Eva Schmidt

SCHMIDT, BERNHARDT, WHITMORE, HUBBELL

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 2/26/2009 at 21:18:02

Miss Eva Bernhardt was born February 20, 1843 at Wasslahaim, France and passed from this life at her home north of Bonaparte, Iowa, July 5, 1914, aged 71 years, 4 months, and 15 days.

When 9 years of age she sailed from France with her adopted parents to America, landing at New York and locating respectively at Buffalo, N.Y., Boston, and Lowell, Mass., where she gained a livelihood in the cotton mills after completing her education and obtaining a well earned certificate of honor from her college professor and teachers.

Leaving the east when 17 years of age she, with her parents came to Iowa, and Nov. 6, 1860, she was invited in marriage to Christian Schmidt, a tanner by trade of Farmington, Iowa, and located on a farm southwest of that town where they resided for several years, eventually removing to Bonaparte where her husband was employed in a tannery operated by her brother-in-law, Mr. Quirin.

In 1866 they purchased the farm north of Bonaparte and have spent the remaining years at that place.

She was a devout member of the German Methodist church and was always at the front in religious affairs in the community, using her hospitable home for church services, and in company with Uncle Tommy Ware and Miss Lizzie Miller organized a Sunday School at the Mahler School House where she taught a class for a number of years.

She enjoyed the companionship of the young, and in her happy home was never so contented and genial as when serving as hostess to the friends of her sons and daughters, and for all her friends she had a generous, hearty welcome.
To her was given the motherhood of twelve children; 3 pairs of twins, 6 girls and 6 boys, 3 children dying in infancy and Emma at the age of 24. The recollections of these children's lullaby songs are such as only Christian mothers soothe the child to rest, by singing --- “Asleep in Jesus” being one of them most sung.

About two years ago she received a light stroke of paralysis from which she never entirely recovered, although by no means an invalid. In May accompanied by her husband, she visited her three sons living at Kansas City and a little more than a week ago expressed a desire to return at once, feeling that she wished to see her grandchildren before the end came, and telling a friend after her return, to get her burial things readiness. Arriving at the old home on Saturday evening, Sunday she was stricken while holding the youngest grandchild and for little more than a week was in a sleepy, semi-unconscious condition from which she occasionally rallied. During these spells of wakefulness she recognized those around her and sometimes responded, feebly but clearly and intelligently to inquiries made. As the time piece marked the hour of 2:50 a.m., July 5, the life of Mrs. Christian Schmidt had gone out peacefully and quietly and without pain.

Besides her companion she leaves 8 children: Charles E., Albert H., and Geo. L., of Kansas City, Mo., Wm. F. of Moline, Ill.; Mrs. Tillie Whitmore of Fairfield; Mrs. Rosa Hubbell of Cheney, Wash.; Fred H. and Nellie Whitmore of Bonaparte. Also 7 grandchildren and a host of sorrowing friends who will remmber her sunny, happy disposition.

Funeral services were held at the M. E. Church at 2 p.m., July 7th. Rev. Behrens of Keosauqua, assisted by Rev. Hughes of Bonaparte officiating, after which interment was made in the Bonaparte cemetery.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library