John M. Schneider, dealer in clothing and groceries at Oregon, is a pioneer of that city of 1837. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 8, 1808, his parents being Joseph and Barbara (Schnell) Schneider. He served a regular apprenticeship to the tailor trade, traveled six years in German states and Switzerland afoot, in accordance with the custom in those days for journeymen and mechanics to perfect themselves in their trades.

Our subject came to America in 1834, arriving at Baltimore, Md., November 14, after a voyage of 80 days on a sail vessel. He was in a foreign country and penniless. The first nine months were passed working at his trade. In 1835-6 he went to St. Louis, but finding the climate too hot for him, he came north to Galena, this state, in the spring of 1836. He came to Oregon the following summer on a prospecting tour. The town then consisted of two log houses, and he was induced to invest his accumulated capital, amounting to $200, in a corner lot, the present site of the skating rink, and which is still his property. He subsequently had to pay $25 additional to perfect the title. This was the first piece of real estate he ever owned in America, and that he made with his needle. In the spring of 1837, he removed to Oregon and opened a tailor shop; he afterwards added groceries to his stock of clothing and has been in business here almost continuously since.

Mr. Schneider was married in the fall of 1842 to Mrs. Rebecca Patton, a widow lady, and daughter of John and Catherine Etnyre. Mrs. Schneider was born in Washington Co., Md., and came to Oregon in 1839. By her former marriage, she had one child, named Harriet, who was reared in her step-father's family. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider had a family of three children, two daughters and a son, as follows: Mary, who died at the age of 25 years; Ella, deceased, dying when 16 years old and Charles, the Cashier of the First National Bank of Oregon. Mr. Schneider is a Catholic in relgious belief, and politically a Democrat. Mrs. Schneider is a member of the Lutheran Church.

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