52 Ancestors #10: Philip Schuster arrives in USA

Over 900,000 German men, women and children immigrated to the United States between 1845 and 1855. My 3rd great-grandfather, Philip Friederich Schuster was one of them. Philip was 13 years old when he arrived in New Orleans with his parents and younger sister. 

Philip Friederich Schuster was born on September 16, 1838 in Hassloch, Germany to Johannes (1807-1867) and Anna Margarethe (Rieger, 1810-1884) Schuster.  Philip was the middle of three children. Jacob (1833-1911) and Barbara (1843-1916) were also born in Germany. 

In 1853, likely faced with a mortgaged farm and crop failure like much of the southwestern region of Germany, Philip traveled the near 500 miles to Le Havre, France with his parents and sister. There, they boarded the Belle Assise and set sail for a better life in America. Jacob, Philip’s older brother, arrived in America the year prior.  

The Schuster family spent 2 months on a cargo ship that carried claret, an opera troupe, and several other German families to New Orleans.  The ship arrived on November 3, 1853.  I’m unsure if the family was able to secure passage on a steamboat to travel up the Mississippi River, but I certainly hope so. I next find the family in St. Louis, Missouri.  Ultimately, they settled in St. Clair County, Illinois … more specifically, the Fayetteville area.  At this time in history, St. Clair County was well populated with German immigrants and their influence is still well preserved in the surrounding region. 

Life after Immigration

Philip married Sophia Fredericka Arnold on November 8, 1858 in St. Louis and finally settled in Fayetteville, Illinois in 1860 after the birth of their first child. Together, they had 5 children:

• Friedrich (Fritz) Schuster (My 2nd great-grandfather, 1859-1947)
• Mary (b. 1862)
• John (b. 1864)
• Anna (b. 1867)
• Phillip, Jr (b. 1869)

Philip owned a small farm in Fayetteville. His parents and siblings also settled in the area … the family stayed together and, by 1880, Philip’s mother was living in his household. By all accounts, their life was simple and modest.  Philip and his wife both spoke English and their children were educated in as much as a rural community would allow. Everyone could read and write in English … and I suspect German, too.  From what I recall growing up, my grandma was part of the first Schuster generation that wasn’t bilingual. 

The Lingering Questions

I remember showing my grandma (Doris Schuster Raines) the above photos.  Grandma had never seen them before – I got them from a Schuster cousin.  When I explained who the family was and how they were related, Grandma still couldn’t recall any stories about them.  I found that quite sad at the time and hoped that their lives hadn’t been completely forgotten. Families like the Schusters settled and helped build this country, certainly this part of Illinois, and their stories should be told.

I also wonder what happened to the Schusters in that 5-year block of time for which they are unaccounted.  They arrived in 1853 and, by 1858 at least, had made their way to St. Louis.  Did they stay in New Orleans to acclimate to American life? By then, the German Society of New Orleans had already been formed to help immigrants learn American ways. 

Where was Jacob? According to the 1900 and 1910 census records, Jacob arrived in America in 1852, but he’s not found on any ship passenger lists for that year.  He found his way to St. Clair County by 1859, when he married his wife, Anna Barbara Reinfrank.  

Last night, my husband reminded me that for every one question I answer, 12 more pop up to replace it.