Maria Katharina Wilhelmina Vollmer

Lifespan: February 28, 1863 – September 10, 1905

Summary

Born February 28, 1863 in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois. Daughter of Christian Vollmer (age 48 at her birth) and Anna Maria Kurtz (age 25). Married Charles Frederick Schmidt on December 13, 1883 in St. Peter, Nicollet County, Minnesota. At least 2 sons and 8 daughters. Lived in Cleveland, Le Sueur County, MN (1900). Died September 10, 1905, age 42. Buried at German Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Elysian, Le Sueur County, Minnesota.

Relationships

• Parents: Christian Vollmer (b. c. 1815) & Anna Maria Kurtz (b. c. 1838) — 23-year age gap
• Husband: Charles Frederick Schmidt (Dec 13, 1864–May 16, 1920) — m. Dec 13, 1883, St. Peter, MN
• Children (per 1900 census, 8 of ~10):
  • Minnie Elizabeth Schmidt (Oct 30, 1884–Oct 5, 1976) — m. Orange Pettis Flowers (1906), then Paul R. Hagel (1945)
  • Mamie Caroline Schmidt (1886–1919) — m. Davis
  • Anna Smidt (1886–?) — possible twin with Mamie. Not in 1900 census.
  • Frederick John L Schmidt (Jan 1888–Jan 31, 1939)
  • Louise Sophia Schmidt (Dec 1889–1971)
  • Katherine Sophia Schmidt (May 1891–1977)
  • Lillian Christine “Lill” Schmidt (Feb 1893–1968)
  • Charles H. Schmidt (b. Sep 1895 — per 1900 census. Not in sibling list — likely died young.)
  • Gilbert Charles Schmidt (Sep 15, 1897–Sep 28, 1961)
  • Florence Sophia Schmidt (May 1899–1989)
  • Loretta W Schmidt (1902–1982)
• Note: 11 children total. Reported 9 born, 9 living in June 1900 — Loretta (1902) born after census. Anna and Charles H. may account for discrepancies.

Sources

• FamilySearch (birth, marriage, death, burial, parents)
• Marriage Certificate, Le Sueur County District Court, Dec 13, 1883 — primary source. Listed as “Minna Volmer.” Officiant: L. Emmel, Ev. Luth. Pastor, St. Peter. Witnesses: Hanna Zimmermann, E. Emsett.
• Find A Grave: headstone photo, German Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Elysian — “MINNIE / Wife of / Charles Schmidt / Born Feb. 28, 1863 / Died Sept. 10, 1905”

Research Notes

• Born in Illinois like husband Charles — both second-generation German-American
• Another large parental age gap: Christian Vollmer was 48, Anna Maria Kurtz was 25 (23-year gap) — same pattern as John Schmidt (42) and Elizabeth Rabe (18)
• Died at 42 — confirms why she was absent from Charles’s 1910 census household. Charles was a widower for 15 years.
• Buried at German Lake Lutheran Cemetery — indicates this family was Lutheran, unlike the Catholic Krumpos/Stefl/Bohemian lines
• Married on Charles’s 19th birthday (both Dec 13)
• 1900 census lists her as “Minnie” — nickname for Wilhelmina
• 1900 census: her parents listed as born in Germany. But FamilySearch says she was born in Freeport, Illinois — so she’s second-generation, parents were the immigrants.
• 8 of ~10 children now identified from 1900 census. 1–2 more born 1900–1905.
• “Tilly” from 1910 census was actually Lilly E. (b. Feb 1893) — T/L handwriting confusion
• Name variants: “Minna Volmer” (marriage certificate), “Minnie” (1900 census), full name Maria Katharina Wilhelmina Vollmer (FamilySearch)
• Marriage performed by Evangelical Lutheran pastor — confirms Lutheran family
• Witness Hanna Zimmermann may be a relative
• Charles listed as “Charles Smith” on marriage certificate — clerk’s anglicization of Schmidt
• Birthplace confirmed as Illinois (1900 census, line 57) — parents born in Germany
• Parents: Christian Vollmer and Anna Maria Kurtz — new surname lines to explore