User:Schluegenkopf

The Schluegenkopf family immigrated from Italy in 1895 fleeing criminal prosecution. The family now owns and operates a series of food related businesses in Oregon.

History

Early History

In 1855, Ignacio Schluegenkopf was born in a small village in western Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. His parents were poor farmers, Fritz Schluegenkopf and Giovanna Demarcchio. It is known that Ignacio married Benetta Cadenzo in 1877. They had their first child in 1880, and named him Gregorio. In the next 15 years, Benetta had 5 more children.

Benetta and her children fled to America in 1895. Little is known on the matter, other than Ignacio was accused by the State of attempting to commit a racial elimination, known now as genocide, and fraud. The details surrounding the alleged crimes are unknown, but it is known that Ignacio and his eldest son Gregorio would have been sentenced to death. To escape death, the family sold everything they owned and Benetta and her children fled to America. There was not enough money for Ignacio to flee with his family, and it is speculated that he was killed by a mob in Austria while journeying away from Italy. Benetta died one week after they arrived at Ellis Island in America. Her death left Gregorio to take care of his four younger siblings. He worked in factories until 1904, when three fingers on his left hand were mangled after being caught in a meat grinder. He was not able to work in a factory after his accident due to his limited physical capabilities. On August 23, 1906, he opened a street-vendor pastry operation to make ends meet, as he and his family were starving. Using his mother's pastry recipe and a neighbor's oven, he baked pastries. He sold them on a street corner in New York, which unbeknownst to him, would be the beginning of a successful series of businesses.

The Family Business

The little street-vendor pastry operation was a huge success. It was in such high demand that Gregorio decided to open a small bakery. The bakery was also a success. In search of religious freedom*, Gregorio and his three younger brothers all decided that they were to move west. They decided moving to Portland, Oregon, was the best choice. They raised enough money to move themselves and their families west in 1935, and arrived in Portland on Gregorio’s 55th birthday, February 11, 1935. They opened their bakery on February 16, just five days later. Gregorio ran the bakery until his death on April 10, 1949. He was 79 years old. After his death, his second son Vernon took over the bakery. Vernon was an elite businessman, and opened two Schluegenkopf Deli’s before he retired and let his son Paulo take over the company on January 18, 1960. He was a mediocre business man, whose only memorable accomplishment was changing the name of the businesses. Paulo stepped down in 1972. There was a short-lived ownership by Bertram Pane, Vernon’s son-in-law, but it ended when Bertram was caught stealing money from the bakeries. After Bertram was quietly released, Vernon’s son William took over in late 1972. When he stepped down in 1984, Vernon’s youngest son, Frank took over. Frank opened two coffee shops to expand the bakeries. They were huge successes. Frank ran the businesses until 2002, when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack. His son Thomas took over, and has since opened a hugely popular diner. The bakery, diner, coffee shops, and deli's are quite successful.

* This believed to be the reason by a series of entries in Donato's diary.

Present Day

All of the Schluegenkopf businesses have long been renamed the “Schmidt Bakeries”, giving them a title that is far easier to spell. Paulo renamed the businesses in 1964. After Thomas took over in 2002, he opened a diner. The original “Schluegenkopf Bakery”, now the "Schmidt Bakery", is still in operation. It is adjacent to “Frank’s Coffee” in Portland, Oregon. All businesses that were opened remained in their original location and are still in operation.

The Religion

One specific entry in Donato's diary states "we are going too flea the many who presecut us heer, simpley for le nostro religgiona," possibly meaning la nostra religione, or "Our Religion" in Italian. A handwritten manuscript titled "Ever Eternal Dreams", found inside of the cut pages of Gregorio's bible, describes a sort of religion. This religion was said to be a religion taught to Gregorio and his siblings by their father, Ignacio. The religion seems to have been created either by Ignacio or his father, Fritz, and is still practiced by a majority of their descendants. The religion goes by many names, but is mainly called "Church of Self Destiny", due to its teachings.

Family Tree

& (Name) denotes spouse

(Name) denotes company president

Ignacio&(Benetta)

Ignacio’s Children:

Donato Mateo Gregorio&(Francesca) Lorenzo Lillian

Gregorio’s Children:

Gregory Vernon&(Christine) Grady Phillip Francesca Faye

Vernon’s Children:

Paulo Maria&(Bertram) Cecelia Elizabeth William Frank&(Suzanne)

Frank’s Children:

Thomas Rudy Benjamin Sandy Julia

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References:

Interview with Thomas "Schmidt" Schluegenkopf. October 7th, 2004.

The Schmidt Businesses HQ; Gresham, Oregon.

A Lynching and A Pastry Stand: The History of the Schluegenkopfs, Rudy Schluegenkopf. Unpublished.

A Letter of Resignation from Bertram Pane.

Family Documents, Including the Diary of Donato Schluegenkopf, a brother of Gregorio; A letter from Gregorio to his children; and accounting documents.

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