Bio: Schmidt, Joseph
Contact: Stan

----Source: Centennial History of the York Center United Methodist Church, 1880 - 1980.

JOSEPH SCHMIDT FAMILY

Joseph Schmidt was born in Bion, Germany, Jun 19,1866, son of John and Anna (Heraly) Schmidt. Joe's father, a farmer and blacksmith, died 1869 when he was about 52. He left eight children. In 1886, his wife with her sons and one daughter came to the United States. The other four daughters remained behind in Germany. John, Anna, Martin, and Joseph came to Jefferson Countv, Wis.

Joseph arrived in Jefferson County already $13 in debt and sought work immediately. He was employed six months on a farm there as he had been brought up on a farm in Germany and had received some schooling there.

Then he came to Clark County. He worked two months in the woods and then two years in a sawmill in York Township. Then he went to Montana where he worked on the railroad a few months.

He returned to Wisconsin and worked in a logging camp at Butternut, Ashland County, before returning to Clark County where he worked on different farins and in Heine's sawmill. Then he worked one winter in the woods and one summer in haying at Longwood.

In 1892, Joe purchased forty acres of land in Section 7, York Township. The land was covered with timber, though fifteen acres were chopped but there was no buildings on it. By the end of the first year he had four acres cleared and had built a log stable for his pair of oxen. Meanwhile he boarded with neighbors, paying for his board with work.

At the time of his marriage in 1893, he had a small frame house built, and owned a cow and heifer, a few young stock and a team of horses. Later his farm was increased to 220 acres. He cleared it all himself except -the last sixty acres which was cleared when he bought it.

In 1906 he built a basement barn 36x70 feet, and an addition 32 by 30 fet. He put up a 70 by 22 foot tool shed and a 16 by 28 foot chicken house. In 1913 he erected a seven room brick house. He had a good herd of Holstein cattle and good horses.

He married Mary Pompo on October 10, 1893. She was born in Germany on March 19, 1872, daughter of Paul and Anna Pompo who came to America in 1872. They settled in Independence, Trempealeau County, Wis., after a six weeks' voyage across the ocean. Mary's sisters were Lizzie, Julia, Rose and Kate. She had one brother named John. Joe and Mary had eight children: John, Rosa, Allie, Andrew, Elsie, Edward, George and Margaret. They were members of the Loyal Catholic Church.