Schmidt, Charles 1883-1910

SCHMIDT, MERTENS, CHAMBERLAIN, BECKER, CHETTINGER, STATE, REIMER, LINNENBURGER, BAHR, BECK, MEYERS, CHAPEL, MILLER, ATKINSON, BURROUGHS, PETTLON, MATTHEWS, OCONNORS, PLAGMAN, ENDERES, LEIGHTY

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 1/10/2016 at 14:50:33

[from the Thurs., 1 Sept. 1910 issue of the Register and Argus (Elkader, IA), Elkport and Vicinity, page 6, columns 2-3]

Obituary.

CHAS. SCHMIDT.

Chas. Gottfried Schmidt was born April 9th, 1883, and died from the results of a frightful accident on the 25th day of August, 1910, at the age of 27 years, 4 months and 15 days. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schmidt, of Volga township, near Elkport. He was born in Delaware county, and soon after was baptized in Strawberry Point. At the proper age he was confirmed at Elkport and thereafter assisted his father on the farm. On May 16th, 1905, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Mertens, but was legally divorced.

On Dec. 10, 1909, he was married to Miss Katie Chamberlain, of Masonville, Iowa. This heart-broken widow now mourns his untimely death, together with his parents and three brothers, William, of Manchester; Frank, and Henry, at home. Also three sisters, Mrs. Chas. Becker, of Elk township, Mrs. Roy Chettinger, of Jefferson township, and Mrs. Ida State, living near Manchester, Iowa.

He purchased a threshing outfit, and it was while in the performance of this duty on the farm of Fred Reimer, Sr., near Littleport, that the accident happened, which resulted in his death the following day at 5:30 p. m. It seems they were eager to finish this job in order to move the machine to the neighboring farm. He climbed a stack and pulled therefrom the pointed pole and let this slide down the side of the stack. Presently, duty called him to the machine, and turning partly around, slid down the stack, not noticing that the sharpened pole stood upright. In less time than it takes to read this, the pole had penetrated his abdomen about sixteen inches. Who can describe the horror of those who were standing near. Medical aid was called for, but he could not survive the shock. His last words were a request for the Holy Sacrament, but death came in a few moments.

In January, 1910, he joined the Militia, enlisting in Co. D., of the 53rd Regiment, I. N. G., stationed at Manchester, Ia. On Sunday, Aug. 28th, 1910, at 1 o’clock, p. m., Rev. Linnenburger, of Elkport, conducted the last sad rites, prayerfully and sympathetically at the house, where the service was conducted in the English language and the long procession wended its way to the Lutheran church where the services were conducted in German. Here the body was viewed for the last time by the friends and relatives, ere the coffin was closed forever. On the front seat were the seven members of the Militia who came to fire over the grave and sound the bugle call at the grave of their comrade. They headed the procession throughout, so were first to reach the gates of the Lutheran cemetery on the hill beside the church, where his body was placed to lie until the Judgement Day. The singers, consisting of the Misses Marie, Lena, Anna and Elsie Bahr and Mrs. C. Dietrich Beck, sang appropriate selections and all turned homeward, to again take up the burdens of life and praying that a death, so accidental, may not come to them. The comrades, who were present from Manchester were Albert C. Meyers, Cook; Claude R. Chapel, Corporal; Roy B. Miller, Corporal; Clarence H. Atkinson, Musician; Geo. E. Burroughs, Private; Allen Pettlon, Private, and William W. Matthews, 1st Sergeant.

The pall-bearers were Michael O’Connors, Wm. Plagman, John Enderes, Henry Becker, Chas. Leighty and Paul Reimer.

CARD OF THANKS.

To Mr. and Mrs. Reimer and all who so faithfully in any way tried to alleviate the suffering of our loved one at the time of the accident; to all those who in any way assisted us by word, act or deed at the home; to Co. D. and especially to its members who were present at the burial; to the singers who rendered the songs; to the pastor who so sympathetically conducted the services, and to the pall-bearers and all friends and neighbors who followed the coffin from the home to the cemetery, we offer our heartfelt thanks.

MRS. CHAS. SCHMIDT, (widow),
AND MR. AND MRS. HENRY SCHMIDT AND FAMILY.