Schmidt in Voehl, Hesse

The recorded history of the Schmidt family in Voehl begins with Hans Schmidt, born about 1567, who married Catharina Battefeld, about 1600 in Voehl. Since the church records begin in 1618 these early points are a bit uncertain.

Their son Nicolaus or Claus Schmidt was born in 1607 and he married Elisabeth Forne, born about 1615, on 6 June 1656 in Voehl. They had a son, Johann Hermann Schmidt, born 23 June 1658, who married Anna Margarethe Hegel from Eimelrod 26 July 1688. They had a son, Johannes, born 23 Feb 1693/94 who married Elisabeth Marie Heintze 4 May 1719. They had a son, Johann Herman Schmidt, born 15 Nov 1721 who married Anna Elisabeth Altenhain 12 Nov 1754. He was a church elder and burgermeister of Voehl.

They had ten children. One was Johann Henrich Schmidt, born 24 Nov 1757, who married Katharina Elisabeth Knuettel 18 May 1786. Their son Johann Philipp Schmidt, born 8 Sep 1800 in Voehl married Maria Katharina Mueller 18 Oct 1829 in Marienhagen. They had three children: Karoline Katharina Schmidt, born 17 Feb 1831 in Marienhagen; Christian Philipp Schmidt, born 7 Mar 1833 in Marienhagen; and Katharina Friederike Wilhelmine Schmidt, born 14 Jan 1838. This whole family immigrated to Edwardsville, Madison County, IL in 1847, probably becoming the first of the descendants of Hans to do so. Karoline married John Stulken, orginally from Oldenburg, in Madison County. Christian changed his name to C. P. Smith and married Frances Harriet Kaiser 2 Dec 1860 in Madison County. Katharina married Henry Stulken 12 Dec 1860 in Madison County.

Another son of Johann Herman and Anna Elisabeth Schmidt was Johann Hermann, born 23 Jun 1765 who married Marie Katharina Mueller 19 Aug 1799 in Voehl. One of their sons, Johann Hermann Christian Friedrich Schmidt, born 16 Nov 1817 moved to Alraft and married Henriette Christiane Rode 18 Feb 1849 in Alraft. Upon her death he married Johanna Caroline Catharine Maria Mueth 1 Jul 1860. Johann Hermann had several children emigrate to America.

William K. M Schmidt, child of Hermann and Henriette, born 25 Jan 1859, emigrated about 1882 and eventually became a preacher in the German Methodist Church in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Children of Hermann and Caroline Mueth included: Christian Friedrick Schmidt, born 14 Jul 1861, emigrated about 1883 and ended up in California. Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Schmidt, born 9 Oct 1863, emigrated in 1884 and settled in Christian County, Illinois. Johanna Maria Carolina (Lena) Schmidt, born 12 Mar 1866, emigrated in 1887 and settled in Des Moines, Iowa. Carl Christian Friedrich Schmidt, born 5 Dec 1868, emigrated and "went West" but family lost all contact with him. Another sibling was Sophia Christiane Stiehl, daughter of Caroline Mueth, born 16 Dec 1857, who was considered a part of the Schmidt family. She emigrated about 1884 and settled in Des Moines.

(The above information was gathered from church records by Lothar Stracke and Hermann Vallbracht and compiled by Dave Schmidt.)--Urset 13:08, 12 April 2007 (MDT)