Bertha Schwab, barely two years old, arrived at the Port of New York on the ship,
Bremen, from Bremen, Germany on June 10, 1869. She arrived with her grandfather,
Johann Adam Schwab, and her mother, Anna Maria Katherina. Adam, Anna Maria
Katherina and Bertha, traveled across this vast land heading to Central City in Gilpin
County in the Territory of Colorado, to meet up with her uncle Johann L. Schwab.
While living in Central City, Bertha's mother, Anna Maria Katherina, married Johann
Adam Michael Meyer on October 2, 1869. John, Anna Maria Katherina and their two
daughters, Bertha, born in Untereichenbach, Germany on April 1, 1867 and Louisa, born
in Central City, left Central City on October 6, 1870 to homestead in the Wet Mountain
Valley. Bertha grew-up with eleven siblings in Antelope Creek and then at the JM Ranch in Gardner, Colorado.
On April 9, 1887 at Rosita, Bertha Schwab-Meyer married Emil Schmitt, who was living with the Schwab family on a nearby ranch.


World Independent Walsenburg, September 8, 1954

Mrs. Bertha Schmidt, Gardner Pioneer, Dies This Morning

Mrs. Bertha Schmidt, 87, pioneer Gardner resident passed away in a Pueblo hospital early this morning after an extended illness. Mrs. Schmidt was born in Untereichenbach, Ansbach, Bavaria, Germany, April 1, 1867. At the age of two years she came to the United States with her parents, going directly to Custer County. It was there that she me and was married to Emil Schmidt in 1887. Shortly afterward, they moved to the Gardner community where she has since resided. Mr. Schmidt died in 1938. She was a member of the Lutheran Church but had long been active in the Methodist Church in Gardner and in the Ladies organizations of the Church. Surviving are three sons, Charles J. Schmidt of Canon City, Albert and William H. of Gardner and one daughter, Mrs. Alva Benson of Gardner; four brothers. John Meyer of Gardner, Dr. E. A. Meyer of Denver, Fred Meyer of Pueblo and G.A. Meyer of Walsenburg and two sisters, Mrs. John Hendrix of Oregon and Mrs. Clifford Weaver of Denver and one sister-in-law Mrs. Henry Meyer of Walsenburg; ten grandchildren, 15 great grand-children and many nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements, under the direction of the Burress Memorial Chapel will be announced later.