence, until 1888. He then removed to the estate of Jesse Strepper, where he remained until the spring of 1893, when he rented the hotel at Broad Axe, which he ran till November, 1897. In the meantime Mr. Schreiber gained a practical knowledge of farming and also interested himself in matters of local importance generally. In 1897 he removed to the farm of Albert Beck, in Upper Dublin township, remaining there until the spring of 1899, when he rented the farm attached to the Broad Axe hotel, on which he had spent his boyhood days. During his occupancy of this farm, Mr. Schreiber has put in practice the lessons of experience previously gained in following farming, and he has been very successful in raising good crops, and maintaining his reputation as one of the best farmers of the vicinity.

In politics Mr. Schreiber is a Democrat, and manifests much interest in its success, although he has never been a candidate for public office. He was, however, taken up by his friends in February, 1904, and elected school director of Whitpain township, by a large majority. In religious faith the family are members of the German Baptist or Brethren church, worshipping at the church in Upper Dublin township, near Ambler.

Theodore Schreiber (father), was born March 21, 1825, and died May 5, 1898. His father was also Theodore Schreiber. He married, December 25, 1849, Anna Shaffer, born in 1830. She died August 21, 1901. Their children were: Ellen (deceased) and Kate (twins), born October 30, 1850; Kate married, July 4, 1872, Seth James. Amanda, born June 14, 1854, was married February 9, 1875. John S., subject of this sketch. Mary, born May 1, 1859, married June 24, 1884, J. Howard Marlin, they residing in Philadelphia. Harry, born April 7, 1866, died May 4, 1866. George, born June 5, 1868, died July 12, 1868. Theodore, born December 29, 1871, married Harah Hays, of Norristown, they having children.

John Stiver, Mrs. Schreiber’s father, was born October 22, 1820. He was the son of Michael Stiver.