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Schmitz, Theodore F. 1874 – 1968

SCHMITZ, WICTOR, HECK, FIGGE, KASS, BROIHIER, KLEIN, JONES, WATERS, GROFF

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 15:32:00

THEODORE F. SCHMITZ.

Theodore F. Schmitz, mayor of Ossian, owner and publisher of the Ossian Bee and one of the most prominent figures in local journalistic circles, is a native of that place, born November 4, 1874. His parents, Joseph J. and Catherine (Wictor) Schmitz, were born in Germany and after they came to America settled in Wisconsin, whence they removed to Chicago, Illinois, remaining in that city for a number of years. From Chicago they came to Ossian, Iowa, and here the father engaged in business as a carpenter and builder until his death, which occurred in 1909. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1879. To them were born seven children: Mary A., the wife of A. C. Heck, of Ossian; Joseph L., who is living in Chicago, Illinois; Matilda, who married F. A. Figge, of Ossian; Frank A. J., deceased; Theodore F., of this review; Margaret, the wife of L. J. Kass, of Salem, South Dakota; and Adolph N, who resides in Chicago.

Theodore F. Schmitz remained in Ossian until he was eleven years of age and was then sent to Remsen, Iowa, where he attended a parochial school. During this time he also learned the tinsmith business and he remained in Remsen for eight years, after which he entered Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, where he was a student for one year. Returning to his native city at the end of that time, he formed a partnership with A. C. Heck by purchasing a one-half interest in the Ossian Bee, which they conducted together for about five years. In 1910 Mr. Schmitz bought his partners interest in the paper and since that time has been its editor and publisher, having made it one of the powerful democratic weekly organs in this part of the county. It has a circulation of about fifteen hundred and is in consequence an excellent advertising medium.

Mr. Schmitz was married on the 22nd of August, 1905, to Miss Marie L. Broihier, a daughter of August and Anna (Klein) Broihier, the former a native of France and the latter of Germany. In their family were seven children: Kate, the wife of R. B. Jones, of Ossian; Virginia, who married E. H. Waters, of Austin, Minnesota; Mrs. Julia Groff; Marie L., the wife of the subject of this review; Frank, deceased; August, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Charlotte, who lives in Waterloo, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz have one son, Frank A.

The family are members of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally Mr. Schmitz is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Iowa Legion of Honor and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and, being progressive and public-spirited, has held various important local offices, serving for two terms as town assessor and being at the present time mayor of Ossian, in which capacity he is giving to the city a straightforward, constructive and efficient administration. He is interested in all that pertains to general progress and cooperates in many movements for the promotion of the community interests, being at all times a public-spirited and loyal citizen as well as a successful business man.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

St. Francis de Sales cemetery gravestone
 

Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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