From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 960-963
 
JULIUS F. W. SCHULZ.  Whether the elements of success in this life are innate 
attributes of the individual or whether they are quickened by a process of 
circumstantial development, it is impossible to clearly determine.  Yet the 
study of a successful life, whatever the field of endeavor, is none the less 
interesting and profitable by reason of the existence of this same 
uncertainty.  So much in excess of those of success are the records of 
failures or semi-failures, that one is constrained to attempt to analysis in 
either case and to determine the measure of causation in an approximate way.  
But in studying the life history of Julius F. W. SCHULZ, well known business 
man of the village of Walworth and one of the substantial and enterprising 
citizens of the locality of which this history deals, we find many qualities 
in his makeup that always gain definite success in any career if properly 
directed, as has evidently been done in his case, which has resulted in a life 
of good to others as well as to himself and family, all through his 
persistence in the pursuit of a worthy purpose.  The splendid success which 
has come to Mr. SCHULZ is directly traceable to the salient points in his 
character, for he started in life at the bottom of the ladder, which he has 
mounted unaided.  With a mind capable of planning he combined a will strong 
enough to execute his well-formulated purposes, and his great energy, sound 
judgment, keen discrimination and perseverance have resulted in the 
accumulation of a handsome property.
 
Like many of the thrifty citizens of Walworth county, Mr. SCHULZ is of 
Germanic blood, having been born in the village of Prohn in Pommerania, 
Germany, December 15, 1858.  He is a son of Frederick Johann Carl SCHULZ and 
Carolina Sophia (LOOSE) SCHULZ, both natives of Germany, the mother born in 
Berlin and the father in Clausdorf, Pommerania.  His father was a merchant in 
a small way, maintaining a little store in the village for some time.  The 
parents of the subject spent their lies in the fatherland, both dying in 
Prohn.  Their family consisted of seven children, Julius F. W., of this 
sketch, being the only one to come to America; four of the brothers were in 
the German army, and Gustave, the eldest, was in the Franco-Prussian war, and 
he is now engaged in the shoe business in Prohn, and from him the gentleman 
whose name introduces this biography learned his trade.  Franz was a soldier 
and for about twenty-five years has held the office of sheriff of the kreis or 
county of Franzburg, in which he was born and reared.  Richard, a twin brother 
of Julius, was also in the army and he now lives in Stralsund, Germany.  His 
youngest brother, George, was also a soldier and he rose from a private to 
sergeant-major, which was the highest rank he could attain without attending 
one of the military academies of the empire.  From that position he was 
appointed housemaster to the ambassador to Rome.  When he died at the age of 
forty-two he was buried with military honors and the artillery company of 
which he had been an officer at Spandau came to Berlin to attend his funeral.  
Besides the four sons who became military men and the subject, there was 
Frederick, next older than Julius, who died when a young man; also a sister, 
Adelheid, now wife of Frederick LANGE.  They have a large family; they conduct 
a hotel at Prohn and are well-to-do.
 
Julius F. W. SCHULZ grew to manhood in his native land and remained there 
until March, 1881, when he was about twenty-three years old.  He learned the 
shoemaker's trade when a boy, as stated in a preceding paragraph, and he 
followed his trade in Berlin and various other places in Germany for some 
time.  Upon the last mentioned date he emigrated to Chicago, and worked there 
and in Racine for some time, then came to Walworth county in the summer of 
1884 and started in business for himself.  Even at that time his principal 
business was making shoes to order.  But shoes that sold for ten dollars per 
pair in Chicago he could get only two-thirds as much for here and he found it 
very difficult to get a start.  However, he persevered, turned out a high 
class of work and won the confidence of the people, and in a few years he had 
a good trade, having proven to his customers that he was not only a superior 
workman, but was honest in all his dealings, hence winning their good will.  
He now has a modern shop, equipped with up-to-date machinery, and carries an 
excellent and carefully selected stock of shoes, and he enjoys a large trade, 
many of his best customers having been with him for years, which would 
indicate that they have been well treated.  He first put up a small shop on 
rented ground.  About 1888 he purchased a small old house, for which he paid 
only three hundred and twenty-five dollars; it was home and he still remembers 
the pleasure of owning it because of the sense of possession.  Having 
prospered, by close application and good management, his humble home gave way 
to a more pretentious one in due course of time.  As the town grew his 
original property increased in value and he sold it for just twice what it 
cost.  He later bought another house, next door to the one he first owned and 
this he sold at an advance of three hundred and twenty-five dollars.  In 1898 
he bought the corner north of the postoffice, east from the park.  He 
remodeled the old house in this lot, and this is now his home, and a very 
pleasant one.  He also built the substantial concrete store room where his 
shop is now located.  He sold part of the lot on and on it is now another 
business building.  He has been very successful line a business way, all due 
to his own efforts along legitimate lines, thus deserving of a great deal of 
credit for what he has accomplished in the face of obstacles and proving that 
he is a man of sterling qualities and would succeed in any environment.
 
On October 24, 1884, Mr. SCHULZ was united in marriage with Fredericka ZABEL, 
daughter of Adolph and Carolina (BRUHN) ZABEL.  She was born in Prohn, 
Germany, and she and Mr. SCHULZ were schoolmates there.  Her father died in 
Germany, and in 1882 she and her mother and younger sister, Minnie, now the 
wife of William PETERS, emigrated to America.  She had a brother in Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, who was working for Lavelette DOUGLASS in the town of 
Walworth, and the rest of the family joined him.  After coming here Mrs. 
SCHULZ worked in the home of John B. HOLMES, who treated her as a member of 
the family, and there she remained until her marriage.
 
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. SCHULZ, named as follows: Elsa is 
at home with her parents; Richard, who is in the shop with his father, married 
Bessie TIMMING, daughter of Henry TIMMING; Lucy SCHULZ married Charles ALBERTS 
and they live in Walworth, he being a railroader, baggageman and expressman on 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad; they have three children, 
Marjorie, Charles and Charlotte, the last two being twins.  Clarence SCHULZ, 
the youngest of the subject's children, is in school in Walworth.
 
Mr. SCHULZ and family are members of the German Evangelical church at 
Walworth; fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order and he and his daughter 
Lucy are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, to which order and also the 
Masons the latter's husband belongs.  Mr. SCHULZ is also a member of the 
Modern Woodmen and the Mystic Workers.
 
Mr. SCHULZ has refused to accept any public office, although well qualified to 
hold many of them, and he has been frequently importuned to accept 
nominations; he has ever been elected against his will, consequently 
resigned.  He has never had any ambition to be a public man, being fond of 
home and family and preferring to lead a quiet, unobtrusive life, devoting his 
attention to his business.  Personally, he is kind, genial and obliging, 
scrupulously honest and a broad-minded, quiet citizen, who merits the high 
esteem in which he is universally held.
 
Submitted by Carol