John H. Schmidt, dealer in tinware, Elkport, was born in Germany, May 1, 1838. His parents, Harford and Mary Schmidt, nee Boosey, were natives of Saxony, Germany, who emigrated to America in 1846, and locaed in Kendall County, Ill. The subject of this sketch received a common-school education, and when fifteen years of age engaged in boating on the Niagara River, which he continued three years, then removed to Illinois. In 1856 he settled in Iowa, following farming until 1875, when he purchased a stock of tinware and embarked in that buisness. Although he had never had any experience in this work, by close attention and steady application to business, he has thoroughly learned the trade and is an expert workman. He was married in Illinois in 1864 to Caroline Weise, who was born in Baden, Germany. They have seven children-- Ella, Frank, Eddie, John, Henry, Charles and William. In politics Mr. Schmidt is a Democrat. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1125-1126 |