PAUL A. SCHUH, one of the leading merchants and a prominent druggist of Cairo, is a native of the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, where he was born on the 8th of January, 1838, and where, until fifteen years old. he was reared and educated. His father, Christian M. Schuh, was a native of Germany, and a Lutheran minister of some note. His mother was Augusta Geysel, also a native of Germany, where both parents died. Mr. Schuh received his early mercantile training with his brother, Herman Schuh, of St. Louis, who died several years ago. He was engaged in mercantile labor in St. Louis, Paducah, Ky. and Alton, Ill., until April, 1861, when he responded to the President's call for troops and became a member of Company K, of the Ninth Illinois Regiment, enlisting for three months, but before the expiration of this time, he was detached to take the position of assistant, in the office of Medical Purveyor, under Dr. John P. Taggart. Mr. Schuh filled this position to acceptance until the time of his final discharge, January, 1863. Since that time he has been engaged in the drug business in the city of Cairo, in which he has been eminently successful. Being an able pharmacist, as well as an energetic and aggressive business man, he has been able to surmount all opposing obstacles, and while carving for himself the reputation of an eminent man of business, he has not stooped to any of the groveling customs so frequently resorted to by tradesmen. In 1863, Mr. Schuh commenced business in a frame building on Commercial avenue, between Fifth and Sixth streets, paying the first year a rent of $40 per month and double that amount the following year, at the close of which he purchased the property at a cost of $5,000. He built a brick addition to this building and still owns it. In 1879 he erected a large brick business house, No. 106 Commercial avenue, where, two years later, 'he sustained quite a loss to building and stock by fire. He was married in Cairo 1886, to Miss Julia Korsmeyer, who died in 1869, leaving one son, Julius P, born November 10, 1867. Miss Evaline Clotter, his present wife, to whom he was married in October, 1872, was born July 21, 1854. in the city of St. Louis, Mo. They have two children — Carl and Alma, the former born October, 1873 and the latter November, 1877.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 43-44.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
 |
Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
