Biography of Andrew Schiffli, pages 808/809/810.  History 
of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



DeKalb county, Indiana, is characterized by her full share 
of enterprising and progressive farmers, who have been the 
mainstay and backbone of the wonderful development which 
has marked this section of the state during the past few 
decades, and today among this class stands Andrew Schiffli, 
whose finely improved and cultivated farm lies in 
Smithfield township, where he enjoys a high standing among 
his fellow citizens.  Andrew Schiffli was born  on January 
25, 1874, in Alsace, Germany, which formerly, however, 
belonged to France, and is one of nine children born to 
John and Victoria (Hahn) Schiffli, both also natives of 
Alsace, the father born in 1837 and the mother in 1844, the 
latter being a daughter of George Hahn. John Schiffli and 
Victoria Hahn were married in their native country, and in 
1881 they and their children came to the United States, at 
which time the subject of this sketch was but seven years 
of age. Andrew well remembers  a stormy day on shipboard 
during their voyage when, because of the high waves which 
broke over the ship, the passengers were not allowed on 
deck. However, he disregarded orders and went out to the 
end of the deck, where he ran great danger of being washed 
overboard. He was found by a sailor, who gave him a liberal 
spanking and sent him to the safer spot. Upon their arrival 
in the United States, the Schiffli family came at once to 
DeKalb county, where the father bought twenty acres of land 
in the northern part of Smithfield township, about one-half 
mile south of the county line. After remaining there four 
years he sold that place and bought forty acres of land in 
section 11, on which only about seven acres had been 
cleared and on which was a big house. The greater part of 
the land was covered with swamp water and brush, and so bad 
was condition that the cows mired in the barn lot. In the 
hope of improving the condition they moved the house, log 
at a time, to a better location, and gave their attention 
to the ditching and draining of the soil. At the beginning 
it was necessary to go through water waist deep to get the 
cows. Eventually by tireless effort, conditions were 
improved, and when, about fifteen years ago, the big ditch 
was put through their land, the soil rapidly became more 
cultivable, and now the farm is one of the best in the 
locality.  From the time they came to this land until 1900, 
it took about all the efforts of the family, including the 
help given by the boys who worked in the shops, to pay off 
eight hundred dollars owning on the purchase of the farm. 
In 1900 Mr. Schiffli built a good bank barn; in 1902 a 
splendid house, and in 1903, a hog house. They are now 
prospering and reaping the result of their former years of 
strenuous endeavor. The farm is well supplied with all the 
implements necessary for intelligent labor and, under the 
wise direction of Mr. Schiffli, the farm is one of the best 
in the township.  To John and Victoria Schiffli were born 
nine children, namely: Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Bapst, of 
Garrett; Matthias, who owns ninety-two and one-half acres 
in the eastern part of Smithfield township; Andrew, the 
immediate subject of this sketch; Emil, who owns a farm 
north of Barker’s church; August, who lives on the home 
farm; Ada, the wife of Louis Steinkohl, of South Bend, 
Indiana; Theresa, Mary and Louise, who are unmarried; 
Theresa at home; Mary and Louise, residing at South Bend, 
and one child a boy, who died in Alsace in early infancy. 
The father of these children died in 1908, and his widow is 
still residing on the home farm.  Andrew Schiffli lived at 
home until attaining his majority, having ably assisted his 
father in the efforts to reclaim the farm and he secured 
what education was possible in the district schools. After 
arriving at legal age he started work on his own account in 
the railroad shops at Garrett, where he remained nine years 
and then during the following four years he engaged in farm 
work by the month. After his marriage in 1908 he began 
farming on the Taylor farm in Franklin township, but two 
years later moved to the George Shoner farm in section 13, 
Smithfield township, where he is now engaged in the 
operation of one hundred and forty-three acres of land. His 
early farming efforts under his father’s direction were 
strenuous years, but they well qualified him for the later 
duties of life, and now he is achieving a splendid success 
under favorable conditions. He keeps his farm up-to-date in 
all particulars, using none but the best of farming 
implements, keeping high grade live stock and giving his 
personal attention to every detail of the farm work.  
Steady, industrious and exercising sound discretion in his 
labors, he so maintains the fertility of the soil as to 
realize abundant crops, and among his fellow agriculturists 
he is held in esteem of the splendid success he has 
achieved. In 1908 Mr. Schiffli married Katie Shoudel, the 
daughter of Michael Shoudel, and to them have been born two 
children, Agnes and Wilfred. Mr. and Mrs. Schiffli and 
their children are members of the St. Michael’s Catholic 
church, in the success of which they are interested and to 
which they contribute of their means. Mr. Schiffli has 
gained his success through his own efforts, is regarded as 
a man of splendid character and is highly esteemed by all 
who know him.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com