KSGenWeb Digital Library Biographical Sketch of George Schmitt Brown County, Kansas

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The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900.  These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

George Schmitt

An industrious and enterprising farmer of Brown county living in Hamlin township, was born in Madison county, Illinois, January 2, 1847, his parents being John and Margaret Schmitt, who were
married in that state.  Both were natives of Germany.  The father was reared in Bavaria, on the Rhine, and belonged to one of the prominent and influential families of the locality.

He received excellent educational privileges and in his native land was married, his wife being a
native of Hessen, Germany.  Crossing the Atlantic to America they took up their residence in Madison county, Illinois, where the father had a small farm.  His first wife died, leaving four children, who were born in the fatherland, namely: Mary, the wife of J. Guider; John, Adam and Mike.

After the death of his first wife Mr. Schmitt wedded Margaret Smith, who also was born in Germany, and they had four children: George, Fred, Jacob and Lewis.  The second wife died in Brown county,
Kansas in 1861 and Mr. Schmitt afterward wedded Miss Ordway, by whom he had one child, Charles.

After she was called to her final rest Mr. Schmitt was a fourth time married and by this union he had two children: Joseph and Anna.  He was a public spirited and progressive citizen withholding his support from no measure which he believed would prove a public good.

He engaged in teaching school in Kansas, followed farming to some extent and also conducted a mercantile establishment.  He was widely and favorably known and by his sterling worth he commanded the confidence and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact.  His standard of integrity and morality was high and he lost no opportunity of doing good.

He had been educated for the priesthood, but never entered the church, although he always adhered to its faith and died a firm believer in the Christian religion.  His death occurred in 1874, on what is known as the Snow farm in Brown county.

George Schmitt, whose name introduces this review, was born in Madison county, Illinois and was eight years of age when he came with his parents to Kansas.  The family settled on Walnut creek, in Brown county, where he aided his father in clearing and improving the farm.

He attended the common schools until fifteen years of age, and then, putting aside his text books, he left home and was employed as a farm hand for about fifteen years.  In 1871 he went to Colorado and upon his return to the Mississippi valley spent some time in southern Kansas.

On leaving that section of the state he went to Missouri, where he was employed in making railroad ties for about nine months.  Later he made a visit to his old home in Illinois and then removed to Nebraska, where he was employed upon a farm until his return to Brown county.

Here he secured employment on a railroad, but about 1882 went to Colorado, where he engaged in prospecting for mining property.  He also engaged in chopping cord wood and later turned his attention to mining, discovering some gold and silver bearing quartz. 

From this he secured a good return of the metal and met with a fair degree of prosperity.  He continued his residence in Colorado for about eleven years, when, in 1897, he returned to Brown county, where he has since remained.

He has resolved to devote his energies to the farm.  He has ever lived a pure and upright life, following as closely as possible in the footsteps of his honored father, whose example was certainly well worthy of emulation.

Last update: Friday, July 18, 2003 20:22:13

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