Ambrose Schmidt (1843-1917)

SCHMIDT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 14:50:54

Ambrose Schmidt
(May 24, 1843 – December 6, 1917)

Among the successful farmers of Calhoun County who through their own unaided efforts have met with success and have acquired a fine property is numbered Ambrose Schmidt, of Garfield Township. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Austria, May 24, 1843, and is a son of Joseph and Christina (Holler) Schmidt, who were born in the same locality and there spent their entire lives, the mother dying when about forty-six years of age, and the father when about seventy-two. He followed farming as a life work. Of their ten children seven are still living. Ambrose Schmidt was reared and educated in his native land and remained there until thirty years of age. On coming to this country at that time he settled in Polk County, Iowa, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and engaged in its operation until his removal to Calhoun County in 1892. Here he purchased an improved farm of two hundred and forty acres in Garfield Township, and has since bought other land until he now owns five hundred and seventy acres in that township. He raises from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty acres of corn and the same amount of small grain, the remainder of his property being meadow and pasture land. He gives considerable attention to the raising of stock and keeps from one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred head of cattle, his specialty being short horns.
On the 6th of September, 1875. Mr. Schmidt was united in marriage with Miss Anna Bader, who was born in Wisconsin, January 11, 1859, and is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Berkey) Bader, both natives of Switzerland. By this union have been born nine children, namely: Thomas, John, William, Ambrose, Lewis, Edward, Minnie, Fred and Frank. The family are communicants of the German Catholic church, and the three oldest sons are connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Thomas and John are also members of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Mutual Benefit Association, and Thomas belongs to the Rebekah lodge of odd Fellows. Politically the father and sons are identified with the Democratic party. On first coming to the new world Mr. Schmidt worked at making railroad ties at a dollar and a half per day and being economical he managed to save considerable money during the two years he was thus employed, which enabled him to secure a start in life. He has always made the most of his opportunities, and by hard work and indomitable perseverance he has steadily prospered and is extensive and successful prospered and is today one of the most successful farmers of this community. With the assistance of his sons he operates all his land, and the well-tilled fields are made to yield a golden tribute in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.556]