FOUNDER OF DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY CALLED BY DEATH

SCHMITT, FOLTZER, JUNGK

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 3/3/2015 at 15:57:59

Telegraph Herald September 26, 1926
CHRIS SCHMITT IS CLAIMED BY DEATH
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FOUNDER OF DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY CALLED BY DEATH
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CAME TO AMERICA FROM GERMANY
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WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS VENTURES; FUNERAL NEXT TUESDAY
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The career of one of Dubuque's most successful business men was brought to a close of Chris Schmitt, founder of the Dubuque Packing company. Mr. Schmitt died at 5:45 o'clock at Mercy Hospital. His death was unexpected. He had suffered fainting spells at his home and during the middle of the week went to the hospital for treatment, but had not been confined to his bed here. The end came peacefully Saturday morning and was due to a stroke.

The story of Mr. Schmitt's career is one of interest and success in business ventures over a period of many years, beginning in a very small way with the establishment of a retail meat business and continuing step by step to the close, when he was head of a flourishing meat packing concern, He was born in Nassau, Germany, March 17, 1854, and came to America with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Chris Schmitt when he was 15 years old. They located at Springbrook and he learned the meat business at Bellevue, Iowa. Not long after he came to Dubuque and entered business when he was 22 years old, opening a retail meat market on Iowa Street. The location of this market was changed several times but always remaining between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. He remained in that business for 23 years, when he disposed of it and started the Dubuque Packing company.

Small Beginnings

The company was started in a small way, with a capitalization of $30,000. which has increased to $250,000. Their average killing was 50 head a week and this number has now increased to 1,000. In the early days of the business he was associated with Adam Schmitt, who died eight years ago. The late James Peach had an interest in the firm but never took an active part always remaining a silent member and after his death the interest passed to his sons. Mr. Schmitt was active in his business until a few days before his death. He had full management of the concern until the first of the year, since when he has had an assistant and personally supervised every detail of work. A large new building was added to the plant in 1912 and layout of buildings now covers a square block. The business is devoted to the buying and killing of hogs, a sausage department and packing and retailing departments.

They serve as distributors of meats for sections of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota and provide employment for 75 people. He had had associated with him in business his daughters, Tillie, in charge of the credit department, and Lavina, who acts as cashier. At the time of his death he acted as manager and secretary and treasurer of the company.

Mr. Schmitt was a man of keen business judgment, as his successful career will show, but was ever modest about his work. Because of his rare insight into business affairs, he was on several occasions asked to enter into other businesses, but declined, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his own concerns. Mr. Schmitt was a man of few words but ever dependable and gave freely of advice and guidance to others when it was sought.

FUNERAL TUESDAY

He was married to Mary C. Foltzer, of Dubuque, 47 years ago their marriage taking place on Nov. 26, 1878. Five children were born to this union, one of whom, Mrs. Josephine Jungk, died about seven years ago. He is survived by his widow, four daughters, the Misses Tillie, Lavina, and Louise Schmitt of Dubuque, and Miss Julie Schmitt who left Dubuque on Sept. 3 to join the Catechist order of sisters at Huntington, Ind. A sister, Anna Noll, preceded Mr. Schmitt in Des Moines last spring.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church, the Marquette Court, Catholic order of Foresters, Holy ? Society and the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective society, serving at one time as president of the named order. He was devoted to his home and church and respected by a large circle of acquaintances.

The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from the home at 1534 Iowa street, to St. Mary's Catholic church. Interment will be made at Mount Calvary cemetery.