Karl C. Schmidt, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Karl C. Schmidt, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Karl C. Schmidt
Gestorben
26 Jan 1872
Alter
47 Jahr, 2 Monat, 16 Tag
Karl C. Schmidt, Died 26 January 1872, aged 47 years, 2 months, 16 days. It appears the marker has broken at one time but has been reset in the ground.
Karl/Carl C. Schmidt was born 10 November 1824, as calculated from the inscription on his tombstone. Other sources indicate he was born 14 September 1824.
A Smith family lived in Willshire Township in 1850, residing near Schumm, with Jacob Dietrich and Michael Schuler as neighbors. This Smith family included a Charles Smith, age 25. Karl went by the name of Charles Smith in 1851 when he married Rebecca Shell. This may or may not be today’s Karl C Schmidt, who may have gone by Charles Smith in this 1850 household: Charles Smith, 60; Regina, 51; Charles, 25; and Peter, 18. The three older members of the household were born in Germany, but the youngest, Peter Smith, was born in Ohio. [1]
Karl Schmidt, recorded as Charles Smith, married Rebecca Shell on 6 November 1851 in Van Wert County, Ohio. [2]
The Karl Schmidt family in 1860, living in Willshire Township: Karl, 34; Rebecca, 26; William, 6; Virginia, 3; and Charles F, 9 months. This enumeration indicates that Karl was born in Baden and the rest of the household was born in Ohio. Karl was a farmer. [3] At least one of their children, son William Henry Schmidt (1854-1926), lived to adulthood.
The Schmidts attended church at Zion Schumm in the early 1860s, where a son, Carl Samuel Schmidt, born 22 July 1861, was baptized at home on 29 July 1861. His sponsors were Carl Germann and his wife Elisabeth.
Within a year, both Rebecca and their son Carl had died, passing away within a day of each other.
Rebecca (Shell) Schmidt, age 27, died 9 May 1862 and their son Carl Samuel, age 9 months, died 10 May 1862. Rebecca is buried in row 3 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery.
Widower Karl Schmidt married Maria/Mary Stamm on 23 Apr 1863. They were married at the bride’s home in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, by Rev. Werfelman. [4]
The next year Karl enlisted in Co. C, 165 Regiment, OVI. He served as a Private from 2 May 1864-31 August 1864. His grave registration card indicates he was born 14 September 1824, but no birthplace was given. It is interesting to read the description of his burial plot on this card: Schumm #25, Schumm Rd, near Willshire; Lot no.41, Block 1, Grave no. 1. [5]
The Karl Schmidt family in 1870: Karl, 44; Mary, 31; William H, 16; Regina, 14; Anna E, 6; and John F, 1. This enumeration indicates that Karl and all the children were born in Ohio and that his wife Mary was born in Baden. Karl was a farmer. [6]
Karl and Maria had at least three children of their own, who were baptized at Zion Schumm:
Anna Elisabeth (1864-1950)
Johann Friedrich (1869-1954)
Jacob Christoph (1871-1964)
Karl Schmidt died 26 January 1872 and he was buried on the 28th. His death and burial are recorded in Zion Schumm’s records.
[1] 1850 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.172A dwelling 358, family 377, Charles Smith; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/ : viewed 9 Dec 2019).
[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert, Ohio, Marriage Vol. 1:138, Charles Smith & Rebeca Shell, 6 Nov 1851; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QV-1Z?i=89&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8P3-BF7 : viewed 2 Dec 2019).
[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.426, dwelling 1083, family 1077, Charles Schmith; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/ : viewed 2 Dec 2019).
[4] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert, Ohio, Marriage Vol. 2:356, Charles Schmith & Mary Stamm, 23 Apr 1863; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QK-61?i=439&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8PQ-6VC : viewed 9 Dec 2019).
[5] “Ohio, Soldiers Grave Registration Cards, 1804-1958,” Ohio History Connection, Karl C Schmidt; digital image by subscription, Fold3.com, viewed 9 Dec 2019.
[6] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.443B, dwelling 187, family 188, Charle Schmiett; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : viewed 9 Sep 2019).
