John Christian Schmidt
John C. Schmidt Dies After Long Years Suffering
One of Lusk's most lovable characters, John Christian Schmidt, pioneer of Wyoming and a resident of this community for the past forty-eight years, passed away at his home in the west side of town at 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 15th, his death ending many years of suffering from a facial carcinoma. Mr. Schmidt's daughter, Mrs. Mary Starks, was with him at the end, and had talked with him only an hour or so before he died, when he got up from his bed to walk around, undoubtedly suffering from the intense pain which had tortured him for many years, and of which he complained so little.
Mr. Schmidt was a man who made friends readily, and during his long residence in this locality had acquired hundreds of staunch admirers of his friendly, pleasant personality.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Mary Starks of this city; Mrs. Clara Daniels of Rosebud, S. Dak., and two sons, Fred of Colorado springs, Colo., and Karl of Casper. Another child died in infancy. One sister, Miss Julia Schmidt, resides at Douglas. All of the immediate relatives with the exception of the son, Fred, are here to attend last services.
Concluding rites will be conducted from the chapel of the Peet Funeral Home at 2 o'clock tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, February 18th. Rev. Millard H. Marshall, former pastor of the Congregational church of this city and now pastor of the Glendive, Mont., Congregational church, has arrived to officiate at the services, fulfilling a request made by the deceased while Reverend Marshall held the pastorate here.
John Christian Schmidt was born in Asch, Bohemia, Austria, June 1, 1862, one of a family of thirteen children, of which only one, Miss Julia Schmidt, a sister, of Douglas, Wyo., survives. His parents are Joseph and Christine Schmidt. He came to America in October, 1881 at the age of nineteen, and to Lusk in 1886, when it was known as Silver Cliff.
He served his apprenticeship in the carpenter's trade in his home town and continued that occupation throughout life. Mr. Schmidt was a partner in the firm of Schmidt & Esmay, contractors of Douglas, Wyo., which built the first Casper court house, the state fair building at Douglas, and the I.O.O.F. hall and Episcopal church in Lusk.
He was always interested in music and was a member of several bands in this city, Douglas and Casper. He was leader of the Lusk band in 1897, and taught the Douglas high school band in 1910. The children of the latter presented him with a gold watch in appreciation of his interest and instruction, of which he was extremely proud and always carried with him.
Mr. Schmidt was married to Ellen Rose Daley in Lusk on February 9th, 1889. To this union were born five children, one of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are Mrs. Mary Starks of Lusk, Mrs. Clara Daniels of Rosebud, S. Dakota; Fred, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Karl of Casper, Wyo., also six grandsons, five of whom are now serving in the armed forces; three granddaughters and two great grandchildren. His sister, Miss Julia Schmidt of Douglas and several nieces and nephews, also survive.