Early Buffalo Schmidts
To date, we have been unable to trace the origins of our ancestor, Leonhard SCHMIDT (1818-1872). Because we were successful identifying further information about his wife (Elisabetha BETZ) by researching other, apparently unrelated BETZ individuals, I decided to try the same approach with SCHMIDT. In doing so, I have started to map the early SCHMIDTs of Buffalo, NY, starting with those who married and had children beginning in the 1820s as recorded in one of Buffalo's earliest German churches, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. While these records are easily legible, they don't approach the detail of their German counterparts. Only names and dates were listed-- no relations or origins were included. From this information, especially by examining the people listed as marriage witnesses and baptism sponsors, I have gleaned the following possible family groupings. A spreadsheet of the data pulled from the church records may be found HERE. I will add to this information as I continue my research. Specifically, my next task is to transcribe the Index of Deeds for Schmidts in this area...I haven't found my Leonhard's family yet, but I share the results here in hope that this information proves helpful to other SCHMIDT researchers.
-- Jillaine Smith
Last updated: 1 August 2003
Known Family Groupings
George SCHMIDT, b. Germany; m. Catharina Unknown, b. Germany. Found in the 1850 census living in Buffalo with their daughter, Christina, below.
- Christina SCHMIDT, b. 8 July 1815 Alsace-Lorraine; d. 16 February 1896 (possibly in LaMoille, Bureau Co, Illinois); m. 3 November 1835 (St. John's Evangelical Church, Buffalo NY) Johann/John Frederick SCHWINGEL, b. abt. 1810 Coburg, Germany; d. btw 1870-1880 LaMoille, Bureau Co., IL. Nine children survived to adulthood. Researcher: K. Morris.
- Christina S. SCHWINGEL, b. 5 Oct 1836 Buffalo (per obit in possession of researcher K. Morris); m. Christian DERMYER on 22 October 1854 in Amherst, Erie Co, NY. Died 11 May 1917 in Lincoln, Pottawattamie Co, Iowa.
- Carolina Elizabeth SCHWINGEL, b. 6 Aug 1838 Buffalo (per baptism in St. Johns); Married Christian STUTZMAN. Died about 1879 in Iowa.
- Catherine (Kate) SCHWINGLE born 8 July 1840, Buffalo, NY. Married John BESCH on 8 December 1858. Lived in Amherst, Erie Co, NY. Died before 1932.
- Maria SCHWINGEL, b. 3 Aug 1842 (per baptism in St. Johns); m. Christian BRUCKER. Died 5 February 1905 in Sublette, Lee Co, Illinois
- George SCHWINGLE born about 1845. Married Helen before 1872. Lived in Clay Center, Nebraska. Died before 1932.
- Sarah SCHWINGLE born 1 August 1846, Buffalo, NY. Married Adam YOUNG on 21 November 1862 in Buffalo, NY. Died 21 April 1915 in Cass Co, Iowa.
- Lewis (Lou) SWINGLE born 24 July 1848, Buffalo, NY. Married Elizabeth SCOTT on 4 March 1875 in Sublette, Lee Co, Illinois. Died 7 September 1891 in Lincoln, Pottawattamie Co, Iowa.
- Frederick SCHWINGLE born April 1851 in NY. Married Sarah about 1876. Lived in LaMoille, Bureau Co, Illinois. Died between 1910 and 1932.
- Louisa SCHWINGLE born March 1854 in NY. Married John F. FEIK about 1877. Lived in LaMoille, Bureau Co, Illinois. Died after 1932.
- See below for theories on other possible siblings of Christina...
Margaretha SCHMIDT, b. 1812 Baden; d. abt. 16 Apr 1891; buried Griffin Mills Cemetery, East Aurora; m. abt. 1838 Christopher HERMANN, b. abt. 1810 Baden (Bavaria per 1852 naturalization records); arrived Buffalo 1834. (Marriage date based on birth year of first child). Researcher: Shannon Courtney. [Shannon, I'm not sure I have this right... -- Jillaine]
- Catherine HERMANN, b. 1838
- Henry HERMANN m. Catherine GITTERE. Both buried at Griffin Mills Cemetery, East Aurora, with Margaretha Schmidt Hermann above.
- Charles HERMANN, b. 1851. Buried Griffin Mills Cemetery, East Aurora, with parents.
Peter SCHMIDT, b. abt. 1785 (estimated completely on age of wife) Germany; d. bef. 1850 (not in 1850 census; died at least before his wife; she's identified as widow on her death record); m. Margaretha HAYL, b. abt. 5 Sep 1788 (based on age at death), Alsbach, Hessen; d. 11 March 1853 Buffalo, NY (record in St. Johns). I am fairly confident that I have found Margaretha, age 62, living in the 4th ward, in 1850 census.
- Christian SCHMIDT, b. 1826
- Carl/Karl SCHMIDT, b. 1828; d. 1886; m. Margaretha BETZ, b. 1831; d. 1910.
- Wilhelm Carl SCHMIDT , b. 1852; d. btw 1880-1886; m. abt. 1877 Louisa Unknown.
- Maud SCHMIDT, b. 1878; d. aft. 1930; was single in 1930.
- Margaretha SCHMIDT, b. abt. 1832 Germany; m. John C. RAUM, b. abt. 1818 Germany (32 in 1850 census). NOTE: I am not positive that Margaretha is daughter to Peter and Margaret; I am basing this entirely on the fact that the older Margaretha SCHMIDT is living with John & Margaret RAUM in the 1850 census.
Leonhard SCHMIDT, b. 1818 Baden; d. 1872 Buffalo; m. Elisabetha BETZ (1820-1891). Researcher: Jillaine Smith.
- Catherina SCHMIDT (1849-abt. 1832) m. Frank SCHUELER (1849-abt. 1920). We have confusing data about their children, but we think it looks more or less like the following:
- John Schueler (1873-?) m. Josephine Unknown
- Mable Schueler
- Florence Schueler
- Jennie Schueler
- Jennie Schueler (1873-?)
- Charles Schueler (1875-?)
- Mary Schueler (1877-?)
- Frank Schueler (1880 or 1883-?)
- Rosa Schueler (1887-1897) m. Henry Deinzer. Three daughters, one of whom is still alive today.
- John Schueler (1873-?) m. Josephine Unknown
- Philipp Leonhard Schmidt (1851-1898) m. Elisabeth FASSNACHT (1852-1926). Ten children. This next generation changed their name to SMITH. Researchers Jillaine Smith and Darcy McCabe are descended from this line.
- Four additional children who either died single or died in infancy.
Other Early Buffalo SCHMIDTs
- Johann Peter SCHMIDT of Rohrbach, Rheinbaiern, d. 18 July 184?, 67y 9m; widower of Catharina Plum? [Death record from St. Johns Evangelical church.]
- Johann Leonhard SCHMIDT m. Eva Margaretha Weber
- Georg Andreas SCHMIDT, b. 29 Oct 1851 (twin)
- Adam Wilhelm SCHMIDT, b. 29 Oct 1851 (twin)
Possible Family Groupings
The following are groups of contemporary Schmidts-- i.e., contemporary to the time frame given-- who appear either as godparents to each others' children, or witnesses to each others' marriages. I have not confirmed that these are indeed families. I have simply grouped them as possible families worthy of further exploration. This initial batch is mostly from St. John's Evangelical church records. I still need to add in St. Peters and St. Paul/Marks.
| Year Range | Name | Notes |
| 1835-1844 | Christina Schmidt | |
| Katharina Schmidt | m. Carl Philippi | |
| Wilhelm Schmidt | m. Helena Reed / Riehl | |
| Wilhelmina Schmidt | m. Jacob Weber | |
| 1836-1843 | George Schmidt | |
| Katharina Schmidt | m. Jacob Krettner | |
| Christina Schmidt | m. Schwingel | |
| Carolina Schmidt | m. Philip Henry Stephans | |
| 1843 | Lewis Schmidt | |
| Louisa Schmidt | m. Jacob Durst | |
| 1834-1837 | Barbara Schmidt | |
| Anna Schmidt | m. Heinrich Hauenstein | |
| Jacob Schmidt | ||
| 1838 | Christian Schmidt | |
| Margaretha Schmidt | may be wife of Christian | |
| 1833 | Henry Schmidt | |
| Christina Schmidt | ||
| Rosina Schmidt | ||
| Event | Husband / Son | Wife / Daughter | Dates | Marriage Witnesses / Baptism Sponsors | |
| marriage | Schmidt, Peter | Hayl, Anna Marg | <1826.04 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schmidt, Christian A Christian Schmidt claims to be the brother of Margaretha Betz's Carl in an 1888 deposition |
1826.04.02 | Seitz/Sutz/Lutzbach, Christian | ||
| born | Schmidt, Karl This is quite likely the Carl Schmidt who marries Margaretha Betz 25 Dec 1850 (St. Johns) |
1828.01.22 | Dietz, Gottlieb; Broder, Martin | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Joh. Adam | Muller, Christina | <1832.05 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schmidt, Katherine | 1832.05.18 | Stickel; Schmidt | ||
| born | Schmidt, Maria Eliz. | 1834.02.09 | Muller, Joh. Nic.; Prandel, Sophia; Klein, Kath.; Scheurer, Peter | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Jacob | Rose, Margaretha | 1833.04.07 | Hausauren?, Martin; Rose, Michael | |
| marriage | Frederick Kreckenberger | Alexander, Anne | <1833.08 | not in church record? | |
| born | Kreckenberger or Alexander, Christina Rosina | 1833.08.11 | Schmidt, Henry; Schmidt, Christina; Schmidt Rosina | ||
| marriage | Miller, Philip | Schmidt, Eva | 1834.01.10 | Rink, Wilhelm | |
| born | Miller, Jacob Albert | 1842.11.06 | Schmiedel, Albert; Web, Jacob; Hellriegel, Jacob; Saucks?, Eliz.; Sauer, Engel; Doll, Mary | ||
| born | Miller, Elizabeth | 1835.02.14 | Miller, Michael; Weber, Eliz. | ||
| born | Miller, Philip (Jr.) | 1837.06.18 | Stauch, Nic.; Weber, Philip; Stauch, Eliz; Weber, Eliz. | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Charles | Bayley, Marg. | <1834.04 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schmidt, Mary Ann Louisa | 1834.04.16 | Belay, Frederick; Loth, Louisa | ||
| born | Schmidt, George Lewis | 1835.05.10 | Lots, George; Bayley, Kath. | ||
| born | Schmidt, Marg. Mary | 1837.01.17 | Bayley, Susan; Milliert, John | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Jacob | Dablen or Dabler, Susannah | <1834.09 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schmidt, Barbara | 1834.09.23 | Hauenstein, Balthasar; Obrist, Samul; Schmidt Anna (m. Hauenstein); Schmidts, Barbara | ||
| born | Schmidt, Barbara | 1837.03.22 | Dabler, Henry; Schmidt, Barbara | ||
| marriage | Hauenstein, Heinrich | Schmidt, Anna | <1834.11 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Hauenstein, Katherine | 1834.11.25 | Hauenstein, Balthasar; Schmidt, Barbara; Wetter, Jacob; Hauenstein, Katherine | ||
| born | Hauenstein, Heinrich Jr. | 1834.11.25 | Hauenstein, Balthasar; Schmidt, Barbara; Wetter, Jacob; Hauenstein, Katherine | ||
| marriage | Philippi, Carl | Schmidt, Katherina | 1835.01.12 | Stamm, John; Kerner, Joseph | |
| born | Philippi, George | 1835.10.01 | Stamm, John; Philippi, George; Schmidt, Christina; Schmidt, Helena | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Nicolaus | Schmidt?, Christina | <1835.07 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schmidt, Mary Magd. | 1835.07.13 | Philipp, Carl; Bauer, John; Goetz, Christina | ||
| born | Schmidt, Louisa | 1837.10.27 | Zursbruch?, Georg | ||
| marriage | Riehl, Augustus | Rull / Rohr, Franciska | 1835.09.01 | none listed | |
| born | Riehl, Lewis August | 1840.02.22 | Yost, Philip; Bruck, Wilhelm; Becker, Joseph; Meyer, Barbara; Brundel, Barbara; Schmidt, Lena? | ||
| born | Riehl, Caroline | 1836.03.19 | Haas, Ludwig; Haas, Marg. | ||
| born | Riehl, Georg | 1837.03.25 | none listed? | ||
| born | Riehl, Louisa | 1838.10.26 | Knoll/Kroll, Soloma | ||
| marriage | Schwingel, Georg F[riederich] | Schmidt, Christina | 1835.11.03 | none listed | |
| born | Schwingel, Maria Magd. | 1842.08.03 | Schmidt, George; Schmidt, Katharina | ||
| marriage | Schwingel, Christian | Schmidt, Christina | not in church record? Is husband's name actually a mis-entry for G.F. Schwingel? | ||
| born | Schwingel, Carolina | 1838.08.06 | Konig, Nicolas; krettner, Jacob, Schmidt, Garlina; Beckle, Eliz. | ||
| marriage | Krettner, Jacob | Schmidt, Katharina | 1835.11.05 | Wegner, Joseph; Schwinderman, George | |
| born | Krettner, Eliz. Kath. | 1839.05.30 | Schwingel, Fred.; Schmidt, Katharina; Koch, Peter; Butler?, Eliz; Hornung, Carl | ||
| born | Krettner, George Peter | 1836.05.13 | Koch, Peter; Krettner, George; Goebel, Susanna; Schmidt, Carolina | ||
| born | Krettner, Christian Jacob | 1837.10.15 | Becker, Christian; Koch, Peter; German, Susanna; Schmidt, Christina | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, William | Nabors, Katharina | 1835.12.13 | Rink, William | |
| born | Schmidt, George Frederick | 1841.12.28 | Biederman, George; Strubbs, Eliz; Schmidt, Wilhelmina | ||
| born | Schmidt, Wilhelm | 1839.06.20 | Strubbe, Gerhard Wm.; Meyer, Engel | ||
| born | Schmidt, William | 1836.04.14 | Rink, William | ||
| marriage | Schmitz, Fred. | Schadowberger or Schallberger, Kath. | <1836.05 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| Schmitz, Peter | 1836.05.20 | Stang, Peter | |||
| born | Schmitz, George | 1840.05.06 | Key?, George; Keller, Solomea | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Wilhelm | Reed / Riehl, Helena | <1836.10 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schmidt, Helena | 1836.10.17 | George, Elizabetha. | ||
| born | Schmidt, Elizabeth | 1838.01.27 | Steuenswalt?, Eliz. | ||
| marriage | Schmidt, Conrad | Vielborn?, Kath. Eliz. | 1836.11.08 | none listed | |
| marriage | Koch, Philip | Hornung, Katherina | <1838.03 | not in church record? | |
| born | Koch, Louisa Christiana | 1838.03.01 | Schmidt, Christian; Schmidt, Margaretha | ||
| marriage | Deiss, Gerhard H. | Schmidt, Christina or Clara | <1838.03 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Deiss, Sophia Louisa | 1838.03.27 | Mayer, Engel; Schroeder, Louisa | ||
| marriage | Dickman, George | Schmidt, Katharina | 1838.05.20 | Armand, Las?; Armand, Kath; Dickman, Chas. | |
| born | Dickman, George (jr) | 1843.11.04 | Dickman, Carl; Bronner, Katharina | ||
| born | Dickman, George (jr) | 1840.07.17 | must have died before 11/1843. Hoffer, Fried.; Brunner, Katharina | ||
| marriage | Siegel, Casimus | Schmidt, Christina | 1838.05.24 | Young, Conrad; Haberstroh, Joseph | |
| marriage | Smith, Philip A. | Knowitz, Charity | <1839.03 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Smith, Lewis Frederick | 1839.03.09 | twins; Dellenbaugh, Fred; Dellenbaugh, Magd.; Georger, Lewis; Georger, Emilia | ||
| born | Smith, Magdalena Louisa Emilia | 1839.03.09 | twins; Dellenbaugh, Fred; Dellenbaugh, Magd.; Georger, Lewis; Georger, Emilia | ||
| marriage | Weber, John | Dorr, Katharina | 1840.06.21 | none listed | |
| marriage | Schneider, Johann | Schmidt, Katharina | <1841.09 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Schneider, Katherine | 1841.09.03 | Krein, Kath.; Krein, Christian | ||
| Schneider, Joh. Georg | 1843.11.13 | Stissenode?, Joh. George | |||
| marriage | Rrohsmer?, Joh. Fried. | Schmidt/z, Katharina | 1841.10.05 | none listed | |
| marriage | Falkner, Heinrich | Schmidt, Barbara | 1842.07.12 | Stubenrauch, Joseph; Brunner, Andrew; Blendinger, John L. | |
| marriage | Reinhard, Christian Ludwig | Kolb, Eliza | 1842.11.25 | Kress, Friederich; Beinder, Jacob | |
| marriage | Stauch?, Theobad | Schmidt, Elizabeth | 1842.12.04 | Dornienbusch, Carl; Eisenbeger, Ludwig | |
| born | Stauch, Elisabetha | 1843.10.25 | Stauch, Nicolas; Stauch, Elisabetha | ||
| marriage | Weber, Jacob | Schmidt, Maria [Wilhelmina] | 1842.12.27 | Weber, Christian; Schmidt, William | |
| born | Weber, Wilhelmina | 1844.01.21 | Weber, Christian; Schmidt, William; Weber, A. Maria; Schmidt, Kath. | ||
| marriage | Durst, Jacob | Schmidt, Lousia | <1843.04 | not in church record; based on birth of first recorded child | |
| born | Durst, Carolina Juliana | 1843.04.08 | Schmidt, Lewis; Schwegel, Peter; Schwegel, Eliz.; Strob, Barb. | ||
| marriage | Stephans, Philip Henry | Schmidt, Carolina | 1843.07.11 | Schwingel, Friederich; Schwingel, Christina | |
| marriage | Smith, John K. | Ernst, Elisabetha | 1843.11.28 | ||
| marriage | Baumler, Joh. Conrad | Schlosser, Marg. Barb. | 1844.10.01 | Puckel, Joh. George; Benz, Joh. Erhard | |