Maternus Schaefer Leading Citizen in Early Gross Point

President of Gross Point for 13 years and a member of its first village board, Maternus Schaefer also filled the offices of village collector and school director for a quarter of a century. Mr. Schaefer was a farmer, owning 35 acres of land on section 33 of New Trier township, and a number of residences in Wilmette. Born in Prussia on August 26, 1833, he was the eldest of 13 children of Peter and Lena (Bleser) Schaefer. Leaving the continent in 1843, he and his parents took up residence in New Trier township. On August 26, 1854, he married Mary Schaefer, also born in Prussia and daughter of John Schaefer, a tanner. They had 14 children, seven sons and seven daughters.
Anna Marie, born March 26, 1861, became the wife of Gerhard Steffens, a liquor dealer in Gross Point.
Peter Joseph, who was born December 29, 1862, was a contractor and builder in Wilmette.
Frank Schaefer, born October 18, 1864, was a Gross Point farmer, and a daughter, Helena, who was born February 21, 1867, later became the wife of Peter Sesterhenn, an agriculturist in the same village. Another daughter, Margarite, who was the wife of Max Engels, engaged in the bottling business in Gross Point.
Three of the daughters, Eva, Katrina and Christina, married and moved from the village, and there is no record of the other children.
Mr. Schaefer and his family belonged to St. Joseph's church, where he was a member of St. Joseph's Library and Sick Benefit Society.and Sick Benefit Society.