A life-long resident of Ottawa, LaSalle county, Albert Schaefer, the owner and manager of the Ottawa Opera-House, is well known here, and no one stands higher in the esteem of the general public. As his name gives evidence, he is of German extraction, and in fact his father, A. Schaefer, was a native of the great empire now ruled by Emperor William. He came to the United States more than half a century ago, however, and fought for. his adopted country in the Mexican and civil wars, thus doubly entitling himself to be enrolled in the Grand Army of the Republic, with which organization he was connected. He married Miss Christine Miller, of Lanark, Illinois, and of the eleven children born to this worthy couple seven are still living. Four daughters reside in Ottawa; John makes his home in California, and George is now in Tennessee. Their honored father, who died in 1874, was the victim of a most distressing railroad accident.
The birth of Mr. Schaefer occurred in 1863, at his parental home in Ottawa, and when he had arrived at suitable years he commenced attending the public schools of this place. One of the most important steps taken by him in his early manhood was his marriage, in February, 1888, to Miss Mary Sophia Schmidt, who is a native of Germany, and for some time has lived in this country. Two daughters bless this union, namely: Sylvia and Esther.
As the crowning act of a long and prosperous business career, Mr. Schaefer erected the handsome and substantial brick opera-house of Ottawa, three years ago. This modern structure, two stories in height, one hundred and twenty-six feet long and thirty-six feet wide, has a seating capacity of one thousand persons, and is extensively used for public meetings, and for the various local lodges and associations of the town. It is centrally situated, being at the corner of Chestnut and Jefferson streets. Politically Mr. Schaefer is a stanch Republican, and fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, a member of the German Benevolent Society; the I. O. O. F., and the O. M. P.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 351-352.
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