One House’s Story: The Schmidt Family

This simple, unassuming home on what was the outskirts of New Philadelphia, Ohio once belonged to an immigrant who’s skills helped build the city of New Philadelphia in the 1800s.

Note: The surname Schmidt is often recorded as the anglicized ‘Smith’ as well in later historical records. Notably, the Schmidt children all went by the surname Smith.

Peter Schmidt (1829-1900) immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1851. Trained as a stone mason and brick layer, he travelled west until he settled in the growing city of New Philadelphia, Ohio by 1852. There he met another recent German immigrant, Mary Grill (1829-1904), and they married in the summer of 1853. The couple welcomed four children, two daughters and two sons, between 1854 and 1865. Meanwhile, Peter built his reputation as a capable and qualified layer of stone and brick through private and public projects.

Peter and his family lived on the northeast corner of Beaver Dam Road and Ridge Road just northeast of New Philadelphia. There they built their first home as they raised their children and Peter worked on various building projects around the city and county. One of Peter’s fellow brick layers, Jacob Dick, appeared often in the records with Peter Schmidt indicating that they frequently worked together; including work on the second County Courthouse in 1868. Meanwhile, Peter and Mary’s eldest son learned the barber’s trade as their youngest son worked as a local merchant’s clerk.

The home that the Schmidt family built suffered a catastrophic fire in November 1875, a fire that consumed the entire home. Luckily, the Schmidt family had insurance on the home and a month later received $1,000 to rebuild their family home. The home they built, a story-and-a-half brick home, was a gable end version of the popular Italianate style of architecture. The house faced Ridge Road and had a full length porch on that façade. While the decorative eave details have long-since disappeared, the tall, narrow arch-top windows, deep eaves all speak to this style. 

Peter Schmidt continued to work as a bricklayer as his sons were succeeding in their business endeavors. One son opened a barber shop on the Public Square, married, and purchased a home on Front Street. The other son became a partner in a successful clothing store on the Public Square, married and bought a home on North Broadway. Meanwhile, the Schmidt daughters married and one moved with her husband to Cleveland while the second continued to reside in New Philadelphia.

During the 1880s, Peter Schmidt continued to undertake projects across the county and for the City of New Philadelphia including work on the city cisterns, the County Infirmary, and the County Courthouse. Peter also became active in local firefighting, being elected an officer in the New Philadelphia Hose Company No. 1 and No. 2 in 1888. Mary, meanwhile, often hosted visits at the home from their children and grandchildren. Peter’s health began to decline in the 1890s and, in 1896, Peter drafted his Last Will and Testament in preparation for the inevitable he knew was soon to come.

Peter Schmidt’s health continued to decline until, in November 1900, he died from a heart condition. Mary outlived her husband for nearly four years, but passed away in October 1904 from the combination of a stroke and age. Peter and Mary Schmidt are buried in the Fair Street Cemetery in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

© Noel B. Poirier, 2023.