Fred Schmitz
Fred. "Fritz" Schmitz (December 25, 1820 – February 8, 1905) was an American musician and farmer from
Background
Schmitz was born in
Town of Newton in Manitowoc County, where they bought neighboring tracts of land and became farmers. On January 31, Fred married Johanna Gröll, and one of his brothers married one of Johanna's sisters. In addition to founding the county's first musical group,[2] at one point Fred served as a teacher in the town's school.[3]
Public office
Schmitz was elected chairman of the Town of Newton in 1851, 1855, 1857, 1860, 1861, and 1870–73; town
town clerk in 1865–68, county supervisor for a number of terms (serving as chairman of the board in 1868),[4] and justice of the peace
in 1873.
In 1874 he was elected to the first Manitowoc County Assembly district (the Towns of
standing committee on agriculture.[5]
The Assembly's
Thomas Thornton
.
After the Assembly
Schmitz continued to serve on the County Board on and off as late as 1885.
Johanna died in the mid-1890s, and the aging Schmitz retired and moved into the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Manitowoc, He died there February 8, 1905.
References
- ^ "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. Information Bulletin 99-1, September 1999. p. 104 Archived December 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Obituary of Fritz Schmitz" Der Nord-Westen February 9, 1905
- ^ "Pioneers of Newton" (translated by Emil Baensch), from Manitowoc Post June 9, June 16, and December 29, 1921; reprinted in, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Wisconsin domesday book. Town studies Vol. 1. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1924; p. 88
- ^ Plumb, Ralph Gordon. A history of Manitowoc County Manitowoc, Wisconsin: Brandt Print. and Binding Co., 1904; pp. 304, 310
- ^ Bashford, R. M., ed. The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin: comprising the constitutions of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin, Jefferson's manual, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc. Fourteenth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1875; pp. 244, 326-327, 347
- ^ Plumb, Ralph Gordon. A history of Manitowoc County Manitowoc, Wisconsin: Brandt Print. and Binding Co., 1904; p. 310
- ^ Spooner, Philip L. "Second biennial report of the commissioner of insurance" (p. 56), in Governor's message and accompanying documents of the state of Wisconsin, Volume I Madison: Democrat Printing Company, 1887 [Covers 1884/1886]
- ^ [1] Root, W. M., et al. "Sixth biennial report of the commissioner of insurance of the state of Wisconsin, July, 1894" (p. 83), in Public documents of the state of Wisconsin Volume I Madison: Democrat Printing Company, 1895 Covers 1892/1894