JOHN SCHRAM, general farmer, who resides on his valuable farm of eighty-one acres, which is situated in Section 3, Range 5, Newton Township, was born April 12, 1873, in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of George and Rachel (Schultz) Schram.

George Schram, father of John, was born in Heistdannenstock, Germany, May 1, 1829, and came to America in 1853, landing at Castle Garden, New York, with five cents in his pocket. He immediately secured work as a hostler and later worked on a railroad and in this way managed to get to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he engaged in a carpet weaving business, remaining there until 1873, when he moved to Miami County and continued carpet weaving, at Pleasant Hill. He was also a small farmer, having sixteen acres, in Newton Township. He was married in Montgomery County, to Rachel Schultz, a daughter of David Schultz, in February, 1865, and they had four children: David C., Lavina, Nellie and John.

John Schram attended school at Pleasant Hill, and then assisted his father on the farm and later worked for neighboring farmers on his own account. After he married he resided at Pleasant Hill for two years, working by the day during the larger part o this time; he then rented his present farm for two years before he purchased it from S. Z. Williams. He now owns the old sheepskin deed for this land, which bears the signature of President Andrew Jackson. After taking possession, Mr. Schram cleared off nine acres of timber, leaving five acres yet standing, and put in 350 rods of tile. He also put up all the farm buildings now standing, including the fine home, and made many other improvements. He raises some cattle mainly for dairy purposes, and devotes three to five acres of his land to tobacco and the remainder of it to corn, wheat, oats and hay. He is an enterprising young man and has his whole farm in such a condition that it gives him excellent returns on his investment.

Mr. Schram was married January 18, 1894, to Miss Emma Wackler, a daughter of Ernest and Barbara (Steinhilber) Wackler (both parents now deceased), and they have two sons, George Ray, born January 4, 1905; and Ohmer Melvin, born September 15, 1907, both of whom are bright students at the Rough and Ready School, in Newton Township. Mr. and Schram are members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. On June 9, 1909, at Mr. Schram's home will be held the seventh reunion of the Schultz family, at which 175 people are expected to be present. Mr. Schram is one of the following children: Catherine, who married David Myers; Ernest; Maggie, who married Mathew Link; Frederick; Barbara, who married Asa Kelly; Charles, and Emma, wife of the subject of this sketch.