- MATTHIAS SCHMIDT, a prosperous business man of Appleton, Wisconsin, w ho is proprietor of one of the finest men's furnishing goods and clothi ng establishments in the city, is a native of the Fatherland, where he w as born September 25, 1853, at Hatzenport on the Rhine, a son of Matthi as and Gertrude Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt was only four years old when he was b rought to the United States by his parents, the family locating near Apple ton, where the father purchased land. He died nine months later, howeve r, before he had a chance to improve his property, and his widow later w as married to HIenry Koehne. Her death occurred in 1874. Mr. Schmidt's thr ee sisters were: Mrs. George Jansen, who died in 1910; Mrs. August Lohman n, who resides in Appleton, and Mrs. Henry Schuetter, also a resident of t his city. Matthias Schmidt (or "Matt," as he is more familiarly known) ca me to Appleton in 1868, and secured employment with H. A. Phinney in who se men's furnishing goods store he worked for eighteen years, and later w as connected with Joseph Spitz in the same line of business for twelve yea rs. In 1898 he decided to engage in business on his own account, and open ed an establishment in Appleton with a complete line of wearing apparel f or gentlemen. His long experience in this line enabled hinm to put in a st ock of goods which would attract the most careful and exacting buyer. T he success which has attended Mr. Schmidt's undertaking has been the resu lt of his constant efforts to please, together with his progressive ide as and business ability. On April 13, 1875, Mr. Schmidt was married to Ma ry Sauter, daughter of Antone and Katherine Sauter, early settlers of ne ar Appleton, and six children have been born to this union: Katherine, w ho died May 27, 1908; George A., who is engaged with his father in busines s, is married and has two children, a son and a daughter; Isabelle. who li ves at home; Frank J., a resident of Spokane, Washington; and Gertrude a nd Rosella, who reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are members of St. Jo seph's Catholic Church. He is independent in his political views, voting r ather for the man than the party. Mr. Schmidt is the owner of a fine resid ence in Appleton
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1853 - 1930 (76 years)
Biography
