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Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt

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Birth	:	28 Dec 1847 Germany
Death	:	31 Oct 1926 Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.3405991, -92.2200012
Description	:	GOTTLIEB ERNST KLEINSCHMIDT was born in the early morning hours of 28 Dec 1847, a Tuesday, in the Village of Suhl, in the Thuingia District of the Prussian Empire (remember Germany didn’t exist until 1871). Gottlieb was the third of five known children born to Nikolas Kleinschmidt and his wife Dorothea J. Schacht. The 1850’s were a period of social and political unrest in the Germanic states. Gottlieb’s parents made the decision to immigrate to America. This was indeed a big decision, because it meant they were leaving all that they knew and all their relatives, never to be seen... Read More	GOTTLIEB ERNST KLEINSCHMIDT was born in the early morning hours of 28 Dec 1847, a Tuesday, in the Village of Suhl, in the Thuingia District of the Prussian Empire (remember Germany didn’t exist until 1871). Gottlieb was the third of five known children born to Nikolas Kleinschmidt and his wife Dorothea J. Schacht. The 1850’s were a period of social and political unrest in the Germanic states. Gottlieb’s parents made the decision to immigrate to America. This was indeed a big decision, because it meant they were leaving all that they knew and all their relatives, never to be seen again. So in the late summer of 1854, Nickolas packed up his family and headed for the port of Bremen. Gottlieb, age 6, and his brothers Emil, age 12 and Wilhelm, age 4, accompanied their parents. Upon arriving in Bremen, Gottlieb’s father, Nikolas booked passage in “steerage” for the family of five aboard the ship “Aeolus," and Nikolas dutifully recorded his destination was “St. Louis.” The Kleinschmidt family was packed below decks with the other 308 steerage passengers (including 18 infants). On 15 Nov 1854 they arrived at the port of New Orleans, Louisiana and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854, where his father worked at his trade as “Wagon Maker” for two years. In the fall of 1855 Nikolas went to Sigourney in Keokuk Co., Iowa, bought a lot and built a house for his family, who moved into the new home the following April. There Nikolas opened a blacksmith and carriage shop and conducted his business with great success. By 22 Jul 1870 Gottlieb, now 22 years old, was living with his father and mother in the hamlet of Sigourney. Both he and his father’s occupation was listed that year as “Wagon Maker.” Like so many Prussian emigrants, Nikolas, and now his son Gottlieb were skilled craftsman. On 1 Jan 1875 Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt, age 28, married Sophia E Backhous, age 19, in Keokuk Co., Iowa. Sophia, who was of Germanic descent, had been born in Iowa on 04 Mar 1856, the daughter of Charles and Sophia (Voltmer) Backhous. For the 1880 Census, taken on 4 Jul, Gottlieb’s occupation is still listed as “Wagon Maker.” By now he and his wife had two children, and his brother Louis, age 20, was living with him and also listed as a “Wagon Maker.” In 1883 Nikolas Kleinschmidt gave the management of his business to his son, Gottlieb, though for a few years longer he continued to take an interest in the business. Gottlieb “carried on the business established on worthy principles of fair dealing and efficient service.” He had obtained a common school education, worked hard at his trade and in 1884 took an active interest in the organization of the Keokuk County State Bank. He was made a director at the time and continued in that position thereafter. He was vice-president of the board for ten years and in 1899 he was elected President of the bank. Since 1899 the bank did an increasingly large business, due in great measure to the efforts of Mr. Kleinschmidt. On 5 Jun 1900, the Census Taker, Daniel D. Moore, stopped at Kleinschmidt home. Gottlieb’s wife, Sophia, had borne him 12 children, and 10 were living; with 9 of them still living at home. Gottlieb’s occupation was now listed as a “Carriage Builder.” He had associated with him his own son, George, who since 1900 had charge of the business’ affairs. Thereafter on 18 Apr 1910, Gottlieb vocation is shown as “Banker” and 9 of his children are still living at home, which is mortgage free. One gets the felling the Kleinschmidt family is doing quite well financially. Gottlieb’s wife of 43 years, Sophia, passed away on 18 Mar 1918 in the City of Sigourney, and she was lovingly buried in the town’s Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Sophia was 61 years, 10 months, 14 days old. By 24 Jan 1920 his location is no longer called Sigourney, it is called “Sigourney City.” Gottlieb, now retired is shown as a widower. With him are living his 42 year old daughter Clara, who is a public school teacher, daughter Mary 37 years old, son Albert age 27 who is a “day laborer” and son Arthur 23 years old, who is an “automobile repairman.” His daughter Mary had taken over the task of housekeeper when her mother passed away two years earlier. He was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, but has never held office. Fraternally he was a member of the local chapter of Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and was affiliated with Webb Lodge, No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Sigourney. Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt passed away on 31 Oct 1926 in his Sigourney home, at the age of 78 years, 10 months, 3 days. With his large family surrounding him, he was laid to rest next to his beloved Sophia in Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Gottlieb and Sophia Kleinschmidt children are: Charles Kleinschmidt (17 Aug 1875- 24 Sep 1878) George Edward Kleinschmidt (06 Apr 1877- 7 Jul 1947) Clara Kleinschmidt (29 Aug 1879- 14 Aug 1965) Marie Kleinschmidt (12 Jul 1881- 23 Mar 1966) Matilda "Tillie" D Kleinschmidt (31 May 1883- 23 Sep 1893) Ella Alice Kleinschmidt (19 Mar 1885- 22 Oct 1976) Charley Ernest Kleinschmidt (14 Feb 1888- 30 Jun 1958) Rosa Gertrude Kleinschmidt (02 Jun 1889- 08 Nov 1972) Harry Walter Kleinschmidt (26 Jan 1891-13 Jul 1960) Albert Ernest Edmund Kleinschmidt (28 Oct 1892- 29 Jul 1978) Arthur Frederick Kleinschmidt (06 Sep 1894- 10 Aug 1955) Lura Margaret Kleinschmidt (30 Jan 1897- 06 Apr 1961) Of their sons five sons who reached adulthood , Harry, Albert, and Arthur were US Army Veterans of World War I.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt's memorial?
Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt's memorial is located at: Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA.
When did Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt death?
Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt death on 31 Oct 1926 in Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Gottlieb Ernst Kleinschmidt's memorial?
Latitude: 41.3405991
Longitude: -92.2200012

Family Members:

Parent

Nikolas “Nicholas” Kleinschmidt

(1816 - 1901)

Dora J. Schacht Kleinschmidt

(1815 - 1885)

Spouse

Sophia E. Backhous Kleinschmidt

(1856 - 1918)

Siblings

Emilie “Emma” Kleinschmidt Pennington

(1842 - 1912)

William Charles Kleinschmidt

(1850 - 1913)

Children

Charles Kleinschmidt

(1875 - 1878)

Clara Kleinschmidt

(1878 - 1965)

Marie Kleinschmidt

(1881 - 1966)

Matilda D. “Tillie” Kleinschmidt

(1883 - 1893)

Ella Alice Kleinschmidt Linder

(1885 - 1976)

Rosa Gertrude Kleinschmidt Duensing

(1889 - 1972)

Harry Walter Kleinschmidt

(1891 - 1960)

Albert Ernest Edmund Kleinschmidt

(1892 - 1978)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3405991, -92.2200012

2. Sigourney East Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3418999, -92.1992035

3. Clary Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3589080, -92.2000090

4. County Home Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3380013, -92.1770020

5. Conner Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3050003, -92.2380981

6. Johnson Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3824997, -92.2485962

7. Pennington Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2769012, -92.2050018

8. Stoermer Cemetery
Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3333449, -92.1335126

9. Sunny Ridge Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3367004, -92.1311035

10. Walton Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3583445, -92.1335126

11. Garrett Cemetery
Delta, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3368988, -92.3277969

12. Kensler Cemetery
Delta, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2994003, -92.3246994

13. Humes Cemetery
Thornburg, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4085999, -92.2968979

14. Garabaldi Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3027800, -92.1111100

15. Saint Martin Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4100075, -92.2971268

16. Doggett Cemetery
Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2799988, -92.1306000

17. Bethel Cemetery
Delta, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2794000, -92.3107000

18. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Webster, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4039001, -92.1224976

19. Trueblood Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2583462, -92.1501798

20. Springfield Cemetery
Delta, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3386002, -92.3531036

21. Saint Josephs Cemetery
What Cheer, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4007988, -92.3300018

22. Old Bethel Cemetery
Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3333452, -92.0835114

23. Bethel Methodist Cemetery
Sigourney, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3373000, -92.0825500

24. Highland Cemetery
What Cheer, Keokuk County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3936005, -92.3407974