Fannie Schmidt
UNKNOWN – 1895
Timeline
UNKNOWN – Birth
KLEIN KARLBACH, GERMANY
Fannie Schmidt was born in Klein Karlbach, Germany, to Isaac Schmidt and Esther Almann Schmidt. She had ten siblings, including: Henry Schmidt, David Schmidt, Solomon Schmidt, Bertha Schmidt, Colmon Schmidt, Rosa Schmidt Kitchen, and Samuel Schmidt.
1895 – Death
PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Fannie died of lasting complications from peritonetis, which she developed after suffering from a fall while clerking at I. V. Gray’s store years prior. She died at her home on Presqueisle Street on November 16, 1895.
1895 – Burial
BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Her remains were brought to Bellefonte for burial via the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania. Her funeral was held at the C. R. R. Station with friends and family from both Philipsburg and Bellefonte. She was buried in the Rodef Shalom Cemetery in Bellefonte on November 19, 1895.
Family Tree
Parents
◦ Isaac Schmidt
◦ Esther Almann Schmidt (unknown-1871)
Siblings
◦ Henry Schmidt (1836-1917)
◦ Solomon Schmidt (unknown-1917)
◦ Colmon Schmidt (1851-1929)
◦ Rosa Schmidt Kitchen (1855-1934)
◦ Samuel Schmidt
* = Buried in the Rodef Shalom Cemetery (click the name to view their biography)
Residences
1880 Census
PHILIPSBURG BOROUGH, CENTRE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Lived with Henry Schmidt (brother, 44), Amelia Schmidt (sister-in-law, 32), Henry Schmidt (nephew, 7), Elsia Schmidt (niece, 5), Oscar Schmidt (nephew, 3), and Bertha Schmidt (niece, 11 months).
Profile
Click here to view a PDF version of Fannie Schmidt’s biography.
Fannie Schmidt was born in Klein Karlbach, Germany, in an unknown year to Isaac Schmidt and Esther Almann Schmidt. According to her brother, Henry’s, obituary in the Daily Journal, Fannie had ten siblings. Her siblings included: Henry Schmidt, David Schmidt (click here to view his biography), Solomon Schmidt, Bertha Schmidt (click here to view her biography), Colmon Schmidt, Rosa Schmidt Kitchen, all residents of Philipsburg, and Samuel Schmidt of Sandusky, Ohio. Fannie never married or had any children.
According to her obituary in the Daily Journal, she immigrated to the U.S. around 1865 and initially settled in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, with three of her brothers. It is unknown if Fannie immigrated to the U.S. with any of her siblings, but she settled in the same area as them. It is also unknown if all ten Schmidt siblings immigrated to the U.S. Fannie’s mother, Esther Schmidt, however, at least remained in Germany. On July 29, 1871, the Philipsburg Journal reported Esther died in Klein Karlbach, Germany, at the age of 60.
When two of Fannie’s brothers, Henry and Solomon, left Bellefonte for Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, around 1871, she moved with them. In the 1880 census, Fannie lived with her brother, Henry, his wife, Amelia, and their four children in Philipsburg. Henry and Solomon later operated a butcher store, H. & S. Schmidt, on Front Street. Fannie resided in Philipsburg until her death in 1895.
According to her obituary in the Daily Journal, around 1878, Fannie began working as a sales lady for I. V. Gray at his dry goods store in the Gray Building at 103 East Presqueisle Street in Philipsburg. In the 1880 census, she is listed as a dressmaker. Around 1892, Fannie left her job with I. V. Gray to start a dry goods store, Fannie and Rosa Schmidt, later known as F. & R. Schmidt’s, with her sister, Rosa, in the Foster building, located at the Foster Block from 2-8 North Front Street. Fannie’s obituary reported she traveled to Germany with two of her sisters, Rosa and Bertha, before opening the business. Following her death in 1895, Rosa continued the business until at least 1917.
According to Fannie’s obituary in the Daily Journal, she died at her home on Presqueisle Street on November 16, 1895. Her death was attributed to peritonetis, which she developed after suffering from a fall while clerking at I. V. Gray’s store years prior. During the summer of 1895, Fannie traveled to Atlantic City for the benefit of her health. While her obituary reported the trip made an initial improvement to her health, she relapsed and was confined to bed after returning home to Philipsburg. The paper recalled, “No one in this community had more friends than the deceased. She had so many excellent qualities that endeared her to everybody—the rich and poor—regardless of race or color, receiving from her the same pleasant smile and cheering words.”
According to her death announcement in the Keystone Gazette, Fannie’s remains were brought to Bellefonte for burial on November 19, 1895, via the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania. Her funeral was held at the C. R. R. Station with friends and family from both Philipsburg and Bellefonte. The paper reported her funeral procession followed the service. She was buried in the Rodef Shalom Cemetery in Bellefonte where her nephew, Morris Schmidt (click here to view his biography), and older brother, David, who both preceded her in death, were buried.
In her will, she left all her possessions and property to her two sisters, Bertha and Rosa, and their heirs.
Photos
F. & R. Schmidt’s Dry Good and Millinery Store
Image of Fannie Schmidt and Rosa Schmidt, her sister and business partner, and their dry goods and millinery store, F. & R. Schmidt’s, from Justin Houser.
Fannie Schmidt’s Individual Headstone
‘Schmidt Sisters’ Sign
‘Schmidt Sisters’ sign on the fence surrounding Bertha and Fannie Schmidt’s headstone in the Rodef Shalom Cemetery.
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1895
