Schmidt Family

The name Schmidt is a very common name and therefore is hard to track. The name Schmidt, is an occupational surname for “blacksmith” or “metalworker,” from the German word “schmied.” The German equivalent of the English surname SMITH. When Nancy started researching the family it took a while to find the right ones. Still the research gets tedious when you have several Louis and Mary Schmidts to sort out.

Our earliest known ancestor is Louis William George Schmidt. He was born 22 June 1853 in Bavaria. Where exactly in Bavaria is yet to be determined. Louis married Caroline Schiessel who was born August 1852 in Austria (now the Czech Republic).

Louis came to America abt. 1890. We believe he came over first and later sent for the family. The following children were born to Louis and Caroline:

• Frances Schmidt, b. Dec. 1879, Bavaria
• Emma Schmidt, b. 4 August 1881, Bavaria
• Louis Schmidt, Jr., b. 22 March 1885, Bavaria
• Mary Schmidt, b. Decemer 1887, Bavaria
• Rose E. “Rosie” Schmidt, 13 December 1890, Bavaria
• George William “Dibby” Schmidt, b. 28 February 1893, Oshkosh
• Elizabeth Louise “Lizzie” Schmidt, b. 14 June 1897, Minnesota

Louis was naturalized in Winnebago County May 1891. He worked as a paper holder maker in Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. By 1910 the family had moved to Milwaukee, where Louis is listed as the church janitor for Holy Trinity Catholic Church. They lived on Greenbush street in Milwaukee. Louis is buried in the cemetery of the church he spent years cleaning, Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, Milwaukee.

Caroline Schiessel died 15 May 1913 and is buried alongside her husband.