PLUNGES TO DEATH
JOHN SCHMIDT FALLS DOWN ELEVATOR SHAFT AT CITY HALL
SKULL IS CRUSHED
NIGHTWATCHMAN USES LIFT CONTRARY TO ORDERS
DEAD MAN LEAVES WIDOW AND EIGHT CHILDREN WHO ARE IN STRAIGHTENED CIRCUMSTANCES
Lying in a pool of blood on the top of the elevator at the city hall the lifeless body of JOHN SCHMIDT, night watchman of the building, was found at an early hour this morning. Schmidt had committed the old mistake of walking into an open elevator shaft at the third floor and had plunged to the basement striking the car on his head and meeting instant death. He had made his last call over the A.D.T., service at 4 o'clock this morning and the big key with which he rang the boxes had fallen from his hand through into the car, showing that Schmidt met death in the faithful performance of his duty.
Schmidt had been using the elevator during the night in going to the different floors to make calls. He left the elevator at the third floor and walked to the top floor to make his last call. Not being accustomed to the operation of the lift, it is believed that he failed to lock the lever. As a result the elevator gradually settled to the basement floor after Schmidt left it. This gave him [the] chance to walk into the dark open shaft when he returned. It was in disobedience of strict orders from both Ald. F.C. Steinmann, chairman of the building committee, and Supt. Joseph Hermann that he used the elevator to make his rounds. It has been a rule to allow no one to use the elevator except Leonard Semeyn, the regular conductor, but it seems that Schmidt disobeyed this injunction.
TURNED ON WATER AGAIN.
Mr. Semeyn declared this morning that he turned off the water pressure at 9 o'clock when he left the building after the committee meetings last night. This morning both valves were found to be turned on, showing that Schmidt had brought the elevator into service to save walking up and down the stairs. The elevator shaft at the basement floor was not padlocked and it is said that employees have not been in the habit of locking it recently.
The discovery of the body of the unfortunate man was made at 6:45 this morning by H. Klassen, one of the janitors and he at once notified Coroner LeRoy and Mr. Steinmann. The body was lying with the feet and legs extended upward and against the side of the shaft and head down. The whole top of the skull was crushed in, indicating that Schmidt had fallen squarely on his head. Coroner LeRoy ordered the body removed to the morgue of Stein & Alt on West Bridge street.
Only last June Mr. Schmidt received the appointment as night watchman of the city hall. He was put in to fill the vacancy caused by the elevation of Mr. Herrmann to the superintendency of the building. He broke down completely when notified of his appointment being overjoyed at securing the place. He declared at the time that he was much in need of the position on account of his large family.
HAD LOST EVERYTHING.
At one time he was well-to-do, having bought out the department store formerly owned by Ald. Fred R. Dodge on Plainfield avenue. He met with financial reverses, however, and his fortune had been lost before he secured a place as an employee of the city. Schmidt was fifty-four years of age.
Coroner LeRoy made a thorough investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the case and decided an inquest is unnecessary as Schmidt plainly met death accidentally.
Ald. Steinmann notified MATTHEW SCHMIDT, a brother of the dead man, and he in turn broke the news to the widow. Besides the widow there are eight children at the little home, 71 Page street, the oldest of whom is a daughter, twenty-two years old. Four of the children are now holding responsible positions with different firms in the city. Schmidt also left three brothers in this city, AUGUST P., MATTHEW and ANTHONY S. [F.], and a sister, MRS. AUGUST PULTE, of Gainesville, Tex.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fri., Oct. 15, 1909, Pg. 10, Col. 1, Art. 1
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT
The funeral of JOHN SCHMIDT, the city hall night watchman who Friday met his death by falling down the elevator shaft, will be held at St. Alphonsus church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Interment is to be in Mt. Calvary cemetery.
THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Sun., Oct. 17, 1909, Pg. 5, Column 4, Obit. 4
*****
ELEVATOR VICTIM BURIED.
Funeral services for JOHN SCHMIDT, the city hall night watchman who met death Friday in a fall down the elevator shaft, were held this morning at 9 o'clock at St. Alphonsus' church. Interment was made in Mount Calvary cemetery.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Oct. 18, 1909, Pg. 3, Col. 7, Art. 2
*****
We wish to thank our friends and relatives for the kindness shown us in the bereavement and death of husband and father, MR. JOHN SCHMIDT.
MRS. JOHN SCHMIDT and FAMILY.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Sat., Oct. 23, 1909, Pg. 3, Col. 1
************************ooOoo***************************
MR. and MRS. JOHN SCHMIDT, Mrs. Charles Schmidt and August Pulte will leave today for Gainesville, Texas, to visit Mr. and Mrs. August Pulte.
THE EVENING LEADER, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Feb. 1, 1892, Pg. 4, Col. 2, Item 5 (Brief Mention.)
*****
DECIDED TO BUILD
PRIESTS OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH TO HAVE A NEW HOME.
TRUSTEES TAKE PRELIMINARY ACTION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MODERN RESIDENCE TO DISPLACE PRESENT STRUCTURE.
The congregation of St. Mary's Catholic church, at the corner of Turner and First streets, have long been considering the feasibility of constructing a new residence for the resident priests. It has been generally admitted for some time that the little frame building on First street, adjoining the church proper, is wholly inadequate in point of size and dignity, when compared with the other modern equipments of the parish. The subject has been talked over by the trustees and church committee at different times, but the meeting yesterday in the church was the first concerted action toward actual construction of the building, and in the manner that has marked the carrying through of all such undertakings in this parish, the point was immediately brought to focus. The regular church committee was commissioned to act as a building committee in making the final arrangements, and consists of Mrs. Hobart Hueiden, Bernard Homan, Anthony Brogger, F.E. Pulter and Augustas Schmidt.
The committee who will have the business of getting together the requisite cash for the construction and material was appointed and a long list of names was added to this, the finance committee. Those in charge of the enterprise were not of the opinion that "too many cooks spoil the broth," but to the contrary, believed that a large number of committeemen would necessitate the raising of the required amount with greater dispatch. The finance committee consists of the following: F.W. Berles, Andrew Bett, Joseph Hessmann, Edward Hesser, John Youngbaecker, Wilhelm Druicke, Willibald Voss, JOHN SCHMIDT of SCHMIDT BROS., Joseph Winterhalter, Christian Schmidt, Alois Miller, Hubert Werden, Bernard Homan and F.E. Pulter.
The drawings and preliminary details have not been decided upon as yet, but it is the intention of the church to erect a building on the site occupied by the present priest's residence that will be in every way a fit companion for the church building, and will be along the same architectural lines as that structure.
THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Mar. 19, 1900, Pg. 3, Col. 4, Art. 3
*****
The grocery and boot and shoe business formerly conducted by JOHN SCHMIDT & BROS., at 220-224 West Fulton street, will be continued in the future by SCHMIDT BROS.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, No. 1138, Wed., July 12, 1905, Pg. 5 (Grand Rapids - The Grocery Market), Col. 4, Art. 2
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT and AUGUST PULTE have formed a co-partnership under the style of SCHMIDT & PULTE and purchased the grocery stock of J.A. Mohrhardt at 559 Cherry street.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, No. 1140, Wed., July 26, 1905, Pg. 5 (Grand Rapids - The Produce Market), Col. 2, Art. 3
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT has purchased the stock of the Michigan Store & Office Fixture Co. and will continue the business at 79 South Division street under the same style. He has also purchased the property on Butterworth avenue formerly occupied by the veterinary college and will utilize same as a repair shop.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., July 26, 1905, Pg. 1 Col. 4
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT has sold the stock and business of the Michigan Store and Office Fixture Co., at 79 South Division street, to F.E. Holt, who will continue the business at 521 North Ottawa street. Mr. Schmidt retains his warehouse on Butterworth avenue.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, No. 1165, Wed., Jan. 17, 1906, Pg. 5 (Grand Rapids), Col. 2, Art. 3
*****
BUILDING COMMITTEE GETS TOGETHER.
The building committee of the council, in which considerable ill feeling has developed since the selection of Joseph Herrmann as superintendent of the city hall, met today and chose JOHN SCHMIDT as night watchman to succeed Mr. Herrmann. Ald. Hensler and Oswald last night requested the calling of the meeting for this afternoon and Chairman Steinmann complied. It had been rather expected that one of the present janitors would be promoted to the position.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fri., May 14, 1909, Pg. 18, Col. 5, Art. 4
PLUNGES TO DEATH
JOHN SCHMIDT FALLS DOWN ELEVATOR SHAFT AT CITY HALL
SKULL IS CRUSHED
NIGHTWATCHMAN USES LIFT CONTRARY TO ORDERS
DEAD MAN LEAVES WIDOW AND EIGHT CHILDREN WHO ARE IN STRAIGHTENED CIRCUMSTANCES
Lying in a pool of blood on the top of the elevator at the city hall the lifeless body of JOHN SCHMIDT, night watchman of the building, was found at an early hour this morning. Schmidt had committed the old mistake of walking into an open elevator shaft at the third floor and had plunged to the basement striking the car on his head and meeting instant death. He had made his last call over the A.D.T., service at 4 o'clock this morning and the big key with which he rang the boxes had fallen from his hand through into the car, showing that Schmidt met death in the faithful performance of his duty.
Schmidt had been using the elevator during the night in going to the different floors to make calls. He left the elevator at the third floor and walked to the top floor to make his last call. Not being accustomed to the operation of the lift, it is believed that he failed to lock the lever. As a result the elevator gradually settled to the basement floor after Schmidt left it. This gave him [the] chance to walk into the dark open shaft when he returned. It was in disobedience of strict orders from both Ald. F.C. Steinmann, chairman of the building committee, and Supt. Joseph Hermann that he used the elevator to make his rounds. It has been a rule to allow no one to use the elevator except Leonard Semeyn, the regular conductor, but it seems that Schmidt disobeyed this injunction.
TURNED ON WATER AGAIN.
Mr. Semeyn declared this morning that he turned off the water pressure at 9 o'clock when he left the building after the committee meetings last night. This morning both valves were found to be turned on, showing that Schmidt had brought the elevator into service to save walking up and down the stairs. The elevator shaft at the basement floor was not padlocked and it is said that employees have not been in the habit of locking it recently.
The discovery of the body of the unfortunate man was made at 6:45 this morning by H. Klassen, one of the janitors and he at once notified Coroner LeRoy and Mr. Steinmann. The body was lying with the feet and legs extended upward and against the side of the shaft and head down. The whole top of the skull was crushed in, indicating that Schmidt had fallen squarely on his head. Coroner LeRoy ordered the body removed to the morgue of Stein & Alt on West Bridge street.
Only last June Mr. Schmidt received the appointment as night watchman of the city hall. He was put in to fill the vacancy caused by the elevation of Mr. Herrmann to the superintendency of the building. He broke down completely when notified of his appointment being overjoyed at securing the place. He declared at the time that he was much in need of the position on account of his large family.
HAD LOST EVERYTHING.
At one time he was well-to-do, having bought out the department store formerly owned by Ald. Fred R. Dodge on Plainfield avenue. He met with financial reverses, however, and his fortune had been lost before he secured a place as an employee of the city. Schmidt was fifty-four years of age.
Coroner LeRoy made a thorough investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the case and decided an inquest is unnecessary as Schmidt plainly met death accidentally.
Ald. Steinmann notified MATTHEW SCHMIDT, a brother of the dead man, and he in turn broke the news to the widow. Besides the widow there are eight children at the little home, 71 Page street, the oldest of whom is a daughter, twenty-two years old. Four of the children are now holding responsible positions with different firms in the city. Schmidt also left three brothers in this city, AUGUST P., MATTHEW and ANTHONY S. [F.], and a sister, MRS. AUGUST PULTE, of Gainesville, Tex.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fri., Oct. 15, 1909, Pg. 10, Col. 1, Art. 1
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT
The funeral of JOHN SCHMIDT, the city hall night watchman who Friday met his death by falling down the elevator shaft, will be held at St. Alphonsus church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Interment is to be in Mt. Calvary cemetery.
THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Sun., Oct. 17, 1909, Pg. 5, Column 4, Obit. 4
*****
ELEVATOR VICTIM BURIED.
Funeral services for JOHN SCHMIDT, the city hall night watchman who met death Friday in a fall down the elevator shaft, were held this morning at 9 o'clock at St. Alphonsus' church. Interment was made in Mount Calvary cemetery.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Oct. 18, 1909, Pg. 3, Col. 7, Art. 2
*****
We wish to thank our friends and relatives for the kindness shown us in the bereavement and death of husband and father, MR. JOHN SCHMIDT.
MRS. JOHN SCHMIDT and FAMILY.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Sat., Oct. 23, 1909, Pg. 3, Col. 1
************************ooOoo***************************
MR. and MRS. JOHN SCHMIDT, Mrs. Charles Schmidt and August Pulte will leave today for Gainesville, Texas, to visit Mr. and Mrs. August Pulte.
THE EVENING LEADER, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Feb. 1, 1892, Pg. 4, Col. 2, Item 5 (Brief Mention.)
*****
DECIDED TO BUILD
PRIESTS OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH TO HAVE A NEW HOME.
TRUSTEES TAKE PRELIMINARY ACTION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MODERN RESIDENCE TO DISPLACE PRESENT STRUCTURE.
The congregation of St. Mary's Catholic church, at the corner of Turner and First streets, have long been considering the feasibility of constructing a new residence for the resident priests. It has been generally admitted for some time that the little frame building on First street, adjoining the church proper, is wholly inadequate in point of size and dignity, when compared with the other modern equipments of the parish. The subject has been talked over by the trustees and church committee at different times, but the meeting yesterday in the church was the first concerted action toward actual construction of the building, and in the manner that has marked the carrying through of all such undertakings in this parish, the point was immediately brought to focus. The regular church committee was commissioned to act as a building committee in making the final arrangements, and consists of Mrs. Hobart Hueiden, Bernard Homan, Anthony Brogger, F.E. Pulter and Augustas Schmidt.
The committee who will have the business of getting together the requisite cash for the construction and material was appointed and a long list of names was added to this, the finance committee. Those in charge of the enterprise were not of the opinion that "too many cooks spoil the broth," but to the contrary, believed that a large number of committeemen would necessitate the raising of the required amount with greater dispatch. The finance committee consists of the following: F.W. Berles, Andrew Bett, Joseph Hessmann, Edward Hesser, John Youngbaecker, Wilhelm Druicke, Willibald Voss, JOHN SCHMIDT of SCHMIDT BROS., Joseph Winterhalter, Christian Schmidt, Alois Miller, Hubert Werden, Bernard Homan and F.E. Pulter.
The drawings and preliminary details have not been decided upon as yet, but it is the intention of the church to erect a building on the site occupied by the present priest's residence that will be in every way a fit companion for the church building, and will be along the same architectural lines as that structure.
THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Mar. 19, 1900, Pg. 3, Col. 4, Art. 3
*****
The grocery and boot and shoe business formerly conducted by JOHN SCHMIDT & BROS., at 220-224 West Fulton street, will be continued in the future by SCHMIDT BROS.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, No. 1138, Wed., July 12, 1905, Pg. 5 (Grand Rapids - The Grocery Market), Col. 4, Art. 2
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT and AUGUST PULTE have formed a co-partnership under the style of SCHMIDT & PULTE and purchased the grocery stock of J.A. Mohrhardt at 559 Cherry street.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, No. 1140, Wed., July 26, 1905, Pg. 5 (Grand Rapids - The Produce Market), Col. 2, Art. 3
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT has purchased the stock of the Michigan Store & Office Fixture Co. and will continue the business at 79 South Division street under the same style. He has also purchased the property on Butterworth avenue formerly occupied by the veterinary college and will utilize same as a repair shop.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., July 26, 1905, Pg. 1 Col. 4
*****
JOHN SCHMIDT has sold the stock and business of the Michigan Store and Office Fixture Co., at 79 South Division street, to F.E. Holt, who will continue the business at 521 North Ottawa street. Mr. Schmidt retains his warehouse on Butterworth avenue.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN, No. 1165, Wed., Jan. 17, 1906, Pg. 5 (Grand Rapids), Col. 2, Art. 3
*****
BUILDING COMMITTEE GETS TOGETHER.
The building committee of the council, in which considerable ill feeling has developed since the selection of Joseph Herrmann as superintendent of the city hall, met today and chose JOHN SCHMIDT as night watchman to succeed Mr. Herrmann. Ald. Hensler and Oswald last night requested the calling of the meeting for this afternoon and Chairman Steinmann complied. It had been rather expected that one of the present janitors would be promoted to the position.
THE EVENING PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fri., May 14, 1909, Pg. 18, Col. 5, Art. 4
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JOHN SCHMIDT
Aug. 19, 1854
Oct. 15, 1909
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