HERMAN C. SCHUETTE (d. 1940)

H. C. SCHUETTE IS FATALLY HURT IN CRASH
Former Sheriff and Contractor Dies At Hospital After Car Leaves Road
Herman C. Schuette, 65, of Four Corners, former sheriff and local contractor,
was fatally injured yesterday afternoon when his car left Highway 141 just
south of Francis Creek and crashed down an embankment through a wire fence.
Mr. Schuette died at the Holy Family hospital at 2 a.m. today. He suffered a
crushed chest, a broken leg and severe shock.
It was the first highway fatality in Manitowoc county this year.
According to Sheriff Norman Berkedal, Mr. Schuette was driving north, going
around the curve about three quarters of a mile south of Francis Creek when
the accident occurred. His car cut sharply to the right side of the road,
careened along the shoulder and then headed across the road to the left side,
plunged down a ten foot embankment and crashed into a fence. The car remained
on its four wheels and was not badly damaged.
Mr. Schuette was rushed to the Holy Family hospital in the sheriff's ambulance.
A Colorful Career
Death of Mr. Schuette ends a colorful career extending over a 50?? year period
in this city in which he served as alderman, sheriff, postmaster, engaged in
the livery stable, street and general contracting business and also headed his
own realty company.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. from the Shimek & Schwartz
funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Mr. Schuette started his active life as a boy of 15 when he came to the city
from the farm home of his parents in Kossuth, where he was born in 1874. He
secured employment with Henry Schmidt in the latter's livery stable on Franklin
street, adjoining the Franklin street fire station. In those days fire apparatus
was pulled by teams from the livery stable.
He slept at the station and on fire calls drove one of the horsedrawn fire trucks.
When a young man he entered the employ of the Miller Cement company to learn the
trade. He later organized the Schuette Cement Construction Company which built a
plant at Franklin and 18th street for manufacture of cement building blocks. He
also took charge of a livery stable on Quay street and later established a modern
livery on Washington street on the present site of the Manitowoc National bank.
Mr. Schuette became a partner of Michael and Henry Murphy in the Murphy
Construction company which engaged in the street and highway paving work in
Manitowoc and many state cities.
When associated with the Murphy Construction Company Mr. Schuette was in active
charge of much of the early paving work here shortly after the turn of the century.
The company laid the brick paving on Washington and Franklin streets.
Active in Politics
He was active in Democratic politics in this county, serving for many years as
chairman of the Democratic County Committee. He was elected sheriff on the
Democratic ticket in 1912 for a two-year term, after serving three years as a
deputy sheriff. He was also prominent in municipal politics and served two terms
as First Ward alderman in the City Council.
Following his retirement from the sheriff's office at the end of 1915, he was
appointed postmaster by President Woodrow Wilson.
He took a leave of absence from the postmasters job in 1919 to organize the
Manitowoc Construction Company with Fred Schoch, Joseph Kestly?? and his son,
Russell Schuette. The company embarked on a heavy building program which included
paving of city streets and construction of many large business places and public
buildings.
New construction by his company included the Commerce building, Vocational school,
Vita natatorium and Immanuel Lutheran church. State jobs included miles of highways
in central and eastern Wisconsin.
Mr. Schuette headed the Schuette Realty Company, which platted a large section of
territory at the north end of the city between Pine street and Reed avenue. It was
laid out in the building lots in a program of construction, in which the Schuette
Company built many homes.
Elected Sheriff again.
In 1932, Mr. Schuette disposed of his holdings in the contracting firm to the Hamann
Construction company, and again became a candidate for sheriff on the Democratic
ticket. He was elected and served in 1933 and 1934.
In April 1935 Mr. Schuette purchased the tavern property at Four Corners from the
Mary McFarland estate which he took over and with his wife, and son, Ward, continued
to operate since that time.
Mr. Schuette was active for years in lodge and fraternal circles here. He was
president of the Manitowoc aerie of Eagles and until recent years, was a member
of the Manitowoc lodge of Elks.
Forty-five years ago he married Miss Minnie Massman of this city. She survives with
three sons, Dr. Elmer A. and Russell of this city, and Ward, of Four Corners; two
daughters, Mrs. Charles Drumm of this city; Mrs. Richard Rice of Boston, Mass.;
two brothers, Otto of this city and William of Rockwood; sister, Mrs. William
Fehrling of this city; and nine grandchildren.
The body may be viewed at the funeral home from Wednesday evening until the hour of
services.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Tuesday, May 21, 1940 P. 2
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[Herman Carl/d. 05-24-1940/age 65 yrs./cause: cerebral concussion]