Michael Schmich, a prominent farmer of Carroll Township, residing on section 1, is a native of Erie County, New York, born in 1841, of German descent. In 1852 his father removed with his family to Stephenson County, Illinois, settling about four miles from the city of Freeport. Here our subject was reared on his father’s farm, and has always followed the avocation of a farmer, which he learned in his youth. His father, John Schmich, was born in Alsace, now a province of Germany, where he grew to manhood, and was married to Anna Maria Bauer. They came to America about the year 1839, locating in Erie County, New York, where they made their home till coming to Illinois. The father retired from farming about 1877, and is now living in Freeport, Illinois. They were the parents of eleven children, the eldest child being a native of Germany, and dying after coming to America, in childhood. Five sons and five daughters were born in America, and of these our subject was the eldest child. He was united in marriage in Stephenson County, Illinois, in 1866, to Miss Louisa Dabel, a native of Germany. Five children have been born to this union — George A., Charles L., Maria M., Frank J. and Edward M. Mrs. Schmich was born in Prussia, January 30, 1847, her father dying of cholera when she was a child. When about twelve years old she was brought by her mother to America, when they settled in Freeport, Illinois. The mother now makes her home in Grundy County, Iowa. She has been twice married, and by her first marriage had three children, of whom only one survives, a daughter, living in Grundy County. Mrs. Schmich is the only child of her second marriage. In 1869, when the subject of this sketch first came to Iowa and purchased land, he was accompanied by his father, who bought the northeast quarter of section 1, in Carroll Township, adjoining the land of his son on the north, and in 1875 the improvement of this place was commenced by George Schmich, a younger brother of our subject. George Schmich lived here about three years, when he returned to Illinois. Michael Schmich is now the only member of his father’s family residing in Carroll County. He settled on the farm purchased in 1869, in March, 1877, which he had begun to improve the year before. The land was entirely unimproved when purchased by Mr. Schmich, but by his persevering industry he has brought it under good cultivation. His farm consists of 160 acres of land, and comprises the southeast quarter of section 1. His buildings are commodious as well as substantial, he having expended about $1,200 in erecting his commodious residence, barns and other farm buildings, and he is recognized as one of Carroll Township’s progressive and enterprising agriculturists. In politics Mr. Schmich affiliates with the Democratic party.

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