This genealogy of the Schmidt family is written as a narrative so as to retain some of the personality of the ancestors. Geography and historical events are related to their lives as well as occupations and social customs. Photographs, documents, news items, maps etc will be used. The format is by families beginning with Ernst Schmidt and alternating with collateral branches. The name Schmidt is derived from the German verb "schmieden" to forge. In modern German the equivalent of the English blacksmith is "grobschmied" or "hufschmied". The heating and shaping of metals is an art both old and widespread, and sincere surnames were often taken from trades of occupations, the name Schmidt is several variations is one of the most widely used family names. Genealogy unfortunately obliterates itself as generations arise and recede. By nature the young look eagerly to the future while the aged have to way to look to the past. They would gladly tell their story of memories, but the young listen only politely, and thus an interesting story is lost forever. Hopefully this essay in narrative genealogy may encourage future Schmidt generations to continue this record of a family formed in the American "melting pot" of the 19th and 20th centuries from the diverse nationalities of western Europe; German, Spanish, Danish, French, English and Irish.

Henry Hedeman Family (1823 Denmark)

Christian Jensen Family (1851 Germany)

Francis Coyle Family (1812 Spain)

Ernst Schmidt Family (1827 Germany)

Charles Ernst Schmidt Family (1851 New Orleans, Louisiana)

Harry Johnson Schmidt Family (1908 Ocean Springs, Mississippi)

Robert Joseph Schmidt Family (1937 Biloxi, Mississippi)

Frank Oliver Schmidt (1904 Ocean Springs, Mississippi)

Charles Ernest Schmidt (1905 Ocean Springs, Mississippi)