Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 568. HENRY SCHADEWITZ For forty-four years a resident of Wasco county, Henry Schadewitz has played well his part, contributing substantially toward the upbuilding and progress of this section of the state through his operations as an agriculturist and a merchant, and is now living retired at The Dalles. He was born September 16, 1857, in Rochester, New York, and his parents, C. H. and Maria Schadewitz, were natives of Berlin, Germany. His father was born January 28, 1828, and the mother's birth occurred in 1829. In 1876 the paternal grandfather of Henry Schadewitz sailed for the United States and at that time was over ninety years of age. He was unable to withstand the rigors of an ocean voyage and was buried at sea. His son, C. H. Schadewitz, received a good education and remained in Germany until he reached the age of eighteen. In 1846 he sought the opportunities of the United States and located in Rochester, New York, where he followed the trade of carriage-making until 1851. He then started for the gold fields of California, by the isthmus route, and there engaged in prospecting for a few years. Mr. Schadewitz returned to the east by way of Cape Horn and about 1855 was married in New York state. A few years later he again made the trip to California by way of the isthmus of Panama and began the manufacture of wagons and carriages in Stockton. At the end of a few months he sent for his wife and son, who arrived in California in the fall of that year, also sailing around Cape Horn. The hardwood which Mr. Schadewitz used in making his wagons was shipped from the east and for some time he conducted the factory in Stockton, He then purchased a ranch located about eighteen miles north of the city and also filed on a homestead in that vicinity, becoming the owner of a tract of four hundred acres. There he engaged in ranching until 1892, when he disposed of his holdings and came to Oregon. Settling in Sherman county, he purchased a half section of land and also took up a one hundred and sixty-acre timber culture. He was identified with the Masonic order and closely adhered to its beneficent teachings. Death terminated his career December 10, 1893, and Mrs. Schadewitz passed away March 4, 1874. They left a family of three children; Henry; and Charles and Louis, who live in Sherman county, Oregon, The last named is married and has four children; Oliver E., Mrs. Shelton Fritts, Mrs. Jack Hendricks and Louis Virgil. In the acquirement of an education Henry Schadewitz attended the country schools of San Joaquin county, California, and the public schools of Sacramento. Afterward he worked in his father's shop and in March, 1884, journeyed to Wasco county, Oregon, locating thirteen miles south of Grass Valley, where the town of Kent now stands. He preempted a homestead and also took up a timber culture, acquiring four hundred and eighty acres of land in all. During the season of harvesting he was in California and in October, 1884, returned to the ranch in Oregon. He built a small house on the homestead and also dug a well. The winter was exceptionally cold and Oregon experienced the heaviest snowfall in its history. In the canyon where Mr. Schadewitz lived the snow was ten feet deep and remained on the ground throughout the winter, finally disappearing at the end of February. He plowed up some of the land and planted a garden. The first year he cultivated ten acres of the farm and also followed the carpenter's trade, building houses and barns for the settlers in that district. In 1899, when a railroad was extended through this section of the state, he began raising wheat on a large scale and previous to that time had grown hay, which he sold to the cattlemen or the comity. As the years passed he added to his holdings and is now the owner of two thousand acres of fertile land, which is leased to his sons. In 1901 he opened a general store in Kent and successfully conducted the business for five years. Through tireless effort and good management he accumulated a substantial sum and in 1919 purchased a comfortable home in The Dalles, where he has since lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former years of industry and thrift. Mr. Schadewitz was married January 13, 1892, to Miss Emma May Parks, who was born in Jackson, Amador county. California. Her parents were John M. and Olive H. (Walston) Parks, the former having been born April 8, 1827, 5n Kentucky, and the latter on November 2, 1849, in Iowa. Mr. Parka went to California with the gold seekers of 1852 and there engaged in placer mining for some time. He then purchased land in San Joaquin county and operated the ranch for many years. His demise occurred at Acampo, California, April 29, 1893, and Mrs. Parks died April 14, 1911. In their family were ten children: Emma May; Mrs. Mary Ann Schadewitz, of Sherman county, Oregon; Mrs. Cynthia Prehn, Mrs. Martha Viola Hamilton, Mrs. Louise Leora Needham and Archie Lee Parks, whom have passed away; John M., who lives in Stockton, California; Delbert S. Parks and Mrs. Nellie E. Toothacher, residents of Stockton: and Mrs. Elzada Thatcher, of Los Angeles, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schadewitz were born seven children, all of whom survive except John William, the third in order of birth, and Theodore L., the youngest, Carl H., the eldest, lives on the old homestead and has a wife and one child, John Henry, Mrs. Olive Marie Barnet makes her home in Gilliam county, Oregon, and had three sons: Leo George H., Louis Ernest and Ray Robert, who died January 7, 1928. Mrs. Lola May Barnet resides in Wasco, Oregon, and is the mother of four children: Melvin L., Rosellen May, Carl Alvin and Ernest Eugene. Melvin R. conducts a garage in Moro, Oregon, and has a wife and one son, Melvin Ramsey Jr. Louis M., who cultivates the home farm, is also married and has a, daughter, Twila Darline. Mr. Schadewitz is much interested in public affairs, particularly educational matters, and for many years was a school director. He aided in organizing the first school at Kent, which town he founded and named, and was its postmaster for eight years. Liberal, broadminded and public-spirited. Mr. Schadewitz has thoroughly demonstrated his worth as a citizen and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellowmen. Transcriber's additional notes: Census Indexing 1880 SCHADEWITZ HENRY 22 W NY CA SAN JOAQUIN LIBERTY TWP 1880 p 143 1900 SCHADEWITZ HENRY 43 M W NY OR SHERMAN KENT PCT 1900 p 124 1910 SCHADEWITZ HENRY 52 M W NY OR SHERMAN KENT PCT 1910 p 32 1920 SHADOWITZ HENRY 62 M W NY OR WASCO 4-WD; THE DALLES; 10-PCT 1920 p 278 OR Death Index: Schadewitz, Henry; August 2, 1929; Wasco Co.; Cert.118 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.