Karl Schmidt 1833-1916

SCHMIDT, STRACKBEIN, VANHORN, BARINSKY, BAADE, FROVINE, MENTE, LANGE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/24/2016 at 17:11:55

17 March 1916 - The Lowden News

Karl Schmidt was born November 19th, 1833, in Gestringen, Kreis Luebek, Germany, and died Monday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the advanced age of 82 years, 3 months and 24 days. He came to the United States when 18 years of age and landed at New Orleans; from there he went to Red Bud, Ill., where his only brother lived. In 1857 he and his brother came to Davenport and from there Karl came and settled here, at what is now Lowden, while his brother remained at Davenport.

Mr. Schmidt was stacking grain just south of town when the first train pulled in over the new railroad, this was in 1857.

Later he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy VanHorn and to this union three daughters were born, Mrs. George Strackbein of Anthon, Iowa, Mrs. Wm. Barinsky of Akron, Iowa, and Mrs. L. Baade of Santa Ana, Calif. After five years of married life Mrs. Schmidt died leaving the widower with three small children. His second marriage was with Miss Matilda Frovine and to this union seven children were born, three died in infancy, leaving two sons and two daughters of this family living Chas E. and Wm. C. Schmidt, Mrs. Henry Mente and Mrs. Wm. Lange. He was again left a widower in 1890.

In 1909 Mr. Schmidt and his brother, H. G., of Davenport got trace of their only sister, she having preceded them to this country and was lost to them for 63 years; she was located at Deputy, Ind. A happy reunion took place at the finding of this long-lost sister brought about thru advertisements in some of the leading newspapers in this country.

The deceased was one of the founders of the German Evangelical church at this place and has ever since been an active worker. For a number of years he served as a trustee of the church. His kindly ways and his honesty in dealing with his fellowmen made him respected and liked by all who knew him.

He leaves to mourn his five daughters, two sons, 34 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, two half brothers in Germany, and a sister-in-law, Mrs. H. G. Schmidt, of Davenport. Funeral services were held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the home of his son, Wm. C., where he had made his home for the past seventeen years, and then at the Evangelical church. Rev. J. Reichardt conducted the services. Interment was made in the family lot in the Van Horn cemetery.

Those who assisted as pall bearers were Fred Kampmann, Chris Fehling, F. H. Dircks, L. Strackbein, John Kreinbring and Henry Niermeier. The flower bearers were Mrs. Henry Kreinbring and Mrs. Harry Thede.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mrs. H. G. Schmidt, Mrs. Hy. Thede, Mrs. Joe Mardis, Mrs. Wm. Schmidt and children, Mrs. Julius Ditmer, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Shoemaker and H. E. Schmidt of Davenport; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Strackbein of Anthon, Iowa., Mrs. Barinsky of Akron, Iowa., Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Lange and children of Toronto, Mr. and Mrs. Lange Jr. of Big Rock, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Crow of Dixon.