Nicholas Schmitt (1841 - 1929)

Born 7 Oct 1841 in Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Elizabeth (Meiler) Schmitt — married 20 Nov 1862 in St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois

Descendants

Died 23 Aug 1929 at age 87 in Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sandie Schwarz [send private message]

Biography

Nicholas Schmitt has German Roots.

Private Nicholas Schmitt served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 13 February 1865
Mustered out: 31 October 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. E. 9th Regiment Illinois Cavalry;

Civil War Veteran

Nicholas Schmitt was the son of Jacob Schmitt & Anna Goedert. Jacob Schmitt was one of three founders of Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois in August of 1841. Nicholas Schmitt was the first child born in Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois, on 7 October 1841. Nicholas married Maria Meiler on 20 November 1862 at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois, they were the parents of 15 known children, three of whom lived to 100 years +. Nicholas age 88 years, died at the home of his son John Schmitt, in Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota.

Nicholas Schmitt was a Veteran of the Civil War, Co. E 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry his record shows he mustered in on 13 February 1864, mustered out 31 October 1865; During his time in service he would have participated in the following expeditions: Expedition from Eastport to Russellsville, Alabama February 19-28, 1865. Tuscumbia February 20. Duty at Huntsville and Florence, Alabama, Eastport, Mississippi, and Gravelly Springs, Alabama, until June. Moved to Luka, Mississippi, June 23, thence to Decatur, Alabama, July 4. To Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, thence to Gainesville on August 20. Duty in District of Montgomery, Alabama, until October. Mustered out at Selma, Alabama, on 31 October 1865. Regiment lost during service: 1 Officer, 45 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, 6 Officers and 241 Enlisted men by disease. Total: 293.

Illinois State Archives Illinois Civil War Detail Report:

Name SMITT, NICHOLAS; Rank Private; Company: E; Unit: 9th Illinois Cavalry; Personal Characteristics; Residence: McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois; Age: 23; Height: 5' 9 1/2"; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Grey; Complexion: Light; Marital Status: [Married]; Occupation: Farmer; Nativity: Illinois; Service Record; Joined: 13 February 1865; Joined: Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois; Joined By: Captain Coon; Period: 1 Year; Muster In:14 February 1865; Muster In: Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois; Muster In By; Muster Out: 31 October 1865; Muster Out: Selma, Alabama; Muster Out By: Lieutenant Hosner

Nicholas and Maria left Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois and moved on to Minnesota, sometime after the birth of their fifth child Gertrude Schmitt, born in Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois on 20 August 1869. Their next child, Katherine Schmitt, was born on 15 October 1870 at New Ulm, Mulligan Township, Brown County, Minnesota. Per his obituary, his brother Peter Schmitt accompanied the family to Minnesota. Nicholas and Maria were the parents of 15 known children; Anton, Elizabeth (Dr. Addison Lent), Helena (William Bunger), Nicolas, Gertrude (Charles W. Scott), Katharine (Ervin D. Torrey), John, Joseph, Mathias Peter, Mary (Peter M. Arnoldi), Rosalia (2. Peter Hickel), Bertha (Joseph Fitzpatrick), Carl, Frank J. and William H.. All of their children except for sons Mathias and Carl (Charles), lived to adulthood. Their son John Schmitt was 103 years of age at the time of his death in 1975, their daughter Gertrude Scott (Charles) was 103 years of age at the time of her death in 1972, their daughter Helena Bunger (William) was 100 years of age at the time of her death in 1968.

1850 Census: McHenry Township, McHenry Co., Illinois; Jacob Smith 42 Germany; Hannah Smith 44 Germany; Susanna Smith 17 Germany; Mary Smith 13 Germany; Betsy [Gertrude] Smith 11 Germany; Nicholas Smith [recorded age is now faded] Illinois; Peter Smith 2 Illinois; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8RQ-MJW

1860 ?

NOTE: In the 1870 census record Nicolaus and family are recorded below his parents Jacob and Anna

3 September 1870: McHenry Township, McHenry Co., Illinois; Occupation of Nicholas: Farmer; Nicholas Smith 29 Illinois; Mary Smith 29 Prussia; Antona Smith 7 Illinois; Lizzie Smith 6 Illinois; Caroline Smith 4 Illinois; Nicholas Smith 3 Illinois; Gertrude Smith 1 Illinois; Bernard Snyder 12 Illinois; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6H6-4HP

1875: Mulligan Township, Brown Co., Minnesota; Nicholas Schmidt, 33 Illinois; Mary Schmidt, 33 Germany; Antony Schmidt, 11 Illinois; Elisabeth Schmidt, 10 Illinois; Helena Schmidt, 9 Illinois; Nicholas Nicholas, 8 Illinois; Gertrud Schmidt, 6 Illinois; Catharina Schmidt, 4 Minnesota; John Schmidt, 2 Minnesota; Joseph Schmidt, 0 Minnesota; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKNC-74V

17 June 1880: Mulligan Township, Brown Co., Minnesota; Occupation of Nicholas: Farmer; Niklas Schmitt 38 Illinois; Mary Schmitt, Wife 39 Prussia; Antone Schmitt, Son 16 Illinois; Elizabeth Schmitt, Dau 15 Illinois; Hellen Schmitt, Dau 13 Illinois; Niklas Schmitt, Son 12 Illinois; Gertrude Schmitt, Dau 10 Illinois; Catherine Schmitt Dau 9 Minnesota; John Schmitt, Son 7 Minnesota; Joseph Schmitt, Son 5 Minnesota; Mary Schmitt, Dau 3 Minnesota; Rosa Schmitt, Dau 6/12, November; Minnesota; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ99-XDN

6 June 1900: Mulligan Township, Brown Co., Minnesota; Married 38 years, 15 children, 13 living; Occupation of Nicholas: Farmer; Nicholas Schmitt, Head of Household 59 Illinois; Mary Schmitt, Wife 59 Germany; Nicholas J Schmitt, Son 33 Illinois; Rosy Schmitt, Dau 21 Minnesota; Anna C B Schmitt, Dau 20 Minnesota; Frank J Schmitt, Son 17 Minnesota; William H J Schmitt, Son 13 Minnesota; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M99B-P8Q

Note: In the 1910 Census, Nicholas and Mary are living in the household of their son Frank Schmitt:

28 April 1910: Mulligan Township, Brown Co., Minnesota; Occupation of Nicholas: Family Farm; Nicolas and Mary: Married 47 years, 15 children, 13 living; Frank J Schmitt, Head of Household 26 Minnesota; Willie H Schmitt, Brother 22 Minnesota; Nick Schmitt, Father 68 Illinois; Mary Schmitt, Mother 69 Germany; Anton Schmitt, Brother 46 Illinois; Nickoals J Schmitt Brother 41 Illinois; Rosy Schmitt, Sister 30 Minnesota; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2LN-HKY

6 January 1920: Jamestown, Stutsman Co., North Dakota; 519 South Seventh Avenue; Occupation of John Schmitt: Truckster, Railway Station; John Schmitt, Head of Household 47 Minnesota; Rosamond Schmitt, Wife 25 Minnesota; Margaret A Schmitt, Dau 1 North Dakota; Nicholas Schmitt, Widowed, Father 78 Illinois; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC86-YHP

Jamestown, North Dakota, Auguat 26; "Nicholas Schmitt, 90-year-old Civil War Veteran, died at his home here at 1:30 o'clock Sunday morning after an illness of four weeks. Funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 o'clock Tuesday morning from St. James Catholic Church and burial will be made at Comfrey, Minnesota. Enlisting in the Illinois Volunteer Cavalry on February 13, 1864 [1865], he distinguished himself in the Civil War and drew his honorable discharge on October 31, 1865. He was a member of the Fort Seward Post, Grand Army of the Republic. In 1870, Mr. Schmitt, with a brother, drove by ox team from near Chicago to New Ulm, Minnesota where they took up homesteads. He was a farmer all his life except the time he lived in Jamestown. Five sons, five daughters, 27 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren survive." The Bismarck Tribune, August 26, 1929

BURIAL: Japanese Martyrs Church Cemetery in Leavenworth, Brown County, Minnesota

Find A Grave: Memorial #130619790 Nicholas Schmitt

Sources

Personal Schmitt family records of Sandie Schwartz

St John the Baptist Catholic Church Early Records, Johnsburg

Early Records of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Volume I, 1852-1868 (Baptisms) https://www.mcigs.org/st-john-baptismal-records.html

NOTE: Early Records of St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Johnsburg, McHenry County, Illinois Volume I 1852-1868 Volume II 1869-1882 Volume III 1883-1909, are available in genealogy reference at local libraries, Johnsburg Public Library, McHenry Public Library, Richmond Public Library, Crystal Lake Public Library and Woodstock Public Library ISBN-0-910741-09-X Pub. 1982 Translated by Gisela Ohlrich and Phyllis Bauer Pub. by McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society 1011 North Green Street, McHenry, Illinois 60050. Gives birth dates, baptism dates, marriage dates, spouses and witnesses, locations.

Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935 (No Record Image); Nicholas Smith; Spouse's Name: Mary Miler; Event Type: Marriage; Event Date: 20 November 1862; Event Place: McHenry County, Illinois; Source Details: Item 1, Page 68, Number 2694; Cite This Record "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HSDW-9VZM

Minnesota, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1869-1940; Nicholas Schmitt; Event Type: Military Service; Event Date: 1869-1940; Event Place: Mulligan, Minnesota; Age: 42; Birthplace: McHenry, Illinois; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVFN-YCBY

Minnesota, Veterans Grave Registration Reports, 1930-1975; Name Nicholas Schmitt; Event Type Burial; Event Place Leavenworth, Brown, Minnesota; Cemetery Leavenworth; Cite This Record "Minnesota, Veterans Grave Registration Reports, 1930-1975", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VWQ-6YJV