Tracing the genealogy of this family back brings the searcher to the Duchy of Baden-Baden, now empire of Germany. There for generation after generation the family of Schifferdecker were prosperous and influential. They were intimately associated with public affairs and furnished soldiers that made reputations for bravery on the field of battle. The first of the family to arrive in the United States was Henry Schifferdecker, born in Baden-Baden in 1798. He was a butcher and dealer in meats, etc. This has been the prevailing family occupation and business down to the present generation. He married and had a family of eight children, all born in Baden-Baden. He remained in business in Germany until his family were well grown and his sons liable to conscription for military duty in the Germany army. In 1849, with his wife and entire family, he took passage for the United States, where they arrived eight weeks later. The family settled in Albany where Henry began business anew, following the same line as in Germany. He continued the butcher business, assisted by his son, until his death in 1858. He was thrifty, industrious and highly respected. His widow survived him until October 17, 1890, dying on her birthday, which was October 17, just eighty-four years earlier in the century, 1806. Children:
- Carl, deceased;
- Frederick A., see forward;
- Morris;
- Henry, deceased;
- Louisa, deceased;
- Caroline;
- Lizzie, deceased;
- Rosa.
(II) Captain Frederick A., second son of Henry Schifferdecker, was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, February 2,, 1836, died in Albany, New York, November 24, 1908. He came to Albany with his father in 1849, and assisted him in the meat business until he arrived at the age of twenty-one, when he began business for himself. He was a successful business man and became prominent in city politics. In 1862 he responded to President Lincoln's call for men to crush out the rebellion then existing in the southern states. He enlisted as a private in the Forty-sixth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and came home after three years valiant service as captain. He won his commission for bravery on the field of battle and demonstrated the quality of his courage on more than one hard-fought battlefield. A proof of his valor now decorates the Hall of Flags in the State Capitol at Albany. It is a battle-flag captured from the enemy in battle and is a special credit to his company. He represented his ward in Albany as supervisor several terms, and in 1874 was elected a member of the state assembly of New York. He was a stalwart Republican and always active in politics. He was a member of Vernon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and a highly respected citizen. He was a Lutheran in religious faith. He married, Anna Rapp, of Hanover, Germany. Children:
- Charles F., see forward.
- Frederick A., born July 19, 1860; was well educated in the public schools of Albany; became an assistant in his father's meat market; was supervisor of his ward several terms; president of the first ward Republican committee for sixteen years, and was slated for the Republican party nomination for treasurer of Albany county, an intention frustrated by his death; he was a rising and most promising young man, whose death was keenly regretted; married Louise Heidrich, who survives him, living in Albany with children: Edna, Dorothy, Anna, Charles F. and George N.
- Anna, married John Heidrich, of Albany; children: John, Frederick, Irene, Anna and Arthur.
- Loisetta, married Henry H. Wadbil, a gauger in the United States internal revenue service, stationed at Plattsburg, New York; children: Jeannette, Elizabeth, Doris, William, Mildred and Marvin.
(III) Charles F., eldest son of Frederick A. and Anna (Rapp) Schifferdecker, was born in Albany, New York, April 4, 1858. He was educated in the public schools, worked with his father in the meat business until 1877, when he and his brothers established the ice business under firm name of Schifferdecker Brothers. He has developed this to large proportions and is one of the largest dealers in Albany. He has a cold storage plant in Albany with a capacity of twenty thousand tons. He is a prominent and active member of the Republican party. In 1897 he was elected sheriff of Albany county, and gave a practical business administration of the affairs of that important office. He was a member of the Republican committee of the first ward for six years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery. His position in the city of Albany is an enviable one and has been gained by earnest, conscientious effort, doing well whatever came in his line of duty. His private affairs were no more carefully conducted than have been the public trusts committed to him. He married, May 16, 1883, in Albany, Elizabeth Bildhauser, born in Albany, October 17, 1859, daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Damm) Bildhauser, who came to the United States from Laubauch, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and were married in Albany. Frederick Bildhauser died in Albany, June 24, 1909, at the age of seventy-four, after a life of fifty years in West Albany. His widow Catherine survives him, residing at 174 Broad street, Albany. Charles F. and Elizabeth Schifferdecker have one child,
- Frederick G., born September 21, 1884, educated in the common and high schools of Albany; associated in business with his father.