SCHMIDT, John Peter: Died 1904

SCHMIDT, VOSZLOH, NICOLA, MOORE

Posted By: Volunter: Sherri
Date: 4/29/2013 at 06:36:47

August 31, 1904, at break of day the spirit of John Peter Schmidt of Harrisburg township, Van Buren county, Iowa, winged it flight to the heavenly realm. For some years deceased had been in failing health. During the last four months of his life his sufferings 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 81(err), 18?0. On July 10, 1853, he sailed for America arriving at New York on Sept. 15. After a brief stay in this city he went to Lawrensburg, Indiana, where she spent three years on the farm. From there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to visit his friend and fellow countryman, 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 married August 27, 1857. 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 a year in the mercantile business. Then he moved on a farm about three miles south of Bonaparte where he remained until the spring of 1861 when he moved to his late home on Honey Creek, two miles north of Bonaparte. Five children blessed this marriage, 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 dauther, Mrs. Mary A. Moore of Fayette, Iowa, and one son, Louis J. Schmidt of Bonaparte, Iowa, five grandchildren, and his only remaining brother, Christian Schmidt of Bonaparte, survive him. At the age of 25 he was converted to the chirstian religion and joined the German Methodist Episcopal church in which he remained a faithful and earnest worker for 26 years, when, under the teachings of Eld. L. McCoy, he accepted the faith of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination and lived a consistant christian life to the last. Seventy-four years and five months was his age. His life here was a good and useful one, his character above reproach. He was a man of high sense of honor, whose word was as good as his bond. His studious havits 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 his family and to his friends were: "May we live to meet again in Heaven." The Master has called a kind husband, a loving father, a servant of God to his home above.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 29, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA