Nicholas Schommer was an Appleton pioneer. His son, Herman Schommer, lived at 417 W. Sixth St. in the 1930's. Another son, George, was the first resident of the home at 330 W. Prospect Ave.
The following is taken verbatim from Thomas Henry Ryan's History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin, [1911?], Part 11:
NICHOLAS C. SCHOMMER, who is the owner of the largest and only exclusive undertaking establishment in Appleton, Wisconsin, has been connected with that business in this city for many years. He is a native of Chicago, Illinois, born November 16, 1857, a son of Peter and Mary (Bonert) Schommer, the former a deceased wagon maker, and the latter a resident of Chicago. Nicholas C. Schommer attended the parochial schools in Chicago, and began working in a furniture factory when he was fourteen years of age. In 1885 he came to Appleton to engage in the same line of business with his father-in-law, M. Bedessem, with whom he continued for over thirteen years, and in September, 1897, he embarked in business for himself, as a furniture dealer and undertaker. This business was continued until 1907, at which time the furniture department of the business was dropped, and Mr. Schommer since that time has given his whole attention to undertaking. He has the finest equipped establishment in Appleton, and he is assisted by a corps of experienced employees. Mr. Schommer was married in 1884 to Catherine Bedessem, of Appleton, daughter of M. and Barbara (Bain) Bedessem, who came to Appleton in 1883 from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and twelve children have been born to this union, of whom nine now survive. Mr. Schommer and his family are consistent members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and he is connected with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, St. Joseph's Society, the Equitable Fraternal Union, and the Elks. His assistance may always be counted upon when movements beneficial in a public way are contemplated .
