Lincoln County, SD Biographies.....Schmid, Mathias, Sr. 1830 - 
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Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. (1897)

MATHIAS SCHMID, SR. This highly respected gentleman is one of the early settlers
of Lincoln county, and a prominent, and successful agriculturist of Pleasant
township. He is a native of Switzerland, was born June 14, 1830, and is the
eldest of the six members of the family now living, the others being Henry,
Adam, Catherine, Thomas and Milicher. He was reared in the picturesque land of
his birth, gleaning his education in the common schools, and when he had
attained the age of fifteen years he accompanied his parents to America. That
was in 1845, and the family immediately settled in Green county, Wis., where
both the parents passed from time to eternity.

   Our subject grew to manhood in the Badger state, and having been bred to the
life of a farmer, adopted that calling as his life work. He was industrious, and
during his more mature years owned a farm near his father's. This land, however,
he sold and with the money purchased a mill which he operated for five years. In
the spring of 1873, he came to Lincoln county, Dak. Ter., taking up a claim in
section 14, of Pleasant township, which he improved and in due course proved
upon. When he arrived the township was yet unorganized, no roads existed, but
here and there could be seen the cabins of the pioneers. Our subject was poor
when he arrived, and saw some pretty hard times during his early residence in
the county. He was unfortunate, like many others, in having his crops destroyed
by the grasshoppers, and for a time had a hard struggle for existence. Those
times have passed, however, and he is now considered one of the substantial
citizens of the county. His attention has been devoted exclusively to farming,
and by applying himself strictly to his business, carefully calculating receipts
and expenditures, he has succeeded, and is now the fortunate owner of a whole
section of land, all improved. He has been supervisor of roads, and served as
school treasurer for many years, always discharging the duties imposed with
marked ability. Politically he is, and has been, an ardent and steadfast
Republican, and supports the candidates of that party with his vote. He is
interested, as all good citizens are, in whatever will promote the welfare of
the community, and in his own quiet way assists in all worthy enterprises.

   The marriage of Mr. Schmid and Miss Magdalena Duerst occurred in 1854, and by
this union he became the father of ten children, nine of whom survive, viz.:
Bathasar, married Miss Anna Kundert, and has three children; Katie is the wife
of Henry Kundert, and the mother of eight children; Mathias, Jr., married Miss
Mary Duerst, and is the father of four children; Joshua; Lena is the wife of
John Messner, and has seven children; Margarite married Andrew Johnson, and is
the mother of three children; Anna became the wife of Jacob Vogeli, and has
three children; John Henry married Miss Bell Arnesen, and has two children; and
Fannie married John Bovill, and is the mother of two children. Mrs. Schmid
passed to her last resting place October 25, 1893, at tne age of fifty-seven
years, while on a visit to Wisconsin, and is buried in the cemetery in Pleasant
township. The family are members of the Evangelical Association church, of which
Mr. Schmid has been trustee for some years.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF 
Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties,
SOUTH DAKOTA.

Containing Biographical Sketches of Hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and
Representative Citizens, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with
the Growth and Development of these Counties; Reminiscences of Personal History
and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and Valuable Matter which should be
Preserved in History.

ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO.
GEO. A. OGLE & CO.
Publishers, Engravers and Book Manufacturers.
1897.


Biography is the only true history.—EMERSON.

A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
generations.—MACAULAY.

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