Joseph G. Schiefter was born October 4, 1891, to Jacob and Margaret (Perk) Schiefter, the third of five boys. He grew up on his parents'farm four miles east of Crofton, attended school at District 56 in Cedar County, and attended church at Constance. He helped farm, herded cows on the prairie as there weren't too many fences, and he picked corn for neighbors. Christina was the daughter of Conrad and Kathryn (Luening) Guenther. She was born November 14, 1891, in Monterey, NE, near West Point. The family moved -to Creighton, NE, in 1901. several years later, they moved to a farm northeast of Crofton. She attended school at Monterey, Creighton, and Crofton, and church at Crofton. Joseph and Christina were married on May 9,1916, at St. Rose of Lima church. They drove a buggy and team to the church and then back to the Guenther home for the reception. In the evening, a barn dance was held. Joseph and Christina farmed east of Crofton all of their married lives. They were active in their parish and community. The family custom was to help neighbors in need, which was also returned to them. Christina talked of helping her step-mother cook meals for harvesters. She would walk from their place to her folks, which was two miles away. She loved to go quilting every other week. When roads were blocked by snow they used a horse drawn sled to attend church and get supplies from town. Joseph and Christina had six children: Mrs. Fritz (Irene) Pinkelman; Arthur; Sylvester, married to Rosemary Janssen; Mrs. Clarence(Angela) Mueller; Mrs. Leonard (Jeanette) Wieseler; and Mrs. Gerald (Lucille) Arens. Their son, Arthur, was killed off the island of Guam in 1945 while serving his country in World War 11. Joseph's father, Jacob, in his later years lived with them until his death January 13, 1951. The children remember early day stories he told. More than once people got stuck west of their place, on the gumbo hill before the graveled highway came through, and came for aid to get pulled out with a team of horses. Joe helped them out of what later became oiled Highway 12. It wasn't until Irene married in the fall of 1949 that the Schieffers got electricity. Christina passed away January 3, 1976, at age of 84.

SOURCE: Centennial Book.
---
Born: 1891. Married: 09-May-1916 in Crofton, Knox Co., NE, to Christina Elizabeth Guenther. Resided: Crofton, Knox Co., NE. Children: Arthur I. 1932-died WWII non-battle; Lawrence H. (1923-1980, married Helen C. 1916-2008); Sylvester F. (1924-1997, married ??? ???); Irene (????-living, married Fedolin Pinkleman); Angela (????-living, married Clarence Mueller); Lucille ????-living, married Gerald R. Arens ????-2005); Jeanette (????-living, married Leonard Wieseler). Christina died: 03-Jan-1976 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, Yankton CO., SD. Funeral: 06-Jan-1976, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Constance, NE. Burial: Saint Josephs Catholic Cem., Cedar Co., NE. Died: 1981. Burial: Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery, Constance, Cedar Co., NE.

Anecdote: Rev BAUMGARTNER was the first resident pastor of Constance. His first baptismal was on 05 Aug 1896 for Franziscum Henricum ARNDKE the son of Bernard ARNDKE and Helen. Other baptismals that year: Anthony ROTH, Joseph STEVENS, Mary LAMMERS, Anna BURBACH, Chris SORENSEN, Joseph (Michael) SCHIEFFER, Rose SCHUMACHER, Bertha WUEBBEN and Alphonse SUDBECK.

Land:
Cedar Co., NE - 1939 plat map shows land owned by "J.G. Schieffer" within sections: 20 (80 acres), 21 (80 acres), 28 (40 acres) of Precinct 3.