CEDAR COUNTY, NEBRASKA - MADS SCHMIDT IS MEMBER OF CIRCLE
====================================================================

NEGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the NEGenWeb
         Archives by Carol Tramp <catramp@esu1.org>
         Permission granted by: Rob Dump, Editor, Cedar County News  
         
======================================================================

CEDAR COUNTY NEWS  JULY 20, 1953

MADS SCHMIDT IS MEMBER OF CIRCLE

RECALLS WHEN ONLY THREE ELIGIBLE GIRLS IN COUNTY

One of the most fruitful sources of information on pioneer life for 
the annals of the Golden Circle of Cedar County Pioneers is Mads C. 
Schmidt of Wynot, who has received membership in this organization of 
oldtimers.

Mr. Schmidt's memory of Cedar county dates back even before he set foot 
in America, when St. Helena was being advertised in his native country, 
Denmark, as a good place for immigrants to settle, altho it had only 
seven houses at the time.  He recalls that when he first came here as a 
young man there were only three eligible girls in the county, and also 
remembers the first fair in Cedar county given by Colonal Billy Van in 
1874.

Mr. Schmidt was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark, May 29, 1848. In 
company with his boyhood friend, Peter Beyschau of Wynot, now deceased, 
he came to America when he was 21 years old. The two boys worked at 
various jobs in St. Helena and Mr. Schmidt later homesteaded a farm near 
there.

In the spring of 1872 he sold this place to Mr. and Mrs. William 
Schaller, and claimed another homestead, where he built a farm house.  
In this building he was married January 12, 1878, to Miss Tena Schaller, 
by Rev. Hussvalet, Lutheran minister from Dakota.  The couple lived on 
this place continuously until 1914 with the exception of the year 
1880 - 81, when they farmed in Dakota.

Mrs. Schmidt, died May 17, 1828, after an illness of more than eight 
years. There are three children, Fritz, living on the old homesplace, 
Mrs. Howard Feelhaver of Tekamah, formerly of Hartington and Mrs. 
Fritz Schlund of Obert.