Schmidt, William

SCHMIDT, RETZ, ROTH

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 12:55:43

SCHMIDT, WILLIAM

William Schmidt, a farmer whose honest life and unflagging industry has been crowned with a large measure of success, owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 24, Wheeler Township, Lyon County. He was born in Prussia, January 29, 1860, the youngest child and only son of a family of three children of Frederick and Christina (Retz) Schmidt.

In 1868 the family embarked on the sailing vessel 'Charlotte' and after a voyage of nine weeks and three days landed in New York, July 3rd. The next day being the Fourth, it may well be supposed that young William was enthused by a boy's delight. The father bought a small farm in Muscatine County, Iowa, but the family was in straitened circumstances, and the young son had to take his place as a wage earner, and was soon doing a man's work.

When he was thirteen his mother died, and his father followed the same mysterious way within a year. From that time he was thrown upon his own resources, but in the great struggle for a position in life he proved himself equal to every requirement made upon him. In 1882 he came to Lyon County to enter the employ of Henry Weikert in Dale Township, and later rented the farm he now owns, and which he purchased in 1890.

Mr. Schmidt is a Democrat, and is now serving his second term as trustee of Wheeler Township. In December 1883 he was married to Miss Theresa Roth, who is a pioneer among the pioneers, having lived in Lyon County since she was five years old. She is the daughter of Josoeph and Annie B. (Lili:) Roth, both of whom are now dead. The father passed away March 29, 1893; the mother, August 13, 1902. She was a Bavarian; he a Wurtenburger. The biography of Joseph Roth would be interesting to the readers of this volume could it be obtained. Born as noted above in Germany, he received a classical education in his native land. Coming to America he was married in Waukegan, Illinois, and became a farmer. At the call of his adopted country, he enlisted for the Civil War in Company C, Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years. In 1871 he brought his family to what was then wild country, but officially known as Lyon County, and settled on a homestead in section 30, Dale Township. "Jo" Roth, as he was commonly known, was a man of influence. His strong characteristics were honesty, fearlessness and a love of justice; and these qualities, with his educational training, made a man whom to know was to respect. When he came to this county he was a poor man, and in the early days taught a German school at Sheldon to help make a living. He was tireless in his efforts to advance the educational interests of the community; and with all this did not neglect his own farm. At his death Lyon County lost a successful farmer, and one of its public-spirited citizens. Ten children blessed this union: Annie, Henry, Frank, William, John, George, Myrtle, Alma, Ellen and Harvey.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson