Mary Jane Kendall

Lifespan: December 11, 1893 – 1971

Summary

Born December 1893 in Lexington Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Daughter of John H. Kendall and Margaret (Schindler) Kendall. Married Frederick John L Schmidt on March 19, 1912 in Le Center, Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Eight children (7 sons, 1 daughter). Lived in Cordova Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota for about 10 years. Died 1971. Buried in Cleveland, Le Sueur County, Minnesota.

Relationships

• Husband: Frederick John L Schmidt (Jan 3, 1888–Jan 31, 1939) — m. Mar 19, 1912, Le Center, MN
• Children:
  • Nylen Frederick Schmidt (1912–1991)
  • Luther John Schmidt (1914–1997)
  • Myles George Schmidt (1915–1989)
  • Mahlon Clark Schmidt (1916–1989)
  • Clifford Alfred Schmidt (1918–1991)
  • Allen Noah Schmidt (1920–1990)
  • Roy Andrew Schmidt (1922–1998)
  • Hazel Sebe Schmidt (1924–2008)

Sources

• Le Sueur County birth register, registered Dec 26, 1893 — primary source. “Mary A. Kendall”, father John H. Kendall age 24, mother Maggie Kendall age 21, both born Lexington, Minnesota.
• FamilySearch (marriage, death, burial, residence)
• Marriage Certificate, Le Sueur County District Court, Mar 19, 1912 — primary source. Officiant: Rev. E.C. Schluz, Lutheran Minister, Le Sueur Center. Witnesses: Clark Rogers, Tillie Schmidt.
• 1940 US Census, Cordova Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota (line 65)
• Mentioned as mother of Clifford Schmidt in family notes and obituaries.

Research Notes

• Birthplace: Minnesota (no town or county specified)
• Birth record found: “Mary A. Kendall”, Dec 1893, Lexington Twp — parents confirmed as John H. Kendall and Margaret (Schindler) Kendall. Born Lexington, Le Sueur Co.
• 1940 census: age 46, listed as head of household in Cordova Township, Le Sueur Co — widowed, 7 of 8 children at home (Nylen absent). Age 46 consistent with Dec 1893 birth.
• Frederick died 1939 when youngest (Hazel) was 15 — Mary Jane was a widow for 32 years
• Buried in Cleveland, Le Sueur Co — likely Savidge Lake Cemetery (same as Frederick) but not confirmed
• Marriage certificate confirms she was from Le Sueur County — local family
• Witness “Tillie Schmidt” was likely Frederick’s sister Katherine Sophia Schmidt (b. 1891)
• Witness “Clark Rogers” — possibly Mary’s side of the family?
• Lutheran wedding, consistent with Schmidt family denomination
• Living in Ottawa, Le Sueur County, MN by 1942 (per Roy’s draft card — listed as next-of-kin contact)
• Roy’s middle name is Andrews — possibly a Kendall family name? Common to use mother’s maiden/family name as middle name. Could be a lead on Mary Jane’s parents.
• Parents still unknown — marriage certificate doesn’t list parents. Search Le Sueur County birth records for Kendall c. 1894.