Henry Emil Schmidt 1886-1951

SCHMIDT, MOHR, SCHALWITZ, MCCALLUM, MINI, MCCONOLOGUE, APPLETON, DOUGLAS, MCGEORGE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/20/2013 at 19:09:27

H.E. Schmidt, Veteran Bar Member Dies
Former Kern D.A., Judge of Superior Court, Succumbs
The Kern County Bar Association lost one of its most revered members yesterday with the death of Attorney Henry E. Schmidt.

The 65-year-old former district attorney and one-time Superior Court judge died in a local hospital at 2:30 p.m. after a short illness. His widow resides at 519 Quincy street. Funeral services have been scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday in Greenlawn Chapel with the Reverend Ralph H. Cox officiating.

The popular attorney and associate of Oscar Catalano was born in Esterville [Estherville], Iowa May 9, 1886. He moved to California with his family at an early age and attended elementary and high schools in Redlands.

He graduated from Stanford Law School in 1911 and began practice in Bakersfield the same year when he became associated with Attorney J. W. Wiley.

Elected D.A.
In 1922 Schmidt was elected district attorney of Kern County, a position he held until 1926. He was named to serve the unexpired term of Superior Judge Erwin W. Owen when that loved jurist died in 1938. In 1939 he again entered private practice and five years ago he formed the law firm Schmidt and Catalano.

High point in Attorney Schmidt’s career came when he presented a case before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., at a time when former Howard Taft was presiding judge.

Survivors Listed
Survivors include his widow, Annie; three daughters: Mrs. E.L. Mohr, Jr., and Mrs. H.R. Schalwitz, both of Bakersfield, and Mrs. N.K. McCallum of Wasco; one son, Edward of this city; his mother, Mrs. Ida Schmidt of Glendale; five sisters: Mrs. T.R. Mini and Mrs. Dan McConologue, both of Glendale, Mrs. Hoy Appleton of Pasadena, Mrs. Roy Douglas of Tucson, Ariz., and Mrs. Hattie McGeorge of Ontario, Calif.; and six grandchildren.

A member of the Episcopalian Church, Attorney Schmidt was also affiliated with the Elks Lodge and the Stanford Alumni Association. He held membership in both the Kern County Bar Association and the California Bar Association. The deceased was also a successful farmer, operating a farm in the Wasco area. (Bakersfield Californian, Bakersfield, CA, May 16, 1951)

Edward West to Deliver Rite Eulogy
Attorney Edward West will deliver a eulogy to the late Henry E. Schmidt during a memorial service called by the Kern County Bar Association for 10 a.m. Thursday, President David F. Goldberg announced today.

The Honorable William L. Bradshaw, presiding judge of the Superior Court, will conduct the special service in Department 2 of the courthouse building. (Bakersfield Californian, Bakersfield, CA, May 16, 1951)