Schmidt, Christian T. 1839-1915 & Anna G. Gosch Family

SCHMIDT, GOSCH, GREVE, RATENBURG

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2021 at 17:39:23

Schmidt, Christian T. 1839-1915 and Anna G. Gosch Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. The family story comes from page 46, It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

Christian T. Schmidt was born in Hottrup, Denmark January 22, 1837(1839). At fifteen he and two of his brothers came to America and settled near Davenport, Iowa. He married Anna G. Gosch of Andrew, Iowa in 1862 and they farmed near Bellevue, Iowa until 1885, when they moved to the Rock Valley area. To this union eight children were born, one of whom was John A. Schmidt, the father of Ed J. Schmidt. John A. Schmidt came to Sioux County prior to his parents’ coming. When the C.T. Schmidts arrived here, they settled on a farm northwest of Rock Valley in Sioux Township Section 11 Northeast quarter, which they had purchased a few years before. An adjacent farm, Sioux Township Section 2, Southwest quarter, was purchased by their son, John A. Schmidt.

Coming to Rock Valley with the Schmidt family was the Fred J. Heisig family, of which Mrs. Lee Schlecty (deceased) and Mrs. Louis Elbert were members. The Heisig family settled on a nearby farm, Sioux Township Section 11 Northwest quarter, and these two families worked together very closely in improving the wild prairie and building improvements.

They took a great interest in the cooperative movement and helped to organize most of the cooperatives in Rock Valley. In addition, they took a great interest in public schools. The first district public school was held in the home of C.T. Schmidt prior to building a new schoolhouse. Fred J. Heisig and John A. Schmidt operated a custom threshing machine for two or more months each fall for eighteen years, first with the use of horse power and then with a steam engine.

Only three of the C.T. Schmidt children settled near Rock Valley. They were Henry P., John A., and Herman.

John A. Schmidt married Minnie Kruse of Lyon County in 1895. One of their six children, Ed J., now owns and lives on his father’s farm. John A. passed away in 1918, after which his wife, Minnie, moved to Rock Rapids and has since passed away.

Ed J. Schmidt, a veteran of World War I, was married to Alberta Marshall in 1918. Alberta, who was born in Hudson, South Dakiota, was the daughter of Charles E. Marshall, who operated an elevator in Hudson for many years. Alberta’s family were very early American settlers which entitled her to be a Daughter of the American Revolution, having had a relative who fought in the war. Ed and Alberta have two daughters: Virginia Knorr of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Shirley McCune of Long Beach, California.

(Above submitted to book by Mrs. Ed Schmidt)

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a family report on ancestry.com by other family members.
Christian Tagholm Schmidt was born 22 Jan 1839 Odis, Norre Tyrstrup, Veijle, Dammark (Obit states born in Germany) died 29 Mar 1915 Rock Valley, His parents were Christian Petersen Schmidt 1790-1856 and Catherine Steenbeck Ratenburg 1802-1876
Anna Christina Gosch was born 29 Sept 1843 Grob Wittensee, Egernforde Schleswig Germany and died 21 Nov 1925 Rock Valley Iowa. Her parents were Heinrich Henry Gosch 1809-1892 and Elsabe Greve 1818-1861.
Children:
1.Henry Peter Schmidt born 1 Apr 1863 Green Island, Jackson Co. Iowa died 28 Mar 1953 Rock Valley IA. His wife was Carolina Margaretha Adelhari Buschmann 1862-1941.
2.John A. Schmidt (Smith) born 22 Jul 1865 Sabula, Jackson Co. Iowa died 13 Oct 1918 Rock Valley IA. His wife was Minnie Kruse.
3.Mary A. Schmidt born 3 Jun 1868 Sabula Jackson Co. Iowa died 1 Nov 1932 Minnehaha Co. SD.
4.Anna C. Schmidt born 16 Dec 1870 Belevue, Jackson Co. Iowa died 3 Nov 1954 Sioux Falls SD.
5.Emelia Schmidt born 6 Jul 1874 Belevue, Jackson Co. IA died 26 Jan 1949 McCook Co. SD
6.Christian H. Schmidt born 16 Jan 1877 Bellevue, Jackson Co. IA died 2 Oct 1877 Green Island Jackson Co. IA.
7.Christian E. Schmidt born 17 Jan 1879 Belevue, Jackson Co. IA died 30 Jun 1958 Canistota SD
8. Herman August Schmidt born 16 Jul 1882 Preston, Jackson IA died 23 Apr 1954 Sioux Center Hospital.

OBITUARY OF CHRISTIAN T. SCHMIDT
From the Rock Valley Bee, April 2, 1915:
(a portion of the obit is damaged and a few chunks of text are missing)
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE
C. T. Schmidt, a pioneer resident of this vicinity, passed away at his farm northwest of Rock Valley at eight o'clock Monday morning [March 29], after an illness of about three months. His death was due to ulcerations of the stomach with other complications. He was taken sick in the fore part of January. At times he seemed to improve, and again he became worse and gradually continued to fail until the end came quietly, and he passed on to the great beyond without a struggle. He submitted to an operation on March 17th, in hopes that he might obtain some relief, but the doctors saw then that there was not much chance for him and so advised his family.
The deceased was a man who was very highly respected by all. He was always a useful man in the community where he lived, and had many friends. He was interested in the welfare of his neighborhood, and he held many public offices unsolicited by him. For thirty years he served as justice of the peace, and he was a peace maker in every sense of the word. He gave his time freely as a member of the school board for a number of years to promote educational advancement. He was a well-educated man himself, and came from an educated family. His father was educated as a theologian and served as a schoolmaster under the Danish kingdom the greater part of his life.
The subject of this sketch was born near the city of Haderslaben, North Scleswig[sic], Germany, January 22, 1839, and was at the time of his death seventy-six years, two months and seven days old. At the age of fifteen, with two older brothers he came to this country and landed at Sabula, Jackson county, Iowa, where he lived until 1885, when with his family he moved to Sioux county and settled on his farm in Sioux township where he spent the last thirty years of his life.
He was united in marriage in Jackson county to Miss Anna C. [B?]osch, January 22, 1862, who still survives her husband. Three years ago they held a family reunion when all their children and other relatives were present to help them celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day. To this union were born eight children, five boys and [three] girls. One boy died [words missing] are living and [words missing] the funeral [of their?] father. The children are H[missing], John A., and Herman [of Sioux?] township, [Mrs.?] T. W. [Wittrock] Christ D., and Miss Ann[a?] [missing] of Canistota, S.D., and [Mrs.] Adolph Serck of near Hudson. Besides his wife and children [and grand?] children he leaves to mourn two brothers, Iver and Asmus of Milwaukee and Racine, Wis., respectively.
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon commencing at one o'clock at the late home of the deceased conducted by Rev. E. T. Gillman of the Lutheran church. The services were largely attended by sympathizing friends and neighbors. Rev. Gillman spoke in both the German and English language. Among those from a distance who were present were Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Wittrock and children, Mrs. Feuerhelm and children, Christ D. Schmidt and Henry Kruwiede of Canistota, S.D., and Iver Schmidt of Milwaukee. Interment was made in the Sioux Township cemetery, near which the deceased had spent so many years [missing]. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of many friends.
* * * * * * * * * *
From the Alton Democrat, April 3, 1915: Rock Valley news:
Christian T. Schmidt, a pioneer and substantial citizen of Sioux township died of cancer of the stomach, at his home March 29, surrounded by his family.
The subject of this sketch was born in Hadersleben, north Schleswig, Germany January 22, 1839 and was seventy-six years, three months and three days old at the time of his passing. He came to America with two elder brothers when but fifteen years of age and located at Sabula, Jsckson county, Ia., where he grew to manhood. He was married to Miss Anna C. Gosch Jan. 22, 1962 and eight children came to bless their home, seven of whom survive him.
In 1884 he moved with his family to Sioux county and located on a farm in Sioux township seven miles from Rock Valley, and passed through many privations incident to pioneer days. He was prominent in the political affairs of the township and was a member of the school board for a number of years and for thirteen years he served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace and was faithful in the discharge of the duties which the office imposed. He was a devout member of the Lutheran church and wielded an influence for good in the community. He was a good citizen, a man of irreproachable character, and a good neighbor, a wise counselor and friend. He will be missed in the community.
He leaves an aged companion, seven children, Henry, John and Herman Schmidt of Rock Valley, Mrs. A. Serck of Hudson, S.D., and C. T. Schmidt, Jr., Mrs. Frank Feuerhelm and Mrs. Withrock of Canistota, SD. All were present to pay the last tribute of respect to a departed father He also leaves two brothers, Asmus Schmidt of Racine, Wis., and Iver Schmidt of Milwaukee.
Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon by Rev. E. Gillman at the family residence in the presence of a large company of neighbors and sympathizing friends. He was laid to rest in the Sioux township cemetery. Peace to his ashes. The bereaved have the sympathy of the community in their hour of sorrow.
[A news note in the April 10 edition of the Alton Democrat notes Mrs. Schmidt's brother as H. Bosch of Preston.]

OBITUARY OF ANNA GOSCH SCHMIDT
From the Rock Valley Bee, November 27, 1925:
PIONEER PASSES ON
Resident of Rock Valley Vicinity Forty Years
Mrs. Anna Christena Schmidt, a resident of this vicinity for the past forty years, passed away at her home northwest of Rock Valley Saturday evening, Nov. 21, her death being due mostly to the natural decline of old age. Mrs. Schmidt began to fail last August and continued to grow weaker as time passed, but she was up and around each day until about a week before her death.
The subject of this sketch was born in Schleswig, Holstein, Germany, September 18, 1843. Her early life was spent in her native land. She came to this country with her parents in 1857. They located first at Davenport, Iowa, but shortly afterwards moved onto a farm near Sabula, Iowa, where Mrs. Schmidt lived with her parents until her marriage to C. T. Schmidt, Jan. 22, 1862.
She and her husband lived on farms near Bellvue, Iowa until 1885 when they moved to Sioux county and settled on a farm northwest of Rock Valley where they resided until death claimed them. Mr. Schmidt died in 1915.
Mrs. Schmidt was the mother of eight children, one of whom died in infancy, and another, John A., died in 1918. The others are living and all were present during their mother's last illness and at the funeral. The children are: Henry Schmidt of Rock Valley vicinity, Mrs. Mary Serek, living near Hudson, S. Dak., Mrs. Anna Feuerhelm, Mrs. Emelia Wittrock and Chris E. Schmidt, all of Canistota, S.D., and Herman Schmidt, of Rock Valley vicinity. She also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Frederickson and Mrs. Mary Meier, both living at Bauten, Iowa, and twenty-two grand children and nine [great] grand children.
Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon and short services at the Sioux Township Cemetery where the remains were laid to rest. Rev. H. Jahr, of Alvord, conducted the services. Many friends were present, and many beautiful floral offerings told of the high regard in which the deceased was held.
[A similar obituary appeared in the Alton Democrat, Dec. 4, 1925. Her husband's obituary (posted separately) gives his full name as Christian T.]

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