West Wimmera Mail - March 31, 191132898,32899

OBITUARY
Mr. Carl SCHMIDT.
A prominent and highly esteemed figure in the Natimuk district for the past 39 years has "crossed the bar". Mr. Carl Joachim SCHMIDT, widely known throughout the West Wimmera and the South East, died on Thursday evening, 23rd instant, at 6 o'clock.
In 1908 he had a serious illness, from which he almost completely recovered. On the 12th of the present month he contracted gastritis, and, considering his advanced years, he held on well, and appeared to be recovering even on the day of his death, being mentally bright until 20 minutes before the end came, when he lapsed into unconsciousness. The news quickly spread, and as it was received there with a genuine expression of regret. The deceased gentleman, who was born at Schmadebeck, Mecklinburg, Schwerin, Germany, on the 27th February 1834, was the fourth son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Johann SCHMIDT (nee Dorothea Carolina von BUHRING). He came to Australia with an elder brother when 19 years of age, landing at Port Adelaide on New Year's Day, 1854, so that he was numbered amongst the very earliest colonists with a residence of 57 years. He spent the first few years at Hoffnungsthal and Lyndoch Valley, S. A., and following on this he, with a younger brother, the late J!
oachim SCHMIDT, of "Compton", Mt. Gambier, rented a piece of land. Later they purchased land, which they worked successfully together. In 1872 the late Mr. Carl SCHMIDT came to the Wimmera, settling at Natimuk on the farm known as "Carlsruhe", a mile or so from the township. He was one of the first to take up land here, and through all the vicissitudes experienced by the early pioneers---- wheat at 1/6 a bushel, lean years, and so on---with conspicuous and remarkable success. That success was well deserved. Once Mr. Carl SCHMIDT put his hand to the plough there was no giving up, no turning back. To him every day was a rainy one, so far as his duty to family and country were concerned. He possessed a keen mental activity, and his shrewd perception or discernment was backed up by an equally strong practicality, which are very enviable characteristics indeed. In addition to these qualities the late Mr. SCHMIDT possessed a still more enviable one, an unfailing love of home!
e life. This attribute of character is only too rare; it should be the dominating principle of every man's life--it was of Mr. SCHMIDT'S. Throughout all his temporal prosperity he never forgot the supreme duty to his wife and family, and to be bereft of such a devoted husband and father is a calamity which is hard to bear.
Mr. SCHMIDT rarely made a mistake in judgment. At a time when many early pioneers, mostly through improvidence or a "tired" feeling, were leaving the Natimuk district Mr. SCHMIDT backed up his faith in future land values by acquiring farm after farm until, at the time of his death, "Carlsruhe" , his original selection, formed but a very small part of his landed property in the Natimuk district. He had at one time extensive interests in Queensland, which have been managed with great success by deceased's eldest son, Carl.
Mr. SCHMIDT always recognised the duty he owed to public institutions. Almost from the time of his arrival here, until incapacitated by illness, a stretch of time bordering on 40 years, his name was associated with affairs which made for the well being of his fellow men. And it was not simply "name"; his time and money were always there, voluntarily and unostentatiously. He had filled a number of the best public positions the district had to offer. He occupied the position of shire councillor for a term, was president of the Agricultural Society, first president of the Farmers Association, and held other offices. He contributed generously to all institutions he considered worthy of his support. For instance, he gave £30 towards the building of the new Mechanics Institute, £20 to the street plantation, and a substantial amount towards improvements to the show ground. His generosity and the esteem in which he was held were recognised and shown by the Mechanics Institute !
foundation stone, which was laid by him, and which bears his name. He also gave liberally to the local Lutheran Church, of which he had been an ardent member. A widow, two sons and four daughters are left to mourn their loss. The sons are, Messrs. Carl (Charlotte Vale, Qld) and W.C. SCHMIDT (Natimuk), Mrs. Aug SCHMIDT and Misses Amelia, Mary Eda and Alma SCHMIDT all of Natimuk. The funeral, which took place to the Natimuk cemetery on Saturday, was one of the longest and most representative ever seen in the district. A short service was conducted before the body was removed from "Carlsruhe". At the grave a most impressive service was conducted by Pastor Lohe, who in his address dealt with the qualities of the late Mr. SCHMIDT from the moral and spiritual side. As to those things which would appear laudable to the world he could say a good deal of him, but it was the spiritual and moral side of his life which he directed their attention to, and which he counselled all !
to emulate. The Pastor also addressed the mourners in English. The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr. R. SISSON. The coffin bearers were Messrs. Aug GLADIGAN, J.W. SUDHOLZ, Fred HAUSTORFER, L.A. ROSEL, D. McINTYRE, and A.W. LOCKWOOD.