Obit: Schmitt, Peter (1845 - 1931)

Contact:  Stan

Surnames: SCHMITT LACHNIT KUNZE SCHRAUFNAGEL OHLINGER APFELBECK SCHMIDT HABIG KEISER

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 26 Nov 1931

Schmitt, Peter (5 Mar. 1845 - 19 Nov. 1931)

Peter Schmitt of Riverside passed on to the Great Beyond last Thursday, November 19, old age and high blood pressure of two days duration being the cause of his death. Funeral services were held at the St. Mary’s church Tuesday, November 24th, Rev. H. Lachnit officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. The pall bearers were Joe Kunze, Leonard Schraufnagel, John Ohlinger, Jr., Frank Apfelbeck, Ben Apfelbeck and Leo Apfelbeck.

The deceased was born in Alsac Lorraine, Germany March 5th, 1845, thus reaching the age of eighty-six years, eight months and fourteen days. He came to the United States in 1862 and worked in Davenport, Iowa, until 1880 when he moved to this locality and purchased a track of wild land. He was married to Johanna Schmidt at LeRoy, Wis., on January 10, 1870, which union was blessed with thirteen children, four of whom preceded him in death. The children still living are Susie Schmitt, Illinois; Peter J. Schmitt, North St. Paul; Frank Schmitt, Colby; Robert Schmitt, Colby; John B. Schmitt, Milton, Oregon; Mrs. Mary Habig, of Marshfield; Ed Schmitt, Colby; A. J. Schmitt, Colby; Clara Keiser, Stratford. His wife preceded him in death eight years ago.

When Mr. Peter Schmitt came here this country was still a vast forest and the land he purchased was all wild land and he chopped down the first tree. By hard work and privations, he and his wife built a splendid farm out of his wild land. Here they suffered all the hardships of the early pioneer and watched the wild country develop into fine farms.

The deceased, like most of our early pioneers, was a man who united sound sense with strong convictions and a candid, outspoken temper, eminently fitted to mould the elements of pioneer society into form and consistency, and aid in raising a high standard of citizenship in our young and growing state. How much this community owes him and such as he, it is impossible to estimate but now he is gone and another name is stricken from the ever lessening roll of our settlers. He had filled the various relations in life and filled them well.

 

 


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