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{Scmidt/Smith}
{Smith, the anglicised spelling
of Schmidt}
{1} Mathew (Mattheis) Schmidt
1/6/1782 ** 1859
Wilhelmina (His Wife)
8/1/1779 ** 1858
The Schmidt’s of Baden Baden, the Kingdom of Wurttemberg, Germany
{2} Michael Schmidt (Smith)
10/6/1804 ** 1879
Rosina Catherine Moyner (His Wife)
12/20/1806 ** 1881
Baden Baden, the Kingdom of Wurttemberg, Germany
{3} Louisa Christina (Schmidt)
Smith
6/11/1826 ** 1865
Jacob F. Rommetsch (Her Husband)
4/12/1817 ** 1903
{1} Mathew (Mattheis) Schmidt,born
January 6, 1782/ died in 1859
Married:
Wilhelmina, born August 1, 1779
died February 2, 1858
The children of Mathew and Wilhelmina;
{1} Michael
Married: Rocina C. Moyner
{2} Regina
Married: John Buehta
{3} Ferdinand
Died 1856
{4} Christina
Married: Philip Schuerrer
{5} Wilheminia
Married: Nicholas Staub
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{2} Jacob, 2nd. born to Michael
and Rocina (Moyner) Smith
Married: Elizabeth Stonestreet
{3} Christian, 3rd. born to Michael
and Rocina (Moyner) Smith
{He was a soldier in the civil war, died June 15, 1865 of fever}
He was a Private of Co. K 6 West Virginia Infintry
Enlisted in 1862.
{4} Mary, 4th. born to Michael
and Rocina (Moyner) Smith
Married: Sam Sponaugle
{5} Katherine, 5th. born to Micahel
and Rocina (Moyner) Smith
Married: Israel Engel
S/O Rev. Daniel and Anna Marie (Weltz) Engel - Rev. Engel organized the
first
church class of United Brethern in the new settlement. Israel, was one
of nine
children; Israel, Rocina, Catherine, Elizabeth, Joseph, Daniel S., Christian,
Frederick, and Caroline.
{6} Amelia. 6th. born to Michael
and Rocina (Moyner) Smith
Married: Perry Stout
{7} Louisa C. 7th. born to Michael
and Rocina (Moyner) Smith
Married: Jacob Frederick Rommetsch
The children of
Louisa and Jacob; [1] Mary Elizabeth (Mary)
Married: Nathaniel Coleman (John) Moss
[2] Clementine (Clem)
Married: George F. (Fred) Gerwig
[3] Amelia Christina (Tina)
Married: William (Bill) Mohr
[4] Christian Mathias
[5] Caroline Catherine (Katie) (My Great Grandmother)
Married: Alexander (Alex) Rennie
[6] Margaret Helen (Maggie)
Married: John West
[7] Virginia
[8] Lucy
{2} Michael Schmidt [Smith]
Son of Mattheis and Wilhelmina Schmidt
Was born in Germany. He came
to America in 1830, along with his wife Rocina C. (Moyner) and seven children.
First settling near Baltimore,
Maryland.
Michael, was of the Protestant faith - he served three years and five months with the Body Grenadier Guard in the Napoleonic War, as a messenger boy. He was 23 years old. He was granted a discharge, perhaps to emigrate to America.
The Schmidt family sailed on a vessel from Amsterdam, Holland to New York. Traveling on to Maryland near Baltimore / Catonsville, where German emigrants congregated. The germans had left their native land because of the poverty and hardship the war had caused in Central Europe during the 1800’s.
Many German emigrants stopped at Catonsville in Maryland and for a temporary period of time, perhaps a year or more resided there. Moving on west ward to establish new settlements. Usually in groups traveling together and staying in these groups in their new location.
Family names of; Gerwig, Whitesel, Nutter, Cutlip, Engel, Stonestreet, Bennett, Warner, Rommetsch, Brady,Schmidt...................................
Michael owned property, a home and some sort of business in the Baltimore area. he was very religious and believed in God as did the whole family.
[Information about {2} Michael was taken from translated German letters, and records kept in old family Bibles.]
Michael and Rocina, traveled farther west ward in seeking out a place to make their home and raise their family. Deciding on the German settlement in what is now known as Chapel, Braxton County, West Virginia.
The area was culturally and roughly geographically centered about the German Church and the German Post Office. Each contributed to the welfare of our ancestors, the Schmidt (Smith) / Rommetsch.Heater, Stonestreet, Sponaugle, Engle, Stout, families.
Between 1840 and 1843, some twenty German speaking families settled in this area of Braxton County. It was then the Lincoln Township of Virginia, and was like a virgin wilderness with a clearing and a log cabin here and there.
The residents of the German settlement in what is now the Exchange / Chapel communities of Braxton County, was never officially named with the german termanology. Never the less the nick name of “German Settlement” remains.
But, in about 1853, it became apparent the English language would have to be accepted. [Quoting from Christian Engel’s history recount.] Rev. Benjamin Stickley became pastor. Rev. Engel, would read the scripture in German, Rev. Stickley, would then preach in English.
From the time of their arrivial the religious services were held in the homes, alternating from home to home. Rev. Engel, organized the United Brethern class. This arrangement until 1850 when a church was built.
The first church was built of hewn poplar logs. It was 28 by 36 feet in size. The cracks were filled with clay mortar. The roof was clapboard shingles. The floor was planks split from logs. Seats were split into benches, no backs. It had a stone fireplace, with field stone layed up for a chimney. Windows of oil paper.
The following families were either members or at least attended the church in 1850.
The Engel’s, Daniel and Gottlob - Gerg Frederick and Mathias Gerwig - John Bender - Michael Schmidt - Jacob Kramer - George M. Ackerman- Mathew Hines - John H. Weihert (Wyatt)- Christian Long -Jacob Rommetsch - John Miller - Conrad Leopard - Levi Wetzel - Godfrey Unger, (later married to Jacob Rommetsch’s mother Fredericka) the Moats - Black - Kuhl - Gluck - and Moyers.
The present Otterbein Chapel, is far better known as the German Church. It was built in 1884 / 85. And the first old log church was let go to decay. In 1957 the church was moved to a new foundation. The old church still remained United Brethern.
The German settlement had a post office, named German. It was a small building built of logs laid across Short Run, which flows into Steer Creek, right below Grandaddy Run.
Later moved to the home of the postmaster, Daniel Engel, where it remained until it was discontinued. (German of course was a community rather than a town.)
1883 - Population
Town
German.....................234
Burnsville...................150
Frametown..................100
Glenville.....................319
Sutton......................247
[Note: In 1843 20 families made up the German settlement]
Records of early schools in the German settlement starting in 1884. It was taught in a small log cabin. Courses were arithmetic, dictonary, and the Bible. During 1860’s, the Engel schoolhouse as well others were built.
Exerts of history told events were taken from the Hardesty History of Braxton County, published in 1883. Relating to the timeline arrival of Michael Schmidt and family to the location of Steer Creek, Braxton County, West Virginia. Then Lincoln Township, Virginia in 1830’s
Source: History of Braxton County
Hardesty Publication
John D. Sutton’s History of Braxton County.
[Information formated by Rennie
R. Johnson]
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