The Schmidt Family in Germany

The Schmidt -Smith Family Continues-About 25 years in the making!

A Special Gift for my husband of 54 years!

Well, it has been quite some time since I have been able to send an update on the Smith Family.  After assisting my German family that live in Germany,  find their family in Germany, I was feeling ‘guilty’ that I was never able to find Bill’s, my husband’s, ancestral home in Germany.  I began to ‘dig’ again.  After working on migration patterns, both in Germany and in the churches attended here, the puzzle started to become a complete picture. 

I had already found the marriage of Johann Schmidt and Catherine Zimmerman in the records of St. John’s German Catholic Church, so this is where I began to move backwards.  Also, using the Federal census records, I had the names of the Smith’s children, but never their birthdates or other information.

I began again with St. John’s German.  The church records here, as well as the census records from 1850, 1860 and 1870 all show that both Johann and Catherine were Prussian, which led to most of my frustration in the past.  Prussia was a very large area.  Prior to its abolition, it included provinces of East Prussia, Brandenburg, Saxony, parts of Thuringia, Pomerania, Rhineland, Westphalia, Silesia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, Hesse-Nassau and Hohenzollern.  It also included parts of today’s modern Poland, Russia and Lithuania.  The kingdom extended from the Baltic to the Rhine River.  It was huge. 

So where do I go from here.  St. John’s German Catholic Church opened their doors in 1799.  It was located at the corner of Park Avenue and Saratoga Street.  By 1840, it had outgrown the building and the building itself was in dire need of repairs.  A petition was filed for a new church and it was granted.  They closed their doors and the building was razed in 1841.  St. James at the corner of Eager and Aisquith Streets was provided to the congregation of St. John’s for their needs.   Also at this time, a call was given to the Redemptorist Fathers to serve the German congregations in the diocese.  It was also at this time, the large population of Irish in the area was provided with St. Vincent’s.  The original St. James was practically built on the personal funds of Archbishop Whitfield.  The cornerstone was laid on May 1, 1833, and the church opened for service on May 1, 1834.  You may be more familiar with the later church, designed and built by the famous German architect George A. Frederick.  The cornerstone was laid on Otober 22, 1866.  This new church was positioned directly next to the Institute of Notre Dame (IND) on Somerset Street.  It is also this church that experienced the fire in their bell tower a few years back.   The Germans remained at St. James until their new church was built.  The new church was named St. Alphonsus.  It was the ‘Mother’ church of the Redemptorist across the U.S. St. Alphonsus served the German community until 1917. 

Already reviewing almost every record in St. John’s German, I moved to St. James or known then as St. James the Less.  The church was located at Aisquith Street.  I remembered finding one of Johann and Catherine’s children, Mathias Schmidt, at St. James the Less, so I began combing through their records.  It was here I found:

1.       Mary Schmidt-Baptismal Record from St. James the Less-Baptized November 29, 1840-Godmother Maria Schmidt.  Evasive for sometime, I finally found her with her husband Jacob P. Ruth (1836-1908).  She died on September 11, 1894 and is buried at Mt. Olivet in Baltimore.  She and Jacob had the following children:  Catherine ‘Kate’ 1860, John 1863-1915, Mary ‘Mollie’ 1865-1918, James 1868-1927.  In the 1860 census, it appears that they are living next door to Johann and Catherine…It shows Mary, Jacob and an 11 month old Mary.

2.       Catherine Schmidt-Baptismal Record from St. James the Less-Baptized July 29, 1842-Father:  Johan-Prussian-Minister:  Neumann-Godmother:  Maria Schmidt-1842, Page 42.  I found the marriage record for Katharina Schmidt in Holy Cross marriage records.  She married Joseph Klaus (also shown as Claus).  They were married on January 13, 1878 by Pastor L. Vogtmann. 

3.       Mathias Schmidt-St. James the Less-1840-1856, M1572 (Microfilm, Maryland Archives in Annapolis).  Father Johann Schmidt, Mother Catherina Zimmerman, both Prussian-Page 94, 1845.  We already knew that Marthias/Martin married Sophie Brandt at Zion Lutheran Church.  That probably caused angst for the family.  I later found the death record for Mathias.  He died on 10-19-1881 at the age of 36 and was buried at St. Alphonsus, Lot #132.  The death record is in Holy Cross, page 80 #83.  Cause of death:  Cramps?

It was here that I lost the trail and could not find the other children.  Where did they go when they left St. James the Less.  I knew the children were baptized.  In those days, it wasn’t uncommon to have them baptized the day they were born or no later than within a week.  Where did the family go?

Knowing that St. Alphonsus was being built and would probably soon be complete, it was reasonable to think the family may have returned to St. Alphonsus.  The last of the Smith children were born was born in 1861.  I decided to go to St. Alphonsus.  This was one of the largest German parishes…was actually started as a German National parish.  As luck, caffeine and eye drops would have it, I found the other children here at St. Alphonsus…at least the next three:

4.       Margaretha Schmidt, born 1.6.1848 and baptized 1.23.1848-Father:  Johanes Schmidt, Prussian and Mother: Catherine Zimmerman, the Minister was P. Stelzig and the Godparents were Johannes Lacey and Margaretha??, St. Alponsus, Baptisms, page 24.  I found that Margaret married Henry Kalvelage (1844 to 3-13-1884).  Henry served in the Navy during the Civil War (enlistment date 3-16-1865 and discharged 3-16-1867.  He was a seaman and served on the USS Allegany and the USS Constitution.  Margaret received a pension for his service.  They were married on January 19, 1868 at Holy Cross.  They had the following children:  James Henry (1869 to 1-1933), Anna (10-1870 to ? Married ‘Grill’), Kate (1874 to ?), Charles ‘Carl’ (1876 to ?), Mary (July 1878 to ?, married Burton), John Hermann (12-24-1882 to 1956).  While researching Margaret, I found that her husband is buried at Most Holy Redeemer and will assume she rests with him.  I did not find a death notice for Margaret, but found two memorials in the Sunpaper, one the year following her death which was indicated at September 17, 1915, and one three years following her death.  The first from her son Henry and the second from her children.  She was on the 1900 Federal Census, listed as a widow and living with children James, Anna, Mary and John.

5.       Johannes Schmidt, born 3.19.1850 and baptized 3.31.1850 at St. Alphonsus.  Father: Johannes Schmidt and Mother Catherine Zimmerman.  This record, however, shows that Johann was born in Petersdorf and the mother Siguaringen.  A MAJOR CLUE.  I began to check and found that Petersdorf was a pretty common German village name.  In fact, I was able to find it in Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (3), Thuringia, Schleswig, Rostock, Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria (2), Schlesia, not to mention one is Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Romania.   This would entail a ton of church books.  I also found during this time, that the Catholic records are more difficult than the Evangelisch Lutherans.   Johannes, as we already knew, married Elise (also seen as Susanna) Bosmann.  They were married at Holy Cross on May 16, 1880.  It was fortunate that I then found-

6.       Peter Schmidt, born 7.19.1852 and baptized 7.25.1852 at St. Alphonsus Church with Father Johannes Schmidt from Hüttersdorf in Rhine Prussia and Mother Catherina Schmidt from Krunnrigin, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.  The minister was P. Ruhland and Godfather was Petrus Schmidt.  The family was from Federal Hill.  Record pg. 70 1852, St. Alphonsus.   Further research has led me to assume that Peter never married.  He was the Godfather of your ‘Uncle Joe’ Smith.

I then attempted to find the last child, Ella, at St. Alphonsus and could not find her.  Since she was born in 1861, after the opening of Holy Cross, in 1858, I decided to look there and what I found was another child.  It was here I found

7.       Mary Magdalena Schmidt, born August 14, 1860, and baptized 8.19.1860, Father Johannes Schmitt (not uncommon for spellings to be different as long as dates and partners were the same), place of birth Petersdorf and Catharina Zimmerman, born Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.  Godparent was Margareth Bopp.  This child did not appear on the 1870 census, so I believe she may have died as an infant or toddler or Ella and Mary Magdalena could be one and the same.  I combed through Holy Cross deaths and was unable to find her.  I did, in Holy Cross marriages find Mary Magdalana, which initially led me to believe Ella and she are the same.  Mary Magdalena was married to William Joseph Weeler on April 10, 1887 at Holy Cross Church.  He was 30, she 27 and they were married by L. Vogtmann.  There was a note that they received special dispensation because it was a mixed marriage (religion).  The witness for the wedding was Catharina Schmidt.    Odd how this worked out.  I found her Marriage record at Holy Cross.  The record showed her marrying Joseph Wheeler.  Witnesses were his mother, Letitia Wheeler and her mother Catharina Schmidt.  In checking census records (to determine if there were children), I found Joseph on the 1900 census with his mother and brothers, no Mary Magdalena.  Divorce or death?  After more research I was able to find her death announcement, by narrowing the dates from the marriage in 1887 to 1900, the date of the census.

8.       Ella Schmidt, born 1861.  Unable to find at this time.  They may have been one and the same.  I have entered both on the database and will do a little more research since I found the marriage for Mary Magdalena in 1886 and Ella still at home on the 1880 census.  After several months of digging through the files of five churches, I believe Ella (born about 1861 according to the 70 and 80 census records) is actually Mary Magdalena.  I was able to find MM’s birth record at Holy Cross, as well as her marriage record to Joseph.  She was born mid year, so could have missed the 1860 census.  MM doesn’t show on any census, however Ella shows on both the 70 and 80.  I believe they are both the same child.  I have removed Ella from the database (I had no documentation to support her existence, other than two census records that shows an Ella, but doesn’t show a Mary Magdalena) and added the information for Mary Magdalena.

Now armed with the Baltimore churches and the birth towns of the original immigrants, I was well on my way to many sleepless nights.

I found the towns for both Johann and Katharina (her name has been shown both ways, with a ‘C’ and with a ‘K’, so I chose to use the K, which is what was used on her baptismal record.  Her record has been updated to shown that she was born November 15, 1821, and baptized that day in the Katholisch church in Cruol, Hohenzollern, which is where her family lived at the time.  Her father was Aloisius Zimmerman, born 12.15.1798 in Aichstetten, Leutkirch, Germany.  Her mother was Marianna Wiest.  (File FHL #909615).  Her father, Aloisius was born 7.19.1766 in Aichstetten.  He married Maria Renate Bidermänn.  Maria’s parents were Johannes Georgius Bidermänn and Francisca Zeyin (Film #1046422).

Katharina’s family were from the state now called Baden-Wurttemberg.  In fact, Leutkirch is located in the southeastern part of Baden and part of Ravensburg.  It is in the administrative district of Tübingen.  Bill and I have been to Ravensburg and Tübingen.  It is very German and very beautiful. The little town where Katharina was born, Cruol (Gruol), is a small village.  The population in 2022 was 1600.  Living in the city, I sometime have more than that on my block.  It’s administrative office is in Haigerloch, Baden.  The main Catholic church there is St. Clemens. 

Later, working with a friend and German genealogist in Germany, we found the immigration record for Katharina.  She left her small town and traveled to the United States, arriving here.  She was traveling with a group that included last names of Kost/Most, people from Bittlebonn, Germany and Dominik Flair, Franzica Belser, Anton and Leonard Krenzler, from Katharina’s hometown of Cruol.  She immigrated October 1,1839.

Since we now have the Zimmerman family back to the mid 1700’s, I began to focus more on the Schmidt side of the tree. 

I knew that Johann died sometime between 1870 and 1880.  He was on the 70 censuses, but not on the 80, I decided that since Mary Magdalena was baptized at Holy Cross and that was in 60, if I was right in my assumption about his death, he would be buried from Holy Cross.   I was able to find the record of his burial.  He died on 11.3.1873, and was buried at St. Alphonsus cemetery, which was closed in 1917.  It was located on Biddle Street, near Edison Highway.  The cause of death, according to the Holy Cross entry, was pneumonia.  I believe many of those in the family were buried at St. Alphonsus.  Unfortunately, the graves were moved when it was sold to the city.  They were moved to Holy Redeemer and New Cathedral.  In most cases like this, the stones, etc., are not moved but the bodies are moved to a specific section of the new cemetery.  There is usually just signage indicating they were from i.e. ‘St. Alphonsus Cemetery’.

Now with his death date, I needed to locate his birth record.  Researching I found that Hüttersdorf is in the present day district of Saarlouis in Saarland.  I was able to locate the record on his birth in an indexed entry on February 11, 1815.  (The index was Saarland, Germany Births, Deaths, Marriages 1776-1875).  I further found his baptism record, which shows he was baptized on February 11, 1815.  This record also provided me with his parents’ names.  Johann’s father was Joannes Adami Schmit (also found as Schmidt and Schmidl) and his mother Maria Schamneer (also found spelled Schamm, Schamner, Schamne and Schamer).  This information was found in the Deutschland, Rhineland, Trier Katholische Kirchenbücher (Catholic Churchbooks) 1543-1958. 

Even better, I found Johann‘s (born 1815) brothers and sisters:

1.       Maria, born 8-8-1820 and died on December 14, 1821, Father Joannis Adami Schmidt and Mother Maria Schamneer

2.       Nicholas Wendelinus born 10.19.1822, Father Joannis Adami Schmidt and Mother Maria Schamneer

3.       Petrus Schmidt ‘Peter’, born 3.16.1825, Certificate #40, Father Joannis Adami Schmidt and Mother Maria Schamneer.  Our Johann also had a son Peter.

4.       Matthias Schmidt, born 12.12.1817, Father Joannis Adami Schmidt and Mother Maria Schamneer

5.       Joannes (another one), born 11-5-1830 Joannes (another one), born 11-5-1830 same parents, Certificate #190

6.       Maria, born 12-17-1835, Joannes (another one), born 11-5-1830 same parents, Certificate #190, Film #004012154 of the Civil Registry

I then began the search for the immigration record for Johann, which I found in the National Archives Quarterly Abstracts that list all incoming immigrants to Baltimore’s harbors (1820-1869).  He was found on Roll #3 (1-1-1834 to 12-31-1837).  He arrived in 1837 at the age of 21.  The record can be found on page 571 of the abstract.  He was traveling with Mathias Schmidt (19), which I believe was his brother.  Besides the name and dates, I believe this because Mathias was later found in Baltimore and actually acted as the godfather for Johann’s son Mathias. 

Still open and requiring further research:

1.       Catherine’s death date

2.       Birthdates and perhaps a marriage record for Joannis Adami Schmitt and Maria Schamneer, Johann’s parents.