SCHMIDTLEIN, George - 1890 Bio (1812-1895)

SCHMIDTLEIN, KESZ, GRAFF, WAGHER, DALLNER, SCHREIBER, SCHOBE, DROVER, SCHNEIDER, BEBEHEISER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/24/2007 at 21:06:34

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 396-397

George SCHMIDTLEIN, one of the pioneer settlers of Jefferson County, residing on section 36, Lockridge Township, is of German birth. There were but two children born unto John G. and Margaret (KESZ) SCHMIDTLEIN -- a son and daughter. The latter, Katherine, came to this country and married Frederick GRAFF, but is now deceased. The son, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Mittlefranken, Bavaria, August 31, 1812, and his parents were also natives of that district. His father died before he was born and afterwards his mother became the wife of George G. WAGHER, by whom she had fourteen children.

The educational advantages afforded our subject were very meagre indeed. As he was the oldest son in a large family of half brothers and sisters, he was forced to begin work when very young and in conseqence is a self-made man, having been almost entirely dependent upon his own efforts from boyhood. He was twenty-five years of age when, bidding good-by to home and friends, he left his native land for America. After an ocean voyage of eight weeks, he reached the shores of the New World and at once proceeded to Butler County. Ohio, where he embarked in farming. Two years later he was joined by his mother, step-father and ten children. During his residence in Ohio, in August, 1840, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary B. DALLNER, who was born near the birthplace of her husband, and came to the United States in the same ship on which he was a passenger. The following April, the young couple came to the Territory of Iowa, and making selection of Jefferson County, as a favorable location, Mr. SCHMIDTLEIN purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land. After paying for the same, he had only $1.37 remaining, but by selling twenty acres he obtained enough money to purchase an ox-team wherewith to break and plow his land and place it under cultivation. He paid his first taxes with an ax which he had brought with him from Ohio, and this is but one example of the means resorted to in order to make a start in his new home; but year by year saw his possessions increase, until now two hundred and twenty acres of good land pay tributes to his care and cultivation.

In 1865, Mr. SCHMIDTLEIN was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 22nd of September. Nine children were born unto them -- Henry, a farmer in Nevada; John A. and George G., twins, engaged in farming in California and Oregon, respectively; Lizzie, wife of Henry SCHREIBER, of Lockridge Township; Anna, wife of Henry SCHOBE, a resident of Walnut Township; George W., a farmer of Nevada; Sophia, wife of Louis DROVER, whose home is in Lockridge Township; Frank, a resident farmer of Arizona; and Charles, who is engaged in the same occupation at the same place. On the 7th of June, 1866, Mr. SCHMIDTLEIN married Katherine E. SCHNEIDER, who was born in Hessen, Germany, March 6, 1837, and in 1864 came with her parents, John and Mary (BEBEHEISER) SCHNEIDER, to the United States. The following year they located in Jefferson County, Iowa, where the father died at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife in the eightieth year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. SCHMIDTLEIN were born five children, but only one of the number, Caroline L., is now living.

The parents, like their ancestors for several generations remote, are members of the Lutheran Church. In political sentiment he is a supporter of the Democracy, having affiliated with that party since casting his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk. For almost half a century he has made his home in Jefferson County; he has been a witness of its growth and progress, and has aided materially in its advancement, especially in its agricultural interests. Whatever pertains to the welfare of the community may be sure of his hearty support, for he is a faithful citizen and feels a just pride in the improvement of the country which has so long been his home. He has lived the life of a hard working man, but has now a comfortable competence. In the earlier days of his settlement here, his farm being covered with timber, he would spend the hours from sunrise until dark in clearing away the brush, and between the setting of the sun and midnight huge bonfires would illuminate every thing around. In this manner he labored on until the obstacles which once surrounded his path were done away with and prosperity blessed his efforts.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.