Sacramento County
Biographies
WILHELM
R. H. SCHEUNERT
With the experience acquired
through residence in Germany, the land of his birth, and in America, he chosen
home of maturity, Mr. Scheunert gives his preference
to the land of the free and particularly is he devoted to the great western
country. As the chosen place of his home and the center of his business
activities, he cherishes the utmost loyalty to Northern California, with whose
progress he has been familiar for a long period. Although now more than sixty
years of age he retains much of the physical alertness and all
of the mental acumen characteristic of earlier life. Not only is he
probably one of the oldest commercial travelers in this part of the state, but
in addition he ranks as one of the most successful. In the line of his
specialty he has built up a large trade in Northern California and Nevada. By
doing so he has enlarged the business of the wholesale cigar factory in
Sacramento, where his brother, Emil, remains to superintend the city
trade.
Through a lifetime of
exceptional activity Wilhelm Scheunert, Sr., held a
prominent position among the business men of Zduny, a
town of Prussia, not far distant from the borders of Russia. Not only
did he own and operate a flour mill in the village, but in addition he managed
other important enterprises and also served efficiently as city trustee, being
indeed a citizen of such prominence that his demise was mourned as a public
loss. His wife, Wilhelmina, also resided in Zduny
until her death. Their son, Wilhelm R. H., was born in Prussia November 10, 1849,
and attended the national schools of Germany, as well as private institutions
of learning in his native kingdom. Following the usual custom of the country he
was sent to serve in the army. It was at the time of the Franco-Prussian war
and he therefore saw service not only in the camp, but also on the
battle-field. During 1870-71 he was honorably discharged with the commission of
sergeant.
Almost immediately after his return
home from the wars Mr. Scheunert began to make
preparations to emigrate to the new world. Without any means except
sufficient for traveling expenses, he started on the long ocean trip to New
York City and this was followed by the journey across the continent to San
Francisco, where he found employment. In a few months he came to Sacramento and
secured work as a barber. Eighteen months later he went to Virginia City, Nev.,
and embarked in the cigar business, but in 1875, after the big fire, he removed his business headquarters to Sacramento,
the center of all subsequent activities on his part. Since 1876 he has been
identified continuously with the cigar business as a manufacturer and jobber.
He organized the business as Scheunert Bros., Inc.
With him in business is his brother, Emil, born in Prussia in May of 1858,
educated in Germany and California, and employed for a time in a dry-goods
house that specialized in ladies' furnishings. For several years he engaged
extensively in farm pursuits in Mexico, but owing to the yellow fever he was
forced to leave that country. After a visit of a few months at his old German
home he returned to Mexico to close out his affairs and then joined his brother
in Sacramento, where since he has engaged in the cigar business. Fraternally he
holds membership with various organizations, including the various degrees of
Masonry up to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The older brother has been
connected prominently with the Knights of Pythias as
well as other societies. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Goepel, daughter of Herman Goepel,
who in the early days was a well-known resident of Sacramento.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: Willis, William L., History of Sacramento County, California,
Pages 550-552.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sande Beach.