Joseph Philip Schmit 1839 - 1911

SCHMIT, KAUTEN, DURAN, HICKLEY

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 1/3/2011 at 19:29:23

Joseph Philip Schmit was born on August 27, 1839
in the village of __tange in Belgium. He was one
of a family of ten children, all of whom preceded him
in death. At the age of 18 Mr. Schmit left Belgium
and came to Dubuque where he made his home with
his brother. After spending two years on a farm near
Dubuque he obtained employment in a cooper shop
at which work he continued while in Dubuque. In
1863 Mr. Schmit returned to Belgium for a visit with
his aged parents who died soon after his return to
this country. On November 21, 1865 he was united
in marriage to Mary Katharine Kauten in the Catholic
church at Dubuque. They continued to reside in
Dubuque until June 1869 when they moved to their
farm about five miles north of Fairbank where they
resided up to the time of their deaths.

Mr. Schmit was a true and faithful member of the
Catholic church and died fortified by the last
sacraments of his church. He was an honest and hard
laboring man, a faithful and loving husband and
father. He is survived by his nine children, Peter of
Graettinger, Ia; Tony at home; John of Motley, Minn.;
Philip of Pillager, Minn; Mrs. T. J. Duran and Mrs. P. J.
Hickley near Fairbank and Mary, Katie and Lizzie at home.

Mr. Schmit's health has been failing for the past three
years, but the shock of his wife's death which occurred
18 days previous, was more than his feeble condition
could withstand, though he was able to be around the
house till within a few days of his death.

Mr. Schmit fully realized that his sojourn here was
not for long and his last days were fully resigned to the
will of God. His funeral took place from the Immaculate
Conception church at Fairbank, Rev. Wm. Donohue, pastor,
officiating on Thursday, March 2. And the remains were
laid to rest beside those of his wife in Catholic cemetery.

Oelwein Register - 8 March 1911