Peter Schmidt

Other Events:

• Name: Peter Schmitt
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-124031P
• Retired: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Peter Schmitt was born in the German governed part of Alsace-Lorraine in 1817. He was a weaver by trade. Peter, a Mennonite, immigrated to Canada in 1838 because he did not want to join the German army. He married Catherine Otterman (b. 1820) from the French governed part of Alsace-Lorraine who was of Swiss and German descent.

After arriving in Canada they settled on a 70-acre farm in Rainham Township, Haldimand County until the mid-1870s. They raised eight children there, one of whom died at the age of two years. A search of land records found that in 1851 Peter leased 1/4 acre of his northwest corner to the "Trustees of the Menonist Society for 3 barley corns per annum, as long as it was used for a meeting house, grounds and yard." A Reformed Mennonite Church was erected there. (Reformed Mennonites are very strict and very conservative)

The agricultural census for 1871 shows how successful Peter & Catherine had become - the 70 acre farm had 50 acres improved, 5 in pasture, 2 in garden or orchard. One frame house, 2 barns, 4 wagons/sleds, 1 carriage, 2 ploughs/cultivators, 1 rake (horse) & 1 farming mill. Livestock - 3 horses, 2 colts, 4 cows & 3 other cattle, 3 cattle sold for slaughter in previous year, 11 sheep, 24 sheep sold for slaughter, 13 pigs, 7 pigs for slaughter. 13 acres were in wheat, 12 in hay. Yields for the previous year were 184 bushels of wheat, 190 of barley, 158 of oats, 60 peas,100 bus. apples, 18 tons of hay, 150 pounds of maple syrup, 400 lbs. butter, 60 lbs. wool, 98 yards cloth/linen.

Between 1871 and 1881 Peter & Catherine, their seven children including those with spouses and children, moved to Wilmot Twp. outside of New Hamburg. The 1881 Census lists him as retired. Peter died in 1888

Biography by Doug Stapleton

Cemetery, New, North America, Waterloo Municipality, New Hamburg, and New Cemetery. 1818. " Peter Schmitt (1818-1888) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.Com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49707899/peter-schmitt.

Peter — Catherine E. Otterman. Catherine was born 3 Mar 1820, , Alsace Lorraine, France; died 24 Nov 1894, Rainham Centre, Rainham Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , New Hamburg Reformed Menn. Cem., New Hamburg, Waterloo, ON. [Group Sheet]

1. Susannah Schmidt was born 21 Oct 1839, Rainham Centre, Rainham Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada; died 10 Jul 1905, Wilmot Amish Mennonite Society Cemetery, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , New Hamburg Reformed Menn. Cem., New Hamburg, Waterloo, ON.
2. Daniel Smith was born 21 Apr 1852, Rainham Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada; died 8 Feb 1949, Clinton, Hullett Twp., Huron Co., Ontario; was buried , New Hamburg Reformed Menn. Cem., New Hamburg, Waterloo, ON.