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Schmitt a.k.a. Schmidt a.k.a. Smith (Twin) Peter, Jr[1] 1824 - 1902

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• Suffix	Jr
  Birth	7 Jun 1824	Malborn, Prussia, Germany   [2]
  Christened	7 Jun 1824	Malborn, Prussia, Germany   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Kings, Bishops, and Princes	19 Dec 1890	Voting in West Ridge
  	Chicago Tribune, Dec. 20 1890, p. 3 Election results of West Ridge TRUSTEES: William Schmiedtgen, Charles Schmidt, John Muno, Adam Zender, Dominick Schreiber, Peter Irmeter............Village Clerk: Henry D. Capitain; Police Magistrate: Joseph Klein
  Died	7 Apr 1902	6836 N Ridge, Chicago, IL   [4]
  Buried	10 Apr 1902	St. Henry's Cemetery, Smith Plot, see Smith Monument , Chicago, Illinois USA
  	Age: 78
  Person ID	I020	Schmit(t)... Schmidt...Smith...Fortmann...Fortman....Bourcier...Boursier.....Morris
  Last Modified	14 Nov 2007

  
  

  Father	Schmitt a.k.a. Schmidt a.k.a. Smith Johann Peter, Sr,   b. ca. 23 Feb 1788, Zuesch, Germany ,   d. 7 Jun 1875, 6836 N Ridge (Ridgeville), Chicago, Illinois USA
  Relationship	birth
  Mother	Bruck Anna Maria,   b. 1795, Roderbach, Germany ,   d. 5 Nov 1879, 6836 N Ridge (Ridgeville), Evanston (Chicago), Illinois USA
  Relationship	birth
  Married	1 Jan 1810	Roderbach, Germany
  Photos		The 1100 AD French City of Laon, birthplace of Jacques Marquette 1st White Man to see Chicago in 1673. Note who the painter was. Located Northeast of Paris. On the Schmidt route to LeHavre.
  		1840's German Log Cabin Johann Peter Schmitt, aka Schmidt aka Smith, Johann Zender, Rev. Henry Fortmann, and Peter Schmitt of Winnetkka (this is his house) built these log cabins along "the Ridge" and north for their families between 1835 and 1845. This log cabin was very common with the early Ridgeville residents on the sandy bluffs of Ridge Trail
  		1844 Sunday Dinner at the Schmitt (Schmidt)house on "the Ridge", prepared by Anna Maria Bruck Schmitt and daughter Maria Anna Schmitt..... Elizabeth Muno is visiting.
  		1842 Company on a Sunday at the Schmitt, Schmidt house on "the Ridge".
  Family ID	F008	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Phillipp, aka Philippi Elizabeth,   b. 3 Mar 1832, ?? Prussia, Germany ,   d. 6 Jan 1884, 6836 N Ridge, Chicago, IL
  Married	29 Apr 1849	Ridgeville, (Chicago), IL
  Notes	Elizabeth is 17 years old when she marries Peter who is 25 in 1849.
  Children	> 1. Smith Peter K., III,   b. 11 Mar 1850, 6806 Ridge Trail, Ridgeville, (Chicago) IL ,   d. 27 Apr 1896, Chicago, Illinois > 2. Smith John Jacob,   b. 6 Jan 1851, 6806 Ridge Trail, Ridgeville, (Chicago) IL ,   d. 1910   3. Smith John,   b. 1852, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, ILs ,   d. 1911, Chicago, Illinois   4. Smith Mary,   b. 4 Apr 1853, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 6 May 1857, 6816 N Ridge Chicago, Illinois   5. Smith Catherine,   b. 27 May 1854, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 26 Jun 1855, 6816 N Ridge Chicago, Illinois   6. Smith Elizabeth,   b. 14 Sep 1856, 6816 N Ridge Chicago, Illinois ,   d. 23 Jun 1857, 6816 N Ridge Chicago, Illinois   7. Smith George,   b. 26 May 1858, 6816 Ridge Ave, Ridgeville, (Chicago) IL ,   d. Aug 1938, Chicago, Illinois   8. Smith Michael,   b. 2 Jun 1860, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 1915, Chicago, Illinois   9. Smith Anna Maria,   b. 17 Mar 1862, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 22 Jul 1930, Chicago, Illinois   10. Smith Frank,   b. 24 Jun 1863, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 3 Jan 1864, 6816 N Ridge Chicago, Illinois   11. Smith Phillip,   b. 24 Nov 1865, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 2 Nov 1936, Chicago, Illinois   12. Smith Andrew,   b. 24 May 1867, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 1923, Chicago, Illinois   13. Smith Charles,   b. 1 Nov 1869, 6816 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 1958, Chicago, Illinois > 14. Smith Louisa aka Louise,   b. 6 Jul 1871, 6836 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 1 Nov 1956, 6836 N Ridge, Chicago, Illinois   15. Smith Mathias,   b. 14 Aug 1874, 6836 N. Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL ,   d. 2 Jan 1945, Chicago, Illinois
  Histories		1871 Expenses of Building the Schmitt aka Schmidt aka Smith House recorded in 1871, original accounting document w/D.A. Fortman Carpenter Work:........Cash.............$750..... Mason Work:............Cash.............$600..... Plastering:............Cash.............$250..... Lumber:.................................$750..... Sash and Moulding:......................$150..... Lime and cement:........................$125..... Locks and Things:........................$75.... Paint and Painters:.....................$100.... Brick:..................................$675.... Lumber at Evanston:......................$75.... Freight:.................................$50.... Tinsmith:................................$63.... Stone Work:..............................$50.... Carpenter Cash:..........................$50.... Moulding Door:...........................$50.... Total:.................................$3813.... Other Cash payments:...................$1337.... Grand Total:...........................$5150.
  Last Modified	22 Aug 2007
  Family ID	F010	Group Sheet

  
  

• Photos		1883..... Peter Schmidt Smith Jr,.......age 59....................husband of Elizabeth Phillips............. and Son of Johann Peter Schmidt Sr. (original Prussian German migrant to US in 1840.)..........builder of 6836 N. Ridge in 1871, the year of the Great Chicago Fire...........land speculator and owner of 145.63 acres of Rogers Park on Ridge Avenue by 1860.
  		1883.......Elizabeth Phillips.......age 51........wife of Peter Schmidt Smith Jr..........daughter of Jacob Phillip of Damflos,Germany and Katherina Kohlass........Mother of 15 children......daughter: Louisa Schmidt Fortman
  		Jan 1, 1810 Marriage Certificate of Anna Maria Bruck and Johann Peter Schmidt(Sr) Although the marriage took place in Maria's Village of Roderback, Germany this certificate resides in the Catholic Parish records of Zuesch, Germany. It is written in Latin by the German Catholic priest performing the ceremony. Johann Peter and Maria Bruck are the parents of Peter Schmidt(Jr) They immigrated to America in late May, 1840 Their Passport, issued May 2, 1840 in Trier, Germany is written in Gothic German and was issued 30 years after their marriage.
  		Johann Peter Schmidt & J Heinrich Fortmann's Atlantic crossing from LeHavre & Bremen to America in 1840 & 1838? The Ports and Sailing route of Ships traversing the North Atlantic Ocean from Europe to New York in 1840. Ports: Bremen, LeHavre, Calais, Southhampton, Brest, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, South Caribean, Bermuda, New York.
  		1834 "Thaler", a German Silver Coin. Used for 400 years, this coin is a one "Thaler" coin and = to 30 Silver "Groschen" ( Sgr. means silbergroschen or silver penny). In 1834 one day's farm labor was paid 1 1/2 Silvergr. A farm laborer earned 450 Silvergr. or 15 Thaler a year. A simple farm hand would earn 9 Thaler a year. A boy 5 Thaler a year. A servant 3 Thaler a year. Johann Peter would have carried a pouch or tin box of these as he left Germany. Johann's Passport shows "15 Sgr" or 1/2 a "Thaler" for the "tax stamp". And, "20 Sgr" for "passage permission". Thus, his 35 Sgr fees represented about 24 work days or 4 weeks of work.
  		1840 United States Port of Entry: Castle Garden, New York Located on the Southwestern tip of Manhatten, Long Island, New York this is the port of entry through which Johann Peter Schmidt, his wife Maria Bruck, his sons, Peter and Jacob and his daughter Maria Anna entered the United States on July 27, 1840 from the US Clipper, "France". There was no immigration facility here in 1840 (it came into existence in 1851) and thus the gang-plank was lowered; an officer of the ship gave a US official the Passenger Manifest (Congress passed that legal requirement in 1830) and away the voyagers went into New York.
  		German, French, English and American Ports of Departure ca. 1800 Bremen, LeHavre, SouthHampton, Calais, Brest, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, 2500NM to the Carribean, Bermuda, New York
  		Peter Schmidt's Immigration Record This is the Immigration Record of Peter Schmidt, listed on his Father, Johann Peter Schmidt's Passport and his arrival at Castle Garden, New York, United States on 27 July 1840 aboard the Clipper Ship "France"
  		Port of LeHavre, France 1870
  		1840, May 2nd Issued in Trier, Germany the Cover Page 1 Prussian German Passport Issued to: Johann Peter Schmidt(Sr), age: 52 Maria Bruck (wife), age: 48 married 30 years Peter, age: 15 Jacob, age: 15 Anna (Maria Anna), age: 21 b. 21 Nov 1819 during passage discovers she is pregnant, unmarried, and Johannn Zender, Father of future Baby Jacob Zender is in Germany. Johann at 26 cannot leave Germany since Prussian Military regulations do not allow men 17 to 26 to leave without paying a punative tax. Four children are left in Damflos, Germany Elizabeth Barbara age: 28 married? Anna Maria, age: 23 married? Johannes, age: 13 deceased Johannes Peter, age: 3 deceased Departure is from LeHavre, France in late May or early June 1840 aboard the US Clipper Ship "France", landing 27 July 1840 at Castle Garden, New York (southwestern tip of Manhatten)
  		Page 3 of Johnann Peter Schmidt's Passport Issued in Trier, Germany on 2 May 1840 to Johann Peter(Sr) and showing his wife Maria (Bruck), Twin Sons: Peter(Jr) and Jacob, and his daughter Anna (Maria Anna). It shows a 15 Grs Stamp and a 20 Grs "Passage Permit" fee. Additional stamps show departure stamps for LeHavre, France with French permissions. Departure was mid to late May or very early June. The 10,000 mile sea journey would take them to England, Calais, Brest, the Grand Canary Islands off Africa, the Cape Verde Islands also off Africa, thence 2500 miles across (21 days) to the southern Carribean in the vicinity of Puerto Rico, then Bermuda, landing in New York abt. 55 after deprature from LeHavre. Their route approximates that of hurricanes forming off Africa and moving toward the US and up its East Coast.
  		Page 2 of Johann Peter Schmidt's Passport. Issued to Johann Peter Schmidt(Sr). P.2 shows the age and physical attributes of wife, Maria, twin Sons: Peter and Jacob and daughter Anna (Maria Anna.) Note the significant height differences between Peter and Jacob-this suggests fraternal brothers since they have the same birth date.
  		Crest........at main Road into Malborn, Germany The Johann Peter Schmidt(Sr)and Maria Bruck children were all born in this villiage between 1812 and 1826. These children were: Elizabeth Barbara, Johannes Peter, Anna Maria, Maria Anna, Jacob, Peter(Jr), and Johannes. In late May 1840, Maria Anna, Jacob and Peter would depart with their parents from here for LeHavre, New York and settle in Chicago in May 1842
  		Catholic Church in the Village of Malborn, Germany This is the Marlborn Village Catholic Church in which the Johann Peter Schmidt(Sr) and Maria Bruck children were most probably baptized between 1812 and 1826. The Church of 195 years ago undoubtedly looked different than this building.
  		1871 House ........photo: March,1903........The Fortman Boys: Frederick Peter, Age 9, Lawrence Anthony, Age 7, Edmund Age 2..................Peter Schmidt's Victorian House built in 1871 at 6836 N. Ridge...it is 32 yrs. old in this photo...Peter died in the back bedroom here last year...the house now belongs to Louisa Schmidt Fortman and her husband Frederick. Married 8 yrs. Their Son Albert Joseph, not pictured will be born in 17 months. This Son will receive the house from his Mother in 1937. Albert Joseph will Will the house to his Son, David who will take title upon his father's death 7 Sep 1987. This house has thus been in the Schmidt Fortman lineage for 136 years................................................................................ Note the Greenhouses in the back, the carriage shed on the North side, the kerosene lamp in the bow window and the scalloped upstairs bedroom shade. The house does not yet have city sewers which will be laid in Ridge Ave. next year. The chimney cap is typical of the period as is the European grape-vine lattice a few feet south of the front porch. The bulkhead wooden-door can be seen to be open on the south side behind the large tree....................Louisa Smith Fortmann, Mistress of the house in this picture is age 32.
  		The 1871 Ancestral Home of Peter Schmidt(Jr), (b. 1824) July, 2001 6836 N Ridge Blvd, Chicago, Illinois 136 Year Old
  		St.Henry's Catholic Church #3, the East Facade, Ridge & Devon, Chicago, IL. Completed,1905. Church # 1 was a single-room single-story wooden building built in 1851 by the Prussian Heritage German speaking Catholic Community. An examination of gravestone names confirms this Prussian Heritage. This Church served the growing Catholic Community for 20 years. Prior to this Church, Catholic Mass and services were celebrated by Fr. Fortmann, a traveling missionary priest, in the 2-story wooden frame home of Peter Schmidt Smith(Jr) at 6816 Ridge Trail, (a sandy Indian Trail leading to Green Bay Trail that went to Milwaukee). This house was about 1 mile North of the Church's location. Church # 2, a steepled wood Gothic style, was built in 1871, at a cost of $10,000 and utilized until Church #3 was completed in 1905. It served for 34 years. The Cemetery adjacent to Church #3 was established in 1863. Many of the early German residents rest here. A plot cost $6.00 then. Today the Church charges $1300 for decendents to open a grave on a 144 year old family site if one can overcome the bureaucratic hurdles and legalisns of today's Church. Burials prior to 1863 were either "on the farm" or in the City Cemetery that is now Lincoln Park. That City cemetery was closed and almost all residents were reinterred to Calvary Cemetery (Catholic) or Rosehill Cemetery if Protestant. It is also apparent that the recording of Children's Burials was not rigorously applied. The accuracy of Children's burials appears to have improved about 1960. Records prior to 1960 and earlier omit many children's burial records since they were probably performed by undertakers without a concern for Cemetery records. The recording of Adult Burial dates appears accurate since 1863 and correlation with Census data after about 1880 improves. Current Catholic burial records were moved in 2004 from St Boniface Cemetery to Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, IL. The original "Books of Record" for funerals, (the accuracy responsibility beng that of Pastors until about 1930), has since been taken over by Archdiocosean Personnel. These original records were of course in German until about 1920 and then a "translation" transpired in the '30's and of course the error factor immediately grew. Finding and obtaining access to a "Book of Original Record" can be a daunting task. The whereabouts of these original records of St. Henry's is at this time an open question. In about 1928 Cardinal Mundeline gave Church #3 to the Angel Guardian Orphanage. This infuriated the Congregation. The Pastor, Fr. Rittersoph, asked for and received reassignment, stating he could "no longer hold up my head" to his parishoners in light of this heavy handed action. The parishoners had just finished paying off the mortgage the previous year. The parishoners were given a small piece of land a block west on Hoyne Ave to construct the current two story fortress style Church. The second floor was the grammar school. This Church #4, a small stone block building, served as St Henry's Church from 1928 to today. It's parishoners grew but peaked in 1952. With middle-class flight to the suburbs beginning in the 60's; the parish stagnated in the 80's; declined in the 90's and is currently utilized by a small Catholic Vietnamese Congregation and Pastor. It's school is closed. The fruits of "multiculturism" in Rogers Park have decimated a once vibrant Catholic Church. A sad ending to a great beginning.
  		1866 Weimeschkirch Undertakers.....served the German Community of Rogers Park from abt 1865. The Fortmann, Schmidt/Smith families were served by Weimeschkirch for the 100 years of its existence.
  		1861 "Flower Map" Evanston......previously: "Ridgeville".......prior: "the Ridge" in 1842. Map shows Smith (Schmitt/Schmidt) and Fortmann Farms on "the Ridge".......a dusty Indian trail in 1842.
  		1890 Ebert's Tavern...."Ridge Inn" A block south of the Schmitt/Schmidt Farm on Ridge Ave. Just East of Heinrich (I)Fortmann's House on Robie St.
  		1890 Karthauser Saloon....Zender Saloon, 1845-1885?...
  		1890 Clark Street at Lunt, Chicago
  		1866 Weimeschkirch Undertaker, Clark Street, Ridgeville
  		1880 Phillip Bank, Clark Street, 1st location
  		1854 Weimishkirch Funeral Services founded. 1920's Hand Bill of Weimishkirch Funeral Services

  
  

  Headstones		1875 c. Smith Monument Plate … Status:
  		1875 a. Smith, Schmidt Burial Plot at St.Henry's … Status:
  		St.Henry's Church 3 … Status:
  		1863 Summer First wooden St Henry's German Catholic Kirche, North Side of Devon Ave at "the Ridge". …

  
  

  Histories		1884 WAR AMONG THE SMITHS The Trouble on Rock Creek Last Tuesday Published by: Aspen Weekly Times May 31, 1884 …
  		1874 The Murder of Henry Muno Jr. Summer of 1874....Henry Muno (Jr), 39 years of age, was walking home to his wife and children that night when out of the darkness sprang his theif and murderer. Henry had $25.00 in his pocket and for this he was murdered. Henry was going to his home on Touhy Ave. near Western. He was returning on foot from a visit to his mother-in-law, Mrs. John Zender, wife of another early Ridgeville settler. The murderer was never found but he was believed to be a hired hand of the neighbor who knew the money Henry was carrying. Henry's wife was left with seven sons and one daughter to care for. Her picture was carried in the local paper showing her with her children. When this occurred, Mrs. Peter Muno, mother of the slain man, was living alone in the little farmhouse on "the Ridge". But she was by no means deserted by her three daughters, all of whom were married then living in homes in the vicinity. They came to visit her almost daily. One of them, Mrs. John Weber-occupied a house just north of the old Muno homestead. There, too, went her widowed daughter-in-law and her grandchildren. After the death of Mrs. Muno in 1895 the farmhouse was vacant for a number of years. Then it was acquired by Joseph Winkin, who moved into it with his new bride. The neighbors at that time were the Rogerses, Touhys, Zenders, Schmidts, Fortmanns, Marshalls, Kyles, Scchers, Phillips, and schneiders.
  		1837 "Early Settlers" of 8 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan....1837 to 1845....."the Ridge"....."Indian Boundary Trail" According to John Muno, and recorded by Albert Joseph Fortman about 1980........ "Peter Muno came with Peter Phillips father in 1842. Took 5 days (more like 65) to cross the ocean. At that time (meaning 1840's?) Philip Rogers owned from Kedzie to Lake and south of Touhy to Pratt." (actual title search shows Peter Schmidt Sr bought 42.65 acres from John Smith and his Wife on May 9, 1842....an area from Morse to Pratt....Ridge to Western). "Phillips owned 60 acres north of Touhy from Western to Ridge." "Father (Muno) bought 40 acres south of Touhy from Western to Kedzie." "Zender founded (Tavern probably) 1845" "1st settlers on Indian Boundary Trail (oldest in Chicago)" This is Rogers Ave now. "Peter Phillip - President Rogers Park Bank" this is probably the Phillips Bank of Rogers Park. "His mother was a Petery" "(Luxemburg)"

  
  

• Notes

  A Justice of the peace in the 1860's. Oath Sworn, 9 April 1853 ............................................ Peter Smith, age 28, having been elected Clerk of the Town of Ridgeville, made the following affdavit before Ebenezer Bennet, J.P., on the 9th day of April 1853: ............................................ "I do solemnly swear that I have not fought a duel, nor sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel, the probable issue of which might have been the death of either party, nor been a second to either party, nor in any manner aided or assisted in such duel, nor been knowingly the bearer of such challenge or acceptance, since the adoption of the Constitution, and that I will not be so engaged or concerned directly or indirectly in or about any such duel during my continuance in office. ............................................ So help me God. [5]




• Sources

  [S2265] David A. Fortman, records at 6836 N Ridge Chicago, IL davidfortman@hotmail.com. St Henry's Cemetery (Smith Monument) d: June 7, 1875 age 89 THIS IS 1786, but March 2, 1840 German Passport, age: 52 THIS IS 1788 1850 Census shows: age: 60 THIS IS 1790 1870 Census shows: age: 83 THIS IS 1787 Ship "France" passenger manifest: age: 52 THIS IS 1788 ship lands in New York, 27 July 1840 Conclusion: Peter Schmidt Sr was born in 1788 1843: Peter Sr, wife Maria and son Peter Jr are living on Ridge Rd at (abt 6806) in their first log cabin house. Abt. 1850 they construct a new 2-story wood frame house just north of the first house. 1850 Census: residents at abt. 6820 Ridge Road, Peter Smith (Johann Peter Schmidt) age: 72 (not 60 in census) wife: Mary Smith (Maria Bruck) age: 55 ( not 60 in census) son: Jacob Bruck age: 26 (28 in census) and twin brother, son: Peter Smith (Jr.) age: 26 (28 in census) wife: Elizabeth Smith (Phillips) age 18 (18 in census) first born son of Peter Jr and Elizabeth: Peter III, age 3 months (3 months in census) [S2265] David A. Fortman, records at 6836 N Ridge Chicago, IL davidfortman@hotmail.com. [S5323] LDS Film 1859263, Katholische Kirche Malborn (Kr. Bernkastel), (Later Day Saints), 1859263. (Reliability: 3). Jeanine Scholtz [S2265] David A. Fortman, records at 6836 N Ridge Chicago, IL davidfortman@hotmail.com. David Fortman, records at 6836 N Ridge Chicago, IL . buried in St. Henry's Cemetery, see Smith Monument located in North East corner of Cemetery [S5347] Andreas' "History of Cook County", Andreas (Reliability: 3), 9 Apr 1853.