Biography - William Schmidt
William SCHMIDT, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Germany August 21, 1834, where he received his education in his mother tongue, and assisted his father upon the old homestead farm until he was fifteen years of age, when he engaged as a farm hand, receiving but a very small compensation for his labor; he followed this occupation for about three years, when he concluded to try his fortunes in the New World, and emigrated to America, where he found himself a stranger in a strange land; but, being possessed with a stout heart and the energy necessary to make his own way in a strange country, he set to work with a will, and rented a farm in Morgan County, Ill., where he remained eight years, and by his energy and industry, succeeded in laying up enough funds to enable him to make a purchase of land for himself he purchased a part of the property he now owns, and removed with his family to Montgomery County, where he has continued to add to his possessions until he now owns 200 acres of as fine land as can be found in Raymond Township, and which he has improved by way of buildings, orchards, fences, etc., until it will compare with any of the well-improved farms of the county, and places Mr. SCHMIDT in the list of practical farmers. His father, Henrick SCHMIDT, was a native of Germany, and was a farmer by occupation; he died in 1862, leaving his wife and five children to mourn his loss; his wife, Louisa PASCHER, survived him two years. William was the youngest child. He was married, in Morgan County, March 15, 1858, to Hannah SCHELP, who was born in Germany in November, 1843, and brought to America when but eleven years of age; she is the mother of six boys and six girls, viz.; Jennettie, wife of Henry WEBER; Christ William, George Henry, Louisa Rachel, wife of Aug BEDER; Emma Anna, Carolina Louisa, John Henry, Harmon, Minnie Anna, Dora Gusta, Edward Martin, Henry Phillip - all of whom are still living. Mrs. SCHMIDT is a daughter of Philip SCHELP, a native of Germany and a prominent farmer of Morgan County, where his death occurred November 29, 1863; his wife, Rachael LAKERS, was also a native of Germany, and is still living in Morgan County, and is the mother of five children, three of whom are still living, viz.: William, a wagon-maker in Morgan County; George, a farmer in same county; and Hannah, the wife of Mr. SCHMIDT. Mr. SCHMIDT has a brother and sister living in this county, viz.; Chris and Henrietta, widow of W. GANOEFT. Politically, Mr. SCHMIDT is a Democrat, and religiously, himself and wife are connected with the Lutheran Church.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 231-232.
