WILLIAM G. SCHAMBERGER. The successful career of William G. Scbainberger, cue of the prominent financiers and business men of Sumner county, Tennessee, affords added proof that opportunity exists in the older as well as in the newer sections of our country and that opportunity is as much a matter of character as of favorable conditions in the outside world. The direct descendant of German forebears, he has exhibited to a strong degree those traits of thrift, industry and energetic endeavor universally accredited to the German people, and he knows how to make money make more money, which is the secret of wealth.

William G. Schamberger was born in Vanderburgh county, Indiana, December 6, 1859, a son of John G. and Helena B. Schamberger, both natives of Germany and now deceased. The father came to America when a young man and was married to Helena B. Schwab, then Mrs. Schroeder, a widow, near Evansville, Indiana. He was a carpenter by trade and did considerable carpentering at Princeton, Indiana, finally moving to Spencer county, that state, and from there to Mount Vernon, Indiana, where he engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years. Then in 1873 he changed his location to Gallatin, Tennessee, where he purchased a small farm and continued to operate it until his death, at which time he was also in the coal business at Gallatin. Of the three children of these parents, two are now living: William G. of this review, and Dora, now Mrs. W. Winn, of Sumner county, Tennessee. Both parents were brought up in the Lutheran faith but became identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, South, after their removal to Tennessee. The father was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in political views, was a Democrat, serving at one time as alderman of Mount Vernon, Indiana.

William G. spent his earlier youth in Indiana and began his educational training in the city schools of Mount Vernon, that state, completing it in the country schools of Sumner county, Tennessee. He began business life as the proprietor of a store in Gallatin and continued thus identified nearly fourteen years, being also engaged in the milling business a little more than eight years and being quite successful in both lines of business activity. In 1905 he organized the Sumner County Bank and Trust Company, of which he became president and has since officiated in that station. This institution is capitalized at $25,000, has average deposits of $100.000, and has taken a place among the prosperous financial institutions of the county. The same year, 1905, Mr. Schamberger also entered the real estate and loan business and in this line also he has been very successful, operating mostly on a commission basis. His personal holdings include a fine farm of 550 acres in Sumner county, the entire east side of the public square (with the exception of one store building) of Gallatin, besides considerable other valuable city realty. He started with but little money, but he had business acumen of a high order and was endowed with that faculty of indomitable will and energy which conquers all things. From the foregoing lines it will be seen that he is not of the standstill class of men, but is a man of push and energy who not only advances his own material interests but thereby promotes the prosperity and advancement of his town and county as well, which, in turn, adds to the commercial prestige of the whole commonwealth of Tennessee.

On September 5, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Schamberger and Miss Mary W. Harrison. She is a daughter of Dr. J. W. Harrison, a native of Sumner county, Tennessee, and a well-known country physician here for many years, whose people were among the earliest settlers in Sumner county. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schamberger are: Freddie M., who married Emmett McCullock, now secretary of a large saddlery company at Nashville, Tennessee; Harrold L., with Anderson & Company at Gallatin, Tennessee; and Helena, now a student in school.

Mr. Schamberger is an adherent of the Democratic party in political views. Deeply interested in community affairs, he has given hearty co-operation to many movements for the general good, and has served as mayor of Gallatin two years and as an alderman twenty years. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr. Schamberger is affiliated fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, of which latter order he is a past chancellor commander. He always delights in doing for the good of Gallatin what to some seems impossible, as he has been tested by his raising money for schools, seminaries, etc.

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