Obituary

"Benjamin P. Schmidt was born at Karlswalda in Russia on the 1st of April, 1840. In the distant country he spent his childhood. On the 20th of March 1858 he was baptised on the confession of his faith and united with the Mennonite Church. On Nov. 27, 1864 he was united in marriage to Katharina Siebert with whom he shared the joys and sorrow 56 years of life. About seven years ago death called the wife from his side. Their union was bleased with twelve children, one of whom preceded the father in death.

In the fall of 1874 the deceased with his family and many other relatives and friends came to this country and became one of the pioneers of Barton County where he made his home the rest of his life. He helped to organise the Mennonite Church near Pawnee Rock and remained a member of the same until death claimed him. He passed away on Sunday June 26, 1929 at the age of 87 years, 2 months and 25 days. Eleven children of which 5 are sons and six are daughters, 75 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends cherish his memory. One child, 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren preceded him in death."

"Bleased are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their work follows with them."Rev.14:13.

Benjamin was born to Peter Schmidt and Katharina Foth. Karlswalde, Russia is in what is now the Ukraine. He was their eighth child. He was only about 1½ years old when his mother died ... A few months later his father married Anna Jantz. . . . Benjamin married Catharina A. Siebert.

Benjamin and Catherine and their family were among a large group of Mennonites who left Russia in the 1870s and 1880s. About 10,000 settled in the US.

Benjamin and Catherine and their four children were among some of the last to leave in the fall of 1874. Not only did they experience their first train ride and their first ship journey, they also had an onboard collision and a smallpox outbreak. They arrived in Philidelphia in January of 1875 aboard the SS Kenilworth.

An account of their journey was detailed by Elder Tobias Unruh in his journal [http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Unruh,_Tobias_A._(1819-1875)]
and in an article by Gladys Smith – Benjamin's neice which can be read online:
[http://home.arcor.de/pulin/karlswalde/hist_ind.htm]

While some families remained in Pennsylvania for the winter, Benjamin's family took the train to Barton County, Kansas, where they settled and lived the rest of their lives. They helped to start the Mennonite Church at Pawnee Rock.

Benjamin and Catherine had twelve children. One, Henry, died while they were in Karlswalde but the other 11 are linked here.

The Benjamin Schmidt family reunion is held in Greensburg, Kansas every September.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Schmidt-11671