For nearly two hundred years in North America and prior centuries in Europe, selective estates and homesteads have held a unique place in the tale of the Scherschel family. Many of them represent significant links between generations of Scherschels. Some structures and sites are modest yet filled with stories of generational connection and history. Other structures may be grand and serve a foundational role in establishing branches of the Scherschel dynasty. Regardless of their location, style or size, each of the following locales play an integral role in defining the Scherschel family.
Scherschel Legacy continually endeavors to identify newly discovered locations of significance to Scherschel heritage. With a diverse catalog of North American locations already pictorially preserved, Legacy also turns its focus to finding similar locations in central Europe that expand our past estate and architectural photo portfolio. From quintessential residences that once housed Scherschel ancestors to agricultural estates currently held by Scherschel descendants, we seek to enhance our portfolio of sites that embody Scherschel history.
Built about 1872 by architect Thomas N. Stevens as his personal residence, the house is an outstanding example of Italianate Style architecture. Around 1905, Joseph Rudolph Scherschel and his wife Ottilia Kathryn Esch-Scherschel purchased the estate to establish their branch of the Scherschel family in Bedford, Indiana. Atlas of The State of Indiana 1876 described it as one of the finest residences in the state. Under Joseph and Ottilia’s ownership, they added the front porch around 1910. This estate eventually came under ownership of one of Joseph and Ottilia’s great-grandsons, Mark Eric Scherschel. In the 1980s, Mark and his wife Susan restored the residence. Then in 2022, Mark and Susan sold the residence and placed it under protection of a preservation easement held by Indiana Landmarks. The residence marks one of the central establishment locations of one of the ten major branches of North American Scherschel descendants.
As of one of the three homesteads built by Joseph Rudolph Scherschel for his three sons in Coxton, Indiana, this was the lifetime residence of Frederick Paul Scherschel and his wife Clara Maria Diederich-Scherschel. Fred and Clara had nine children which they raised in this house. Those nine children would go on to have many more creating numerous branches of Scherschels that relocated and expanded the Scherschel name throughout the United States and Canada. After Clara’s passing in 1953, the home was sold to another family. Sadly, in the years that followed, the home burned down leaving only the foundation that remains to this day.
The second of the three homesteads established by Joseph Rudolph Scherschel for his sons was the home of Rudolph Joseph Scherschel and his wife Ida Belle Mize-Scherschel. Rudolph and Ida had six children. Upon Rudolph and Ida’s passings, the became the residence of their son Frank Earnest Scherschel. To this day, the estate continues in the care and ownership of the next two generations of Scherschels descended from Frank.
In tandem with the three homes built for his sons, the three sons of Joseph Rudolph Scherschel also built barns to continue the agrarian and equestrian tradition of the Scherschel family. The barn of Frederick Paul Scherschel stood on his estate until about 2010. Today, remnants of the silo attached to it still stand.
In Coxton, Indiana stands the barn of Rudolph Joseph Scherschel and his family. Of the three barns built for Joseph Rudolph’s sons, this is the only one that still stands. It lies in close proximity to where the other two barns of Rudolph’s two brothers stood.
An aerial view of the farm of Karl William Scherschel completes the trifecta of estates and barns established by Joseph Rudolph Scherschel for his three sons. Karl William Scherschel was the youngest son of Joseph Rudolph and established his farm at a later date from his two older brothers, Fred and Rudolph. Karl and his wife Renilda Mary Diederich-Scherschel raised their eleven children on this estate. The farm eventually passed down to his grandson who maintains the property to this day.
An aerial view of the farm and estate of Rudolph Joseph Scherschel and Ida Belle Mize-Scherschel. The farm is located in Coxton, Indiana just west of city of Bedford. This image was taken sometime in the 1980s.
Roy Charles Scherschel, a third-generation North American Scherschel descendant and one of the many grandsons of Joseph Rudolph Scherschel, established his farm in Bedford, Indiana with his wife Gladys Dorothy “Peggy” Robbins-Scherschel. Today, this farm remains in the care and ownership of his great-grandson. It also carries on the tradition of seven generations of Scherschels residing in the Bedford, Indiana area and eight generations since the immigration to America from Saarland, Germany.
Bought by John Peter Scherschel for his family around the 1950s, this farm remains in the care and ownership of his five sons and holds many memories and activities for multiple generations of Scherschels from around the USA. John Peter Scherschel was the grandson of Joseph Rudolph Scherschel who established a branch of the Scherschel family in Southern Indiana. It has been in the past and is also a current host site for the Scherschel family reunion bringing together many descendants from around North America.
Bought by John Peter Scherschel for his family around the 1950s, this farm remains in the care and ownership of his five sons and holds many memories and activities for multiple generations of Scherschels from around the USA. John Peter Scherschel was the grandson of Joseph Rudolph Scherschel who established a branch of the Scherschel family in Southern Indiana. It has been in the past and is also a current host site for the Scherschel family reunion bringing together many descendants from around North America.
One of the more unique structures in the Scherschel family architectural portfolio is the “Weaning House” built by Alfred Eugene Scherschel and his wife Louella Wray Smith-Scherschel. Alfred Eugene was another grandson of Joseph Rudolph Scherschel residing in Bedford, Indiana. Alfred provided this house as a means for many young newlywed Scherschel couples to establish their new lives and get their bearings before growing into another place to rear their own families.
An aerial view from the 1980s shows the White River and Salt Creek. This junction was a convergence point of the three farms of brothers Frederick, Rudolph and Karl Scherschel. The river and creek hold many stories from the third-generation of North American Scherschel descendants down to Scherschel descendants of today. The location represents generations of relationships that still tie Scherschel descendants together today.
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