WI BIO - Kenosha Co - SCHMITZ, Mathias P.

History of Kenosha & Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Clarke Publishing, 
1916, v 2, pp 201-202

Mathias P. SCHMITZ, dealer in clothing and men's furnishing goods in Kenosha, 
was born 01 June 1858 in Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, son of John and 
Katharine (SCHALLER) SCHMITZ, both of whom were born in Prussia, Germany, but 
came to the New World in early life, the father arriving in Kenosha in 1850 
and the mother the following year. John and Katharine (SCHALLER) SCHMITZ 
were married in Kenosha, and Mr. [John] SCHMITZ, who had previously learned 
the business of merchant tailoring, followed his trade in this city. He 
continued as an active factor in business circles here to the time of his 
death; John SCHMITZ died 28 May 1906, and his widow [Katharine (SCHALLER) 
SCHMITZ] died 05 January 1914. They were consistent members of St. George's 
Catholic church.

Mathias P. SCHMITZ attended the public schools of Kenosha to the age of 
thirteen years, and in 1871 began clerking in a men's furnishing goods store, 
his initial step in the business world. He was afterward employed in the 
Simmons general store, and subsequently was with the firm of Doan & Brown. 
In 1890, in connection with Nicholas J. LAUER, he [Mathias P. SCHMITZ] 
purchased the clothing business of his employers, and opened a store at No. 
265 Main street [renamed Sixth Avenue about 1926], where he has since been 
located. They carry a large line of men's clothing and furnishing goods; 
they have everything that the market affords, and their attractive stock, 
reasonable prices, and earnest efforts to please have brought them a very 
gratifying and liberal trade.

In 1890 Mr. [Mathias P.] SCHMITZ was married to Miss Frances K. HUCK of 
Kenosha, a daughter of Mathias and Mary A. HUCK, the former a shoe merchant 
and one of the pioneer residents of the city of Kenosha. [Before 07 February 
1850 the City of Kenosha was called Southport; 26 January 1850 Kenosha County 
was created from part of Racine County.] Mr. and Mrs. SCHMITZ [Mathias P. 
and Frances K. (HUCK) SCHMITZ] have two children: (1) Arthur J., now a 
traveling salesman; and (2) Earl M., who is with the Jeffery Manufacturing 
Company. [p 202]

Mr. and Mrs. SCHMITZ and their sons attend St. George's Catholic church, and 
he [Mathias P. SCHMITZ] belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic 
Knights of Wisconsin. In politics he is non-partisan, casting his ballot 
according to the dictates of his judgment. He stands for progressiveness in 
citizenship and cooperates in many plans and movements for the upbuilding of 
Kenosha, where he has worked his way upward in business circles until he now 
occupies an enviable and creditable position.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly