Research for this memorial page was taken from census records, birth and death records and a heavy reliance on the story teller, John L Garske, grandson of Nicholas and Catherine Schmitt Researcher Susan Garske Sylvester

Nicholas Schmitt's parents were Johan Jacob Schmitt and Katherine Kopp. Johan was born in Lowenbrucken, Rheinland, Germany. His wife Katherine Kopp Schmitt was born in Oberemmel, Germany. They were married on January 27, 1807 in Oberemmel.They lived in the Rheinland-Pfalz region. To this union were born 13 children. Nicholas was the 12th child born into this family. His parents died in Germany. Out of the 13 siblings, 5 of the siblings immigrated to the United States. They were Michael, Johannetta, Christian, Hubert and Nicholas Schmitt. They all immigrated at different times. They also settled in different areas except for Christian and Nicholas who settled in Belle Plaine, Minnesota.

The Nicholas Schmitt and Catherine Nilles Union

This story was written by John L. Garske, the grandson of Nicholas and Catherine Schmitt. The information I contributed is in brackets. I fact checked the family story to authenticate our family history. Researcher Susan Garske Sylvester

Nicklous Schmitt was born March 1, 1829 (Nick’s Cemetery stone says March 1, 1828 and his name was spelled Nicholas) in Oberemmel, Rheinland, Germany. He served in the Germany army and was a blacksmith by trade. Katherine Nellis was born December 21, 1829 (Cemetery stone has a different date Dec 22, 1830 and her name was spelled with a “C” also church records refer to her maiden name as Nilles) Church records say 1829. She was baptized in the Catholic Church at Hamm Bey Kowg near Tier and the Mosel River, Rhineland, Germany. ( I could find Tier which was one of the oldest cities in Germany but no village with the name that John has recorded here. Another source had her born in Altenkirchen, Rheinland-Platz)

Both Nicklous and Katherine immigrated to America in 1854. On the six week voyage to America he met Katherine Nellis. Both their destinations were to Chicago, Illinois. (I found the ship, the Caroline which had 389 passengers. Its port of departure was from LeHavre, France and it arrived in New York on May 31, 1853. Passenger #154 was Nicklous Schmitt, age 24, born 1829 and he listed his country as Prussia. Passenger # 375 was Katherine “Nilles”, age 23 born 1830, and she listed her country as Prussia.) Katherine had been sent to the states by her family to see if it might be a good place for her parents. She went to work as a housemaid and Nicklous worked his trade as a blacksmith. Nicklous sent the fare for Katherine’s family to come from Germany to America. The Nellis family would settle in the small village of Chanhassen in Carver County in 1855. Nicklous Schmitt married Katherine Nellis in Chicago at St. Joseph Catholic Church about 1855 or 1856. There were no records since they were destroyed by the Chicago Fire of October 1871.

They left Chicago and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1856. Nick worked his trade until their first child, Catherine was born on March 1, 1857. She was baptized in Assumption Catholic Church in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. In the early summer of 1857 Nick moved his family household by covered wagon and oxen to Belle Plaine, a small interior village, in Scott County, Minnesota. There was no railroad in this part of the state until 1867.
( The first census record I found the family in was 1860. They were living in Belle Plaine, Scott County, Minnesota. Nick was 31 years old, his occupation was master blacksmith. His estate value was $1,250.00 and his personal estate valuation was $185.00. His place of birth was Preuben, Germany. His wife was Cathrrine age 29 and was born in Preuben, Germany. The following were listed as their children: Catherine age 3, Margaret age 2, and Mary 10 months. They were all born in Minnesota.)

Nick built the first blacksmith shop in the village of Belle Plaine. He repaired stage coaches, freight wagons, and shoed horses and oxen. There was a stall built just to shoe the oxen. It was made of heavy timber and the oxen were pulled off the floor by heavy double pulleys with rope. The pulley ropes were attached to two wide heavy leather belts that encircled the ox on his mid-body. This is the only way they could shoe these animals. Sometimes the animals would fight the harness and slip around in these belts and lay on their side. They them had to be lowered again, put on their feet, and raised off the floor again to be shoed. Nick had all types of shoes to put on the animals. There were oxen iron plate shoes, a mule shoe, a horse shoe plate, and a horse shoe with corks which was used in the winter. There were also cambel shoes. Nick also did repairs on farmer’s implements. He built up his business to two fires, meaning two blacksmiths were working. Joe Moutag was the first wagon maker in Belle Plaine and Peter Becker was the first shoe maker.

Life was good until the Sioux outbreak on August 18, 1862. The settlers from around Belle Plaine came running from all directions on horseback, in wagons, and buggies with families. They hid in store cellars, shallow wells, and root cellars. They were all hiding from the Indians that were expected to attack anytime. It was the bloody revenge of Little Crow who was angered by the government for not keeping its promises. The settlers had taken their hunting grounds, caused diseases, and the Indians were going hungry.

The main body of Sioux warriors were in the vicinity of New Ulm, Minnesota. The settlers gathered about thirty horsemen from the county and around the village. They formed a cavalry. Nick Schmitt being well acquainted and having military training was chosen to be the captain of this group. They left Belle Plaine and by nightfall were near the villages of Henderson and La Suer. The Indians had already killed many and they passed many dead bodies laying on the road as they traveled. When the horseman arrived in the vicinity of New Ulm, they were put under the command of General Sibley. Nick Schmitt was still Captain and fought with the main forces. The Battle of New Ulm was a big battle. (Under a roster of civilian soldiers of those who served during the Sioux Indian Wars I found Nicolous “Schmitz” listed. He enlisted with a rank of private. He was in Company A First Battalion in the Brown County Militia. The company was organized in New Ulm by Captain Charles Roos and the men served for about one month. They participated in the first and second battles of New Ulm.)

Nick survived the Sioux uprising but unfortunately his brother Hubert Schmitt died at the Battle of Birch Coulee. Nick had to go to Birch Coulee to find his brother’s remains so that he could be given a proper burial. His remains were shipped back to Belle Plaine where he was buried in the Schmitt family plot.
At the end of the Sioux Uprising in 1862, the town of Belle Plaine began to settle down again. Business began again as usual. Nick Schmitt’s business flourished. He soon had four blacksmiths working in his shop. Nick took in three partners. He formed a company called the Schmitt, Hally and Weibler Company. Schmitt and Hally took care of the business in town and also traveled throughout the county. They traded in cattle and horses when the settlers were not able to pay with cash for the repairs done on their farm implements and shoeing of their horses.

(The next census was 1865 Minnesota Territorial Census and again I found them In Belle Plaine, Scott County. This is just a list of names with no other denotations. On this list were Nic, Catherine, Catherine, Margaret, Mary, Nicholas Jr.,(Nicholas had a twin Anna Maria but she had died, Frank, Emma, and Henry Nilles who was Katherine’s father was living with them.)

(The 1870 Census still has the Nick Schmitt family living in Belle Plaine. Nick was 41 years old, his place of birth Rhine, Prussia. His occupation a blacksmith. The value of his real estate $2,225.00 and Personal property was $1,000.00. He was living with his wife Katrina age 40 born in Rhine, Prussia. Her occupation was keeping house. Listed with them were the following children: Katrina age 13, Margaret age 12, Mary age 11, Nicolas age 9, Frank age 7, Ann age 6, Susan age 5, Johanna age 3 and Angeline age 1. There will be another child born in 1873 and that was Josephine Theresa who will die that year. All the children were born in Minnesota. Living with the Schmitt’s was Katrinia’s father, Henry Nilles age 84. He was also born in Rhine, Prussia. Living next to the Schmitt family was Christian Schmitt age 52. He was Nicholas Schmitt’s brother and his occupation was also listed as blacksmith. His son Jacob age 19 was listed as apprentice blacksmith and he will eventually take over Nick’s business.)

Nick Schmitt was listed as the town marshal from 1872 o 1874.

(The Minnesota Territorial Census of May 1, 1875 had the Schmitt family still living in Belle Plaine.)

William Weibler was the bookkeeper and executor of the Company. William Weibler was the son-in-law of Christian Schmitt who owned the Schmitt Brewery in Belle Plaine. William owned one of the largest general stores in town and his business was also good. The railroad came in 1877 and the settlers started to prosper too. In 1877 Nick Schmitt decided to quit the blacksmith business and farm implement sales. His nephew, Jake Schmitt took over the shop for him. Nick had accumulated a lot of livestock so he thought it best to file on a homestead in the Renville Prairie. It was located about 2 1/2 miles east of Hector, Minnesota.

Nick Schmitt had two sons, Nick Jr. and Frank. They were in their teens at the time when they drove the horses and cattle to the new homestead. They were near Stewart, Minnesota an old small town with a general store and nothing else. Browerton was as far as the railroad line went. Hector was 15 miles from Bowerton. Glenco was the only town where lumber could be bought. That was 25 miles from his claim. Green poles for building material or firewood were hauled from the timberline near Hutchinson another 19 miles from his claim. Nick moved his family from Belle Plaine to the claim on May 8, 1877.

The winters were terrible on the Renville prairie. Winter was especially terrible in 1878. There were horror stories about how many settlers lost their lives. Some were caught in blizzards, others ran out of wood or buffalo chips and froze to death. Many starved to death. The storms brought snow that was higher then their cabins and their livestock was lost in the snow. After the big blizzard of 1878, many settlers went out to find their stock. Some were as far away as 25 miles. After days of searching, the cattle were driven homeward. The trail was surprisingly easy because the snow was packed hard and the cattle could walk on top of the snow.

Buffalo chips were the main source of fuel. They were gathered up in the fall by wagon loads and piled high by the cabins. Nick Schmitt was prospering on his new farm. The family enjoyed the new farm life. Nick took sick with pneumonia and died at the age of 51 years on June 8, 1878. ( Nick’s cemetery stone says June 8, 1879) Katherine sent for a coffin at Glenco, Minnesota. The remains then were shipped to Belle Plaine, Minnesota. Katherine and Johanna traveled with the remains and Nick Schmitt Sr. was buried in the family plot at St. Peter St. Paul Cemetery in Belle Plaine, Minnesota.
(This obituary was found in the Shakopee Argus Edition of June 12, 1879 under a column Belle Plaine Locals----We are sorry to learn of the death of one of our former citizens, Nick Schmitt. Mr. Schmitt died at his home in Hector, this State, on Sunday last, of consumption.)