Friedrich Johann Georg Schmidt was born in the village of Göttern, Weimarer Land, Thuringia, The Grand Duchy of Saxony, on 7 September 1827. His father was Johann Georg Schmidt. I did not manage to find anything else regarding Friedrich's parents.
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| Evangelical church in Göttern built in 13th century |
When Fritz was about 18, he decided to go to Texas as (like many others) he was not willing to do a mandatory, long-term military service in the army. Probably, Friedrich did not have enough money to pay for the passage - so he stowed away in Antwerp on the ship Strabo. They left the European port on 11 September 1845 (1). During the sea journey, Friedrich made friends with Peter Simon (born 7 April 1829 in Hilzhausen) and his family of Nassau, Prussia. They arrived in Texas on 20 November 1845. Next, the emigrants went to Galveston where they landed on 20 October. Subsequently, the Simons, Fritz, and others traveled by boat to Indianola. They were some of the very first settlers of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County. Later, when some years passed, they relocated to the Llano and San Saba area. Fritz lived with the Simon family.
Friedrich Johann G Schmidt built a log cabin by a spring at the Llano River Valley, in the Simonsville Community area.
On 14 January 1859, Friedrich married Peter's sister, Katharina Jakobina Simon, born 12 October 1820 in Grebenroth, Nassau, Prussia (2). The couple lived in a cabin built by Fritz. They had 12 children, only 8 survived till adulthood.
♦ Ann, the first child, and daughter was born on 18 November 1859,
♦ Karl, the first son was born on 29 May 1861 (3).
♦ Maria was born on 10 February 1863 (4) - tragically, ♦ she died in infancy.
Exactly two years later, son ♦ Phillip was born on 10 February 1865 (5).
♦ William was born 7 March 1867 (6),
Another daughter, ♦ Mathilde, was born to Fritz and Catherine on 12 April 1869 (7).
On 1 June 1870, they were recorded during the Census in Mason County, post office Hedwig's Hill, where Fritz farmed. The family real estate was worth $1000, and the value of their personal estate was $2000 (8).
Daughter ♦ Louise was born on 5 February 1871 (9).
Fritz and Catherine were devoted Lutherans. The very early Lutheran religious service was held at their home. Whenever it took place, they also prepared a meal for the pastor and service attendees. In 1872, Friedrich Johann Georg Schmidt was one of the signers of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mason. The couple also boarded the Simonsville school teachers.
♦ 1873 - 12-year-old son Karl had a devastating accident while riding a horse. The horse fell together with the boy on it - Karl died.
Another daughter, ♦ Mathilde, was born to Fritz and Catherine on 12 April 1869 (7).
♦ Susanne - I did not find the year of her birth. ♦ The girl died of scarlet fever when she was little.
Son ♦ Frederick William was born on 22 March 1875 (10).
♦ Emma was born to the family in 1878.
Census 1880 - 53-year-old Friedrich and his wife Catherine, and their 8 children Anna, Mary, Felix, Wilhelm, Mathilda, Louisa, Frederick, and Emma lived in Justice Precinct #3, Mason County. The family had a lodger a 30-year-old John Bolinierd, a farmer, who was born in Ohlenburg (Grand Dutchy of Oldenburg?) (11).
A few months after the census, on 5 December 1880, son ♦ Henry Carl, was born to Fritz and Catherine (12).
Fritz and Katherine were grieving again when their daughter ♦ Emma died of blood poisoning.
Daughter ♦ Carolina (Lina/Lena) was born on 25 April 1882. In the same year, there was another merry celebration in the family - the oldest daughter ♡ Anna married Mr. Adolph Reichenau, born 17 November 1850 in Gillespie County, to Adolph Albert Reichenau and Katharine Arhelger.
♦ Friedrich Johann Georg Schmidt died on 6 December 1891, St. Nicholas Day. Fritz was buried at the Simonsville Cemetery. After his death, Katharine operated the family farm with the help of her grown-up children (13).
♡ 1895 - Phillip married Emilie Sophie Vater, born on 27 May 1874 in Mason County, to August Vater and Emma Catherine Elise Lemburg.
♡ 1896 - Louise was married to Charles Kettner, who was born on 12 March 1866 in Mason County. His parents were Francis Kettner and Kathrina Keller.
♡ 1897 - William married Miss Meta Kott, the daughter of Albert Kott and Maria Jane McDougall. The bride was born on 29 December 1890 in Gillespie County.
♡ 1906 - Henry and Katie Keller were married at Bethel Methodist Church.
♡ 1907 - Lina (25) and Ed (Edward John) Keller (born 26 September 1878, to Adolph Adam Keller and Edna Katherina Regner Reichenau) were united in marriage.
In the same year, ♡ Fred Wilhelm Schmidt married Miss Ellen Louise Hofmann. The girl was born on 3 March 1883 in Mason County, to August Peter Wilhelm Hofmann and Marie Bogusch.
♡ 1909 - 40-year-old Mathilda married a year older Richard Arhelger (born on 26 June 1868 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County).
♦ Mrs. Katherine Simon Schmidt left this world on 30 August 1921. She lived for about 91 years.
Resources:
Photo of the church: Ludwig, Silvio, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
"Mason County Historical Book", Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976,
Findagrave.com
1. Ships from Europe to Galveston
2. Indianola Immigrants Database
3. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-F32M : 14 February 2020), Friedrich Schmidt in entry for Carl Schmidt, 1861.
4. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-8N6Z : 14 February 2020), Friedrich Schmidt in entry for Maria Schmidt, 1863.
5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3W3-94D : 20 February 2021), Philip Schmidt, 14 Nov 1913; citing certificate number 23917, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,050,997.
6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS13-KPG : 20 February 2021), William Schmidt, 17 Nov 1944; citing certificate number 51527, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,819.
7. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-4QN2 : 14 February 2020), Friedrich Schmidt in entry for Mathilde Schmidt, 1869.
8. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXG3-1MJ : 29 May 2021), Fried Schmidt, 1870.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CS-C5C : 20 February 2021), Fred Schmidt in entry for Kettner, 03 Sep 1933; citing certificate number 39872, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,619.
10. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3ZS-M78 : 20 February 2021), Fred W Schmidt, 04 Sep 1951; citing certificate number 45258, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,777
11. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-P85 : 20 February 2021), Frederick Schmidt in household of Frederick Schmidt, Precinct 3, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 104, sheet 497C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,319.
12. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CC-B7Q : 20 February 2021), Henry Carl Schmidt, 01 Dec 1950; citing certificate number 59804, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,550.
13. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-KD5 : accessed 31 August 2021), Frederick Schmidt in household of Catharina Schmidt, Justice Precinct 6, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 52, sheet B, family 133, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,658.
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