Life has meaning and purpose.

Behind every headstone is a story to be told. We should take some time to learn more about our ancestors and respect their sacrifices and learn about the hardships that they endured. They worked hard and planned a better life for their families when they made a decision to immigrate to America. They made that decision and gave up everything they owned. Just imagine that long and difficult trip across the Atlantic. For better opportunity. For a better life. They made that trip with small children and some had babies along the way. All of our ancestors worked, learned the English language, and studied to become naturalized American citizens. They were proud people and they loved being "Americans." Despite all the obstacles they faced, our ancestors endured and built this great nation. All this, in order to make a better life for their families.

I never knew her, but I have always admired and respected our widowed great-grandmother, Wilhelmina Krause Schmidt. She is a good example of the hardships and determination of our ancestors.

She has a story.

Her life had meaning.

She suffered many hardships.

What she did was important.

We wouldn't be here without her decision to immigrate to America.

Minnie Schmidt has a story. Her husband, Julius Heinrich Schmidt, died in 1897 in Germany after a fall on a construction site. They had six young children. Baby Julius was only eleven days old when his father passed away. Minnie had to bury the baby just ten months later. Three years later, Minnie made a decision to immigrate to America. She traveled with one young daughter and four young sons. The youngest was my grandfather, who was only 4 years old at the time. They were sponsored by her brother-in-law, William M. Kehl, who lived in Gonzales, Texas. They were processed at Ellis Island. They had one suitcase and only had $20.

After the process at Ellis Island, they traveled to Galveston, Texas and then joined her family in Gonzales, Texas. Minnie's mother, Justin's Banik Krause, and a sister Otilie Krause Kehl, were already living in Gonzales, Texas. Minnie raised her family there. My grandparents met in Gonzales county and my father and his brother was born there in Dilworth, Texas.

Thank you, Grandma Minnie, for coming to America.

We have a story, too. My husband and I were both born and raised in Sinton, Texas. We are happily retired now. We have three children, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Our life is wonderful here in Sinton, Texas. He has German, English, Scottish, and Irish ancestors. His family is SENF, Benham, Wheeler, Mayfield, Buller, Ahldag, Andrews, Turner, Wright, Rice and Lynch. And I have German, Czech, Polish ancestors. My family includes SCHMIDT, Martinka, Ermis, Krause, Banik(or Barnick), Palitza, Krchnak, Pechal, Valek.

I can remember becoming interested in genealogy in high school, when my aunt Theresa gave my mother a copy of her Martinka and Krchnak family tree. A few years later at an Ermis and Schmidt family reunion, my cousin had painted a six foot family tree with each family as branches and my great- grandparents as the roots. The leaves were all of children's names and my daughter was the first little red bud at the top of the tree. I was hooked and have been searching for over 50 years! Yes! All so interesting. It makes me happy.

Before the internet, we traveled to cemeteries, libraries, courthouses and churches searching for our records. Times have changed. Now with the internet, all the research has become much easier and faster.

Building a family tree is a wonderful hobby. You can quickly become obsessed, trying to complete your family tree. Take your time. It can become tedious on some days. Try to verify that you have accurate information. I like to see the actual brackets for the family trees. Take time to really look at each name. They were a real person. An important person. Their story made your life possible. We, their descendants, have benefited and prospered from their life lessons. I feel the written story of each person is so important to our family history. Think of their story as you go through the process of building your family tree. Each and every person deserves to be remembered. Respect their life. Honor their story. Everyone has a story.

There is a wealth of information and facts on Findagrave and Ancestry now. You will find many misspellings and wrong dates, but keep searching. I don't manage many memorials. I like to connect families (even if I don't know them). Every grave deserves a little remembrance. I like to add flowers and messages for infant's and children's memorials and especially for the veteran's memorials. Like I mentioned, It makes me happy.

Thank you for any information or any photos you can add to my ancestors' memorials. I understand some families want privacy, but all the information here is public record.

It is like solving a lifelong puzzle. Yes! All so interesting.

Geneology —

Begins as an interest

Becomes a hobby

Continues as an avocation

Takes over as an obsession

And in its last stages—

Is an incurable disease

— Author Unknown

Like branches of a tree

We all grow different directions

But our roots keep us all together

— By unknown

"The length of your life isn't as important as the kind of life you live." By Russel M Nelson, age 100 in 2024