The Schmidt Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

August Schmidt, retired farmer of New York Mills, Otter Tail county Minnesota, was born in Germany, December 21, 1858, the son of Henry and Sophia (Broemme) Schmidt, both of whom were natives of Germany. In [872 Henry Schmidt came to America and located in Sibley county, Minnesota, where he lived for one year and then went to Redwood county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he lived for some time, after which he disposed of his land and went to Lamberton, where he died in the year [913, his widow, Sophia, surviving him until 1914. Henry and Sophia Schmidt were the parents of eight children, August, Fred, Dora. Frank,.Minnie. Pauline, Alvine and Emma.

August Schmidt came to America, with his parents, when fourteen years of age. and after his school days he came to New York Mills, near where he bought a farm of four hundred acres, located in Homestead township, a place which he improved extensively and where he lived until the year 1914, when he retired from active life and moved to the town of New York Mills. Mr. Schmidt has a good and convenient home in New York Mill-, where he now lives a quiet life.

During the year [88] Augusl Schmidt was married to Dora Hoche, who was born in Germany, where her parents lived their entire life. The marriage of August and Dora Schmidt were born the following children. Herman. Frank. Louise. Hulda, Atnanda. Walter, Fredonia and YValdemer.

August Schmidt has been prominently connected with the official life of his community, having served as supervisor of Homestead township for twelve years and for a number of years was chairman of the board of supervisors. The part taken by Mr. Schmidt has done much to make the community better and more progressive among the townships of the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

L. H. D. SCHMIDT.

L. H. D. Schmidt is a native of Germany and was born in that country on iVovember: 5. [86r. He is the son of Deidrich and Caroline (Tearman) Schmidt, also natives of Germany. Deidrich Schmidt was a blacksmith by trade and followed that vocation until his death. I.. H. D. Schmidt received his education in the schools of his native land and upon the completion of same engaged in the wagon-making business until his emigration to America in r8Sc>. Upon his arrival in the United States he at once located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he again took up his trade for more than three months, removing thence to Perham, (titer Tail county Minnesota. Imbued with an independent spirit, he opened a wagon-making shop and has continue.! in that line until the present time. In [904 he erected the present simp, which is eighty by eighty feet and two stories in height at the front. His three sons, one other man and himself are constantly employed in the manufacture of wagons. and bob-sleighs, completing about fifty of the former and from two hundred to five hundred of the latter each year.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

1.. H. 1). Schmidt and his wife are both members of the German Lutheran church, and active in church affairs. In politics. Mr. Schmidt is a Republican.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Henry Schmidt is one of ten children born to the union of Deidrich Schmidt am! Caroline Tearman, both natives of Germany. Henry Schmidt was born mi June 27, [866, in Germany, and is indebted to the schools of his native land for the education which lie received. Deidrich Schmidt was a blacksmith and followed that vocation until his death, having lived and died m Germany. Caroline (Tearman) Schmidt is still living.

I henry Schmidt was reared in the land of his nativity ami became a blacksmith, assisting his father in that business until his emigration to America, in [890. Upon his arrival in the United States, Henry Schmidt immediately proceeded to Perham, Otter Tail county, this state, and engaged in his former vocation, opening the blacksmith business which he has continued until the present time. In [906 the present building ' brick was erected..

In 1890 Henry Schmidt was united in marriage to Dora Brockman, and to them have been born eight children, whose names follow: Emma, Arnold. Robert, Richard, Edwin, Walter, Paul and Hilda. Dora (Brockman) Schmidt is a native of Germany. Both Henry Schmidt and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church and very active in its support, lie is a respected citizen of the town of Perham, having devoted energy and thought to the solution of the community problems.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Gustav Schmidt is well known throughout Otter Tail county, Minnesota, as the leading hardware merchant of Underwood, having been in business there for some fourteen years, or since 1902. When he first purchased the stock and building, the stock was invoiced at twenty-two hundred dollars and the business has so prospered that the present stock, exclusive of all farm machinery, engines for farm purposes, etc., will easily figure up to five thousand dollars. Mr. Schmidt employs three people and his business years a general air of prosperity which is agreeable to see. Mr. Schmidt possesses business ability of a high order and his honorable methods of dealing with his customers has won him many friends.

Gustav Schmidt was born in Germany, June 27, 1861, son of Gottlieb and Wilhelmina Schmidt. Both parents were also natives of the same section, where he was a farmer, and passed their entire lives in that region. He died in 1N70. and after his death the mother came to this country and died about 1900. having never remarried. Both were members of the Lutheran church and most excellent people. Mr. Schmidt is one of a family of four children, the eldest of whom, August, died in Germany, a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War. Carl lives in Wisconsin and is a stone and brick mason by trade, and Julius, the youngest of the family, died on his farm in ( tter Tail county, about six miles east of Underwood.

Gustav Schmidt was educated in the public schools of his native land and was brought up to work. He fulfilled the time of his compulsory military service, hut his country was in no action during those years, In

1887 he came to America, joining his brother, who was located in Wisconsin, and there he secured work by the day. He later went to South Dakota and hired out to farm work by the month for a couple of years and then took up farming on his own account on rented land. He later purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in this state, where he lived for four years and sold out and came to Otter Tail county. He purchased a farm of one hundred and nine acres in Tordenskjold township, where he lived for two years and then disposed of his farming interests and became interested in the hardware business.

Mr. Schmidt endorses the platform of the Republican party, although taking no especial interest in such matters, and he holds his religious membership with the Lutheran church. He has served as a member of the town board and has in other way? given evidence of his interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement of any phase of community life. Mr. Schmidt has been thrice married. His first wife was Matilda Geide, who died some six or seven years after marriage, leaving four small children. Of these Emma is a clerk in her father's store; Pauline and Reinholdt are at home, and the youngest died in infancy. Mr. Schmidt married Bertha Washer for his second wife; there being no issue to that union. His third wife was Mrs. Anna Hover, and to them one child was born, but died early in life. Mr. Schmidt is acknowledged to be one of the leading business men of Underwood and stands high in the estimation of both business acquaintances and personal friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.