(last updated 7-17-04)

    Joseph and Helen (Kever) Schmid were married on January 19, 1904.  Photos and stories about Joseph and Helen (often referred to as "Grandma" and "Grandpa") can be found on this page.  

    Check your photo albums for more photos.  Mail them or send via e-mail to Maryellen Wessendorf (Dick's youngest, a/k/a The Web Master).  If sending photos by e-mail, please send as .jpg files.  Any original photos sent in the mail will be returned to the rightful owner.

     Helen and Joseph.  Can you identify the location of this picture? Was this Heinie's backyard on Randall St.?  What was the year the picture was taken?

    Joseph and Helen.  Can  you identify the location of this picture? What was the year or occasion when the picture was taken?

    Young Helen Kever.  How old was Helen in this picture?

         Young Joseph Schmid.  

A LETTER FROM JOSEPH KEVER

Dear Parent and Brothers!

Thank God we arrived in America. I cannot give you too much information yet, except we received a very nice welcome from Paul Himmel and nephew. We also stayed with them for a few days.

Explanation of the trip: It took us one day and one night to get from Bruggen to Grimsby, England. Many passengers became seasick. The night on the sea was very stormy. The nature of that sickness is not serious; it just scares you a little bit. From Grimsby to Liverpool we took the train. We waited three days; twenty-second, twenty-third, and twenty-fourth. On the twenty-fifth, in the afternoon at about a quarter till six, we left Liverpool with the biggest ship on the sea. It was 580 feet long and 90 feet wide. The name of the ship is "Cynti of Roma". It was the fifth tour for that ship. It's got 3 engines and 4 masts. We experienced bad weather, fog, and a few nice days. The nicest things are the trains in America. Arrived in New York September 3, at 11 o'clock in the morning. On the fourth we rode to Castle Garden. On the same day we took the train to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, St. Louis. At eight o'clock in the evening we arrived at Loose Creek. Time difference between Germany and Loose Creek, 6 hours. That means that when it's noon in Germany, it's six o'clock in the morning here. Now will I close in expectation that you are all well.

Many greetings from our family,

Especially,

Joseph

According to my father's military records, which are written in German, he was born in Deggendorf, Luzon, Germany on June 18, 1873.

Joseph served in the German Army - 16 regiment, 6^th Company from October 14, 1893 to sometime in 1894.

(Helen holding Mary, Joseph holding Joe, Max Homer, Father Bachmier, Frances Kusstatscher [sister to Fr. Bachmier] holding Joe Jr., Joe Kusstatscher, Sr. Mary Gerald and John in front).  At the age of 22 he came to America on a ship which also carried cattle - not first class I'm sure. A priest, Father Bachmier, sponsored him. He came to Frankenstein, where he worked as a farm hand to repay the cost of his trip to America. He became an American citizen 12-3-1902.

He later worked for John Josef Kever of Luystown whose daughter, Helen (my mom) he married January 19, 1904.

  My mother - Helen Kever's family came to America in 1882. She was the youngest of 5 children: John Jacob, Maria, John Joseph, Anna, and my mom. Helen was conceived in Germany but was born in America. (Pop always told her she had to wear a tag - "Made In Germany").

  My great grandfather, Wilms, also came to America with the Kever family. Grandpa John Josef Kever was born May 6, 1835 and died August 25, 1909. Grandma Anna Helana Kever nee Wilms was born March 4, 1841 and died December 30, 1903. This is why Grandma had worn a black wedding dress, since her mother died just weeks before her wedding.

  (left to right:  Great grandpa Wilms, Grandma & Grandpa Kever,? other two)  Grandpa John Josef Kever was an architect, who I understand build most of the town of Luystown, MO. He also made caskets and beautiful furniture. He made the china cabinet, which was in our dining room and also the wardrobe in the bedroom - both were made of cherry wood. The china cabinet was in Frank's home when fire destroyed everything. The wardrobe may still be in a building on the farm, now owned by Frank's grandson, Steve.

  (The house in Luystown where Helen was born).  My parents bought a farm a few miles from Frankenstein, where 9 children were born. Two of the children died as babies. Anna Josephine died December 26, 1914 of diphtheria; I have no date of her birth. Paul Joseph died August 30, 1915 of spina bifida, no date of his birth either. The two babies that died were between Heinie and Paul.

  (Farm in Frankenstein.  9 children born here.  House now being used as a barn or storage shed). Farming proved to be not prosperous for them and decided to sell and move to Bonnots Mill, a 7-room house, $2100.00. They moved to Bonnots Mill in February, 1927. Bonnots Mill in those years was considered quite a booming town.

The Missouri Pacific railroad was building new tracks. The Meyer Marfeld Milling Company was doing well with lots of farmers bringing in their grain to be ground into feed and flour.

At about that time Bonnots Mill had 3 saloons, 3 grocers, 1 hotel, 2 churches and both public and Catholic schools. In later years the red brick building in center of town, once Dieckriede's store, was made into the Bon Ton Dance Hall.

Pop died of cancer in June 1956, while at Frank & Legora's house. Mom remained in the home in Bonnots Mill as long as she could manage. I think it was about 1964 when she began to stay with some of the children, five or six weeks at a time.

Mom died while staying in St. Louis. She was with me at the time when she fell and broke her hip. Mom fell, I think, January 13, 1967; had surgery either the 15^th or 16^th. She was never able to talk after surgery. She died January 23, 1967.

Joseph Schmid was born June 18,1873 and died June 25, 1956. Helen (Kever) Schmid was born December 1, 1882, died January 23, 1967.

Joseph and Helen Schmid started out in Frankenstein, MO, they did farming. Later moved to Bonnots Mill, MO. They had seven children; all found their way in the world. Grandma was a homemaker – cooking, washing and kept the family together.

Bonnots Mill lies in the valley between the hills of Osage County. Going in to town the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks ran along the Osage River. Bonnots Mill has 2 churches: Saint Louis Catholic and Methodist church. A school taught by Sisters of Providence and lay people when needed.

Adolph Murtens took care of the bank for many years. Paul Perry had the barbershop. Shack Pereyguey took care of the filling stations. The hotel was named Dauphine. Haslag had the restaurant. Eynard’s store, Krautman’s and Dekriedies’ clothing were all busy waiting on customers.

Abe Peters was Postmaster at the time; they lived next door to Grandpa and Grandma Schmid.

Marfeld Meyer Milling Co. was busy making flour; which was taken out by big trucks to other towns and some went far away.

The Koelting Lumber Co. sent out many loads of lumber to their customers up the hill. Many bags of cement and feed came in by MO Pacific Railroad. Then there wad Capt. Thompson who hauled freight up and down the river, sometimes as far as New Orleans. Many times he brought back some freight.

Grandpa and Grandma always had beautiful gardens. Grandpa often prepared gardens for the neighbors and cut wood for themselves and others that needed it. All had wood-stoves at that time. Grandma prepared vegetables and fruit for later use, in quart jars.

Grandpa and Grandma were an inspiration to us all

"Shave and a hair cut SIX BITS" was a familiar slogan in those days. There were man "Berma Shave" signs with a funny verse were everywhere.

They tell me I was born upstairs at Grandma & Grandpa’s house in Bonnots Mill. Of course, I don’t remember that. About the first I can remembers is staying there to finish out the first grade so I could be ready for First Communion. Dad and Mom moved to the country to live in an old house on a farm. Free living-depression days. I thought living there was great – especially cause Clara was only 7 years older than I was.

Grandma’s house was always so clean and neat. I especially liked her living room (we didn’t go in there much).

I did go to Grandma & Grandpa’s a lot on Sunday afternoon – about once every three weeks, and visit all afternoon, have lunch (good jelly – we had Karo syrup at home). We’d sit on the porch swing or sometimes play "cresino". I don’t know how to spell that for sure.

Grandpa would go to town and play cards, but I tell you it seems he was always prompt coming home for meals. About the first thing Grandma would say was "Any news?"

I made my regular visits on Sunday until Dude came into my life – then they were less frequents.

Grandpa always had that cigar in his mouth.

Oh yes, Mom (Opal) would cut Grandma’s hair. She would come to our house. I remember how we had to scrub the kitchen before she came (It was always very messy with all the kids we had).

Walking up the hill after school was an opportunity to wave to them sitting on the front porch. The hillside was clear of trees at that time.

They had such pretty flowers. I especially remember the "canna".

Good memories of two short people. Where did I get my height from?

God Bless Our Family,

Arbell Vogel