Caspar Schlatman was born on January 28, 1826, in the Province of Hanover, Germany. He is a son of Herman and Mary (Harksmaller) Schlatman.

Herman Schlatman was born in Hanover in 1776, and in 1856 immigrated to the United States, after which he resided with his son, Caspar, until his death, in 1862. His wife died in the fatherland in 1846. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are living: Christiana (wife of Moranil Compass of Scott County, Mo.) and Caspar. The latter grew to manhood on a farm, and in 1853 left his native country and came to America, settling in Perry County, Mo.

In January 1854, he was united in marriage with Anna Schwenne, also a native of the Province of Hanover. She was born in 1826 and came to America at the same time as her husband.

In the fall of 1854 Mr. Schlatman purchased forty acres of land near Highland six miles Southwest of Perryville, and commenced tilling the soil. His wife died in 1865 leaving four children: Henry, Bernard, Clements and William.

In 1856 Mr. Schlatman married Catherine Heckman who was also born in the Province of Hanover in 1838. She came to America in 1866. Mr. Schlatman commenced life without a dollar but by industry and close attention to business he earned little by little which he invested in and until he owned over 400 acres.

In 1884 he purchased 110 acres two and one half miles north of Perryville, on which he located and has since resided. He gave his old farm to his two sons, Henry and Clements, and still owns 130 acres on which are good buildings and other improvements.

He and family are highly respected and are members of the Catholic Church. His political principles accord with those of the Republican party.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.