HENRY L. SCHEMMEL, emporium of music, pianos, and musical merchandise,
wholesale and retail, Nos. 72 to 78 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose,
is the agent for Santa Clara County and adjoining counties south, for
the Steinway, Steck, Gabler and Vose pianos. He also deals in
sheet-music, and all the special makes of brass and stringed
instruments.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1848, he went through the various
preparatory schools; he attended the gymnasium and the university.
During all these years he had devoted considerable time to the study
and practice of music. His tastes, indeed, led him to adopt music as a
profession, but in this he was opposed by his father, who wished him to
pursue a business career. About this time, complication arose relative
to his entering upon his term of usually required military service. Not
satisfied with the outlook, and being favorable disposed to the
political ideas dominating our American government, he decided to come
to the United States. Arriving in New York in 1870, he proceeded at
once across the continent to San Francisco, where he devoted himself to
a musical career, meeting with a satisfactory degree of success. The
climate not agreeing with him at the bay, he removed to San Jose, where
he taught music for fourteen years. In 1885 Mr. Schemmel opened the
musical establishment now owned and conducted by him, investing
carefully at first and to but a limited extent, but after feeling the
pulse of the trade he extended his operations, enlarging the store he
then occupied, adding the store adjoining for his pianos, extending in
the rear for what is now his manufacturing, repair, and polishing
rooms. In business he has been very successful, having been united with
valuable piano agencies since opening, the confidence developed by so
many years of teaching music and contact with people of musical taste
contributing largely to this result.
Mr. Schemmel was married in 1875 to Miss Mathilde Pfister, daughter of A. Pfister, one of our earliest pioneer
merchants and most respected citizens. They have three children,
Louisa, Adolph, and Frank.
Mr. Schemmel is a man naturally independent in his political ideas and
affiliations.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The
Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated.
- Edited by H.S.
Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.- Page
246-247 transcribed by Carol Lackey
