“Oscar Schramm, vinegar and cider manufacturer, was born at Culmbach, Bavaria, August 24, 1837, and came with his family in 1841 to New York City. From there he went to Circleville, Ohio, where his father, John G. Schramm, who was a merchant and vinegar manufacturer, had settled, and there he remained for two years. Thence to Chillicothe, Ohio, from which place he went with his grandparents in 1849 to Iowa, remaining one year. His father had opened a business at Burlington, Iowa, and Oscar went to this place and worked with him up to 1853, when the father died. ... In 1856 he moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he engaged in business with his next younger brother. Having heard favorably of St. Joseph, Missouri, he came here in 1859. With a limited capital, but supported by his experience and thorough knowledge of his business, he opened at once a vinegar manufactory. Soon his vinegar gained a wide reputation, and he was obliged to enlarge his business every year. From 1872 to 1876 he was a member of the City Council of St. Joseph, for two terms, and in the second year of his second term he was elected presiding officer. From June to August, during the absence of Mayor Hosea, he acted as Mayor of St. Joseph. ...He married, January 12, 1860, Miss Lida Cole, of Keokuk, Iowa. Her
death occurred June 29, 1864. They had two children: Oscar Heinrich, born March 16, 1861 and Edward, born December 28, 1862. His second marriage was March 20, 1866, to Miss Carrie V. Yant, born at Louisville, Kentucky, July 17, 1839. They had eight children, Benjamin F., born June 22, 1867, died November 3, 1868; Katharina S., born June 14, 1869, died October 3, 1870; Wilhelm A., born November 5, 1870, died August 1, 1871; Louis H., born January 28, 1872, died July 6, 1873; Rosine A., born August 28, 1873; Caroline E., born July 31, 1875; Nellie I., born August 19, 1878; Minnie J., born October 17, 1880. “
From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.