Nearly eleven years before his death, Herman Schmidt received serious injuries in January 1905. The often fatal injuries he received at nearly 80 years old were a broken arm and a broken thighbone.

The old resident of Columbia was high up on a ladder pruning a tree when he fell to the ground.

Dr. Gould attended to the severe injuries which usually do not heal rapidly for a person of an extreme age.

The Union Democrat
December 4, 1915
Page 3 Column 5

Columbia Items
Nonagenarian Passes Away

Herman Theodore Schmidt, an old settler of Columbia, died in that town Tuesday, November 30, 1915. The deceased, who was a native of Germany, was born on October 22, 1825, and consequently at the time of his death was 90 years, 1 month and 8 days of age. Before the infirmities of age compelled his retirement from active life, Mr. Schmidt followed mining.

Beside his wife, he is survived by a son, Herman, and a daughter Miss Felicia, and a stepson, Bert Yuhl.

The old pioneer was buried in the public cemetery Wednesday afternoon.

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1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Herman Schmidt
Age in 1870: 41
Birth Year: abt 1829
Birthplace: Prussia
Home in 1870: Township 2, Tuolumne, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Columbia
Value of real estate: $450
Household Members:
Herman Schmidt 41

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Herman Schmidt
Age: 51
Birth Year: abt 1829
Birthplace: Hanover
Home in 1880: Columbia, Tuolumne, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Father's Birthplace: Oldenburg
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Occupation: Miner
Household Members:
Herman Schmidt 51

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Herman Schmidt
[Herman T Schmidt]
Age: 74
Birth Date: Oct 1825
Birthplace: Germany
Home in 1900: Township 2, Tuolumne, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1851
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Emma C Schmidt
Marriage Year: 1885
Years Married: 15
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Occupation: Miner
Herman Schmidt 74
Emma C Schmidt 36
Berton Robert Yuill 17 (Emma's Son)
Herman T Schmidt 13
Felicia Schmidt 10

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Herman Schmidt
Age in 1910: 85
Birth Year: 1825
Birthplace: Germany
Home in 1910: West Columbia, Tuolumne, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1844
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Emma Schmidt
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Occupation: Goldminer
Household Members:
Herman Schmidt 85
Emma Schmidt 46
Herman T Schmidt 23
Felicia B Schmidt 20

Stepson and Children:

Name: Berton R Yuill
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 12 Oct 1882
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 13 Sep 1962
Death Place: Del Norte
Mother's Maiden Name: Kress

Name: Herman T Schmidt
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 1 Jan 1886
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 11 Jul 1945
Death Place: San Joaquin

Name: Felicia Bernice Schnapp
[Felicia Bernice Schmidt]
Social Security #: 546073042
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 25 Aug 1889
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 2 May 1983
Death Place: Santa Barbara
Mother's Maiden Name: Kress
Father's Surname: Schmidt