John Peter Schmidt 1830-1904

SCHMIDT, VOSZLOH, NICOLA, MOORE

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 9/27/2001 at 05:55:32

GONE TO A HIGHER LIFE.
JOHN PETER SCHMIDT.

Last Wednesday morning, Aug. 31, at break of day the spirit of John Peter Schmidt winged its flight to the Heavenly Realm.

For some years deceased had been failing in health, but not until early last spring that his earthly life began a gradual and sure decline. During the last month his sufferings most of the time were intense but he bore them to the last with the greatest fortitude and patience.

John P. Schmidt was born in Emmerzhausen, Germany, near Coblenz on the River Rhine, March 31, 1830. On July 10, 1853, he sailed for America arriving at New York on September 15. After a brief stay in this city he went to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where he spent three years on the farm with Rev. John Kisling, a Methodist circuit rider of the times. From there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to visit his friend and fellow country-man, Ludwig Wiederstein. This visit brought to him the acquaintance, friendship and love of Miss Anna Maria Voszloh, who had also come from Germany to this country in July 1853 and to whom he was married on August 27, 1855.

During that same year he with his bride came to Iowa, settling in Van Buren County. He first lived in Farmington where he engaged for about one year in the mercantile business, then he moved on a farm about three miles south of Bonaparte where he remained until the spring of '61 when he moved to his late home on Honey Creek, two miles north of Bonaparte.

Five children bless this marriage union, three of whom have preceded their father to the Better Land, the two oldest in infancy, and Mrs. Sarah E. Nicola departed this life May 17, 1894.

His wife, one daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Moore of Fayette, Iowa, and one son, Louis J. Schmidt of Bonaparte, Iowa, and his only remaining brother, Christian Schmidt also of Bonaparte, and five grandchildren survive him.

At the age of twenty-five he was converted to the Christian religion and joined the German Methodist Episcopal church in which he remained a faithful and earnest worker for twenty-six years, when under the teachings of Eld. L. McCoy he accepted the faith of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination and lived a consistent christian life to the last.

He departed this life August 31, 1904, from heart failure accompanied by dropsy.

Seventy-four years and five months was his age. His life with us was a good and useful one; his character above reproach. He was a man with a high sense of honor, whose word was as good as his bond. His studious habits permitted him to readily aid when called upon, in the promotion of educational and religious institutions.

Through his very happy and cheerful disposition he always saw the bright side of life, and all whom he met, let it be friend or stranger, he had for each one a kind word and a welcome greeting.

His last words to the family and friends were: "May we live to meet in Heaven."

The master has called a kind husband, a loving father, a servant of God, to his Home above.

He was universally respected by large circle of friends and neighbors, among whom he will be keenly missed as well as by those who mourn his departure.

The life work of this good man on earth is finished but his noble deeds lives after him.

Source: Entler Scrapbook, vol. 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

I am NOT related and am posting this obit for those who may find this person in their family history.