Patrolman John Schroeder | Cincinnati Police Department
Age: 42
Served: 15 years
June 1, 1886 to August 17, 1901
OFFICER
John was born March 8, 1858, the fifth of six children born to Friedrich Heinrich and Margarethe Friedricke (Finke) Schroeder; both of whom immigrated to the United States from near Hanover, Germany in 1846. During 1868, when John was ten years old, his father joined the Cincinnati Police Department as a Patrolman. He continued in that capacity until 1874; at which time he would have been 53.
John married Augusta Stitzel in 1882. Over the next ten years, they had five children, four boys and one girl, and lived in several homes in Mt. Auburn, on Mansfield, Ringgold, Beckett, and Milton Streets. Harry, Anna, Leonard, and Charles were born in 1883, 1885, 1887, and 1889, respectively. George was born in 1892. Sadly, their only daughter, Anna, died November 20, 1897 of acute endocarditis.
Significant corruption and partisan hiring, promotions, demotions, and dismissals existed within the Department in the mid-19th century. One response to these circumstances was to eliminate the Cincinnati Police Department altogether and build a new, non-partisan department. So, on March 31, 1886, the entire Department was fired and on April 1, 1886, a Police Commission began hiring new officers.
Schroeder
INCIDENT
On August 17, 1901, about 8 a.m., 8th District Sergeant Brinkman dispatched Patrolman Schroeder to a report of a downed Edison Company electrical wire at Charlton and Zeltner in Corryville. It seems that several kite tails had, over time, been caught up in the wires and one wire burned through and fell to the ground.
Upon arrival, Patrolman Schroeder decided to move the wire to a safer location using his wooden nightstick. While carrying the wire toward the attached utility pole, the wire slipped down on his nightstick and contacted his hand. He was unable to let go as he was electrocuted.
An onlooker knocked the nightstick from the policeman’s grasp and others carried him to the home of Fred Dickman at the corner of Jefferson and Charlton. The Police Surgeon Carson and Dr. Miller responded.
DEATH
The doctors worked hard to save his life, but Patrolman Schroeder died about 9:30 a.m.
Upon hearing of the death, Colonel Philip Deitsch relieved Patrolman Frederick Schroeder of his duty in order to assist his brother’s family.
Patrolman Schroeder was survived by his wife of 19 years, Augusta (Stitzel) Schroeder (42); sons, Harry Frederick Schroeder (18), Leonard Frederick Schroeder (14), Charles Schroeder (11), and George Lewis Schroder (9); both parents; and siblings, Patrolman Frederick A. (Barbara) Schroeder, Henry J. (Elizabeth) Schroeder, Anna Friederiche (Valentine) Leist, Sophia (John) Butler, and August (Lucy) Schroeder. His remains were escorted by a company of officers on August 19, 1901, to his burial place in Walnut Hills Cemetery.
EPILOGUE
Soon after the death of Patrolman Schroeder, his widow and children were granted pensions: Augusta $20 per month (No expiration date), Leonard $6 per month until November 1903, Charles $6 until October 1906, and George $6 until Sept 8, 1908.
Almost 42 years after her husband’s death, Augusta died of a heart attack on July 3, 1943 in the exact spot that Patrolman Schroeder was electrocuted. She was buried with him in Walnut Hills.
Two years following his father’s death by an electric line, Harry Frederick Schroeder joined the Cincinnati and Suburban Bell Telephone Co as a lineman. By 1928 he was a supervisor and retired after 45 years at the end of October 1948. He died on March 8, 1955 at his home.
Leonard Schroeder married Rhea Mincovsky in 1920. They had no children. He worked as a cashier in a bank and later was a plumbing contractor. He died while at work on December 19, 1955.
Charles Schroeder married Carrie Bredemeier in 1914. They had one son, Jack. Charles was a roofing contractor and died June 2, 1962.
George Schroeder married Anna McLaughlin in 1918. They had no children. He also was a plumber. He died in Campbell County on October 19, 1978.
If you know of any information, archives, artifacts, or images regarding this officer or incident, please contact the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum at Memorial@Police-Museum.org.
© This narrative was further researched in 2016 and in 2020 and revised on April 14, 2020 by Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Kramer (Retired), Greater Cincinnati Police Museum Historian with the assistance of an anonymous researcher. All rights are reserved to them and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum.