Edward Schildhauer
Encyclopedia
Edward Schildhauer was a chief electrical
and mechanical engineer
on the Panama Canal
project.
, the son of German
immigrants Joachim and Dorothea (Kuehl) Schildhauer. Edward's father Joachim left Germany
in 1852 and visited his family in Brazil
. Some people in Brazil told Joachim that Wisconsin
was a great place to move to, and Joachim ended up settling in New Holstein.
Edward graduated from New Holstein High School
and he then attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He graduated from college in 1897 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in electrical engineering. Edward later obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1902 Edward married Ruth Burton Crall.
After college Edward studied at the Commonwealth Edison Co. in Chicago from 1898 to 1906. He worked his way up from a draftsman
, then to an assistant electrical engineer, and then to an assistant mechanical engineer. Along the way Edward was credited with several patents.
enterprise as a mechanical and electrical engineer and spent nearly a year in Washington D.C. designing plans for the canal. He had to design the canal
system from scratch because no other systems of this type had been built at that time. Edward and his wife arrived on the Isthmus of Panama
in September 1907 and he was employed on the project until 1914.
He is credited with the complete design of the opening and closing machinery system for the gates on the canal.http://www.lostparadise.com/history/schildhauer.html Schildhauer's system contains 20 foot diameter wheels that are connected by steel arms to 27 hp electric motors that moved the gates on the reduction of gears. He also patented the design for the lock machinery and electrical locomotive system for towing vessels through the locks. Today his equipment can still be seen working beneath the locks, although the lock system is soon to be replaced.
Edward was a munitions firm executive. Edward then took part in the design of aircraft
from 1919-1924. From 1924 until his retirement in 1931, Edward was the vice president of the Allied Chemical and Dye Corp.
In 1946 Schildhauer became president of the Los Angeles County Republican Assembly and in 1947 he became the vice president of the California Republican Assembly
. He served as a delegate
to the 16th district of California
for the 1948 national convention. Edward lived in Los Angeles
for 17 years.
Edward Schildhauer died at the age of 80 in Los Angeles, California
on May 24, 1953. Edward is buried at the New Holstein City Cemetery in New Holstein, Wisconsin
.
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and mechanical engineer
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
on the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
project.
Early life
Edward was born in New Holstein, WisconsinNew Holstein, Wisconsin
New Holstein is a city in Calumet County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,301 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of New Holstein.-History:...
, the son of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immigrants Joachim and Dorothea (Kuehl) Schildhauer. Edward's father Joachim left Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1852 and visited his family in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Some people in Brazil told Joachim that Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
was a great place to move to, and Joachim ended up settling in New Holstein.
Edward graduated from New Holstein High School
New Holstein High School
New Holstein High School is a public high school located in North Eastern Wisconsin 20 miles north of Plymouth, Wisconsin. Enrollment of 9th through 12th grade with approximately 423 students.- Sports :New Holstein's mascot is the Husky...
and he then attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He graduated from college in 1897 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in electrical engineering. Edward later obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1902 Edward married Ruth Burton Crall.
After college Edward studied at the Commonwealth Edison Co. in Chicago from 1898 to 1906. He worked his way up from a draftsman
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
, then to an assistant electrical engineer, and then to an assistant mechanical engineer. Along the way Edward was credited with several patents.
Panama Canal Construction
In 1906 he was appointed to the Panama CanalPanama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
enterprise as a mechanical and electrical engineer and spent nearly a year in Washington D.C. designing plans for the canal. He had to design the canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
system from scratch because no other systems of this type had been built at that time. Edward and his wife arrived on the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
in September 1907 and he was employed on the project until 1914.
He is credited with the complete design of the opening and closing machinery system for the gates on the canal.http://www.lostparadise.com/history/schildhauer.html Schildhauer's system contains 20 foot diameter wheels that are connected by steel arms to 27 hp electric motors that moved the gates on the reduction of gears. He also patented the design for the lock machinery and electrical locomotive system for towing vessels through the locks. Today his equipment can still be seen working beneath the locks, although the lock system is soon to be replaced.
Later life
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Edward was a munitions firm executive. Edward then took part in the design of aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
from 1919-1924. From 1924 until his retirement in 1931, Edward was the vice president of the Allied Chemical and Dye Corp.
In 1946 Schildhauer became president of the Los Angeles County Republican Assembly and in 1947 he became the vice president of the California Republican Assembly
California Republican Assembly
The California Republican Assembly is a conservative California Republican activist group. It is the oldest and largest grassroots volunteer organization chartered by the California Republican Party....
. He served as a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the 16th district of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for the 1948 national convention. Edward lived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for 17 years.
Edward Schildhauer died at the age of 80 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on May 24, 1953. Edward is buried at the New Holstein City Cemetery in New Holstein, Wisconsin
New Holstein, Wisconsin
New Holstein is a city in Calumet County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,301 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of New Holstein.-History:...
.