Balthasar was born in Helmsheim, Baden, the son of Heinrich Schmidt and Susanna Schwedes. His mother died when he was aged 5. His father immigrated with his surviving children to Wisconsin two years later.
Balthasar was the only member of his immediate family receiving his primary education in America, and one can imagine how he might have been teased as a boy about his name. He soon used the name "Paul Smith", by which he was widely known as an adult, even though he retained his birth name in most official documents.
Balthasar established a blacksmith shop in Juneau, the county seat of Dodge Co., and also served as town constable for a few years. Shortly before the turn of the century, he sold his business in Juneau and became the Manager of the Wisconsin Malt and Grain Co. in the small community of Pickett, Winnebago Co. His final years were spent living with his oldest son, Fred, Composing Room Manager for the Edgerton Tobacco Reporter newspaper in Rock Co.
Balthasar was the only member of his immediate family receiving his primary education in America, and one can imagine how he might have been teased as a boy about his name. He soon used the name "Paul Smith", by which he was widely known as an adult, even though he retained his birth name in most official documents.
Balthasar established a blacksmith shop in Juneau, the county seat of Dodge Co., and also served as town constable for a few years. Shortly before the turn of the century, he sold his business in Juneau and became the Manager of the Wisconsin Malt and Grain Co. in the small community of Pickett, Winnebago Co. His final years were spent living with his oldest son, Fred, Composing Room Manager for the Edgerton Tobacco Reporter newspaper in Rock Co.
Balthasar was born in Helmsheim, Baden, the son of Heinrich Schmidt and Susanna Schwedes. His mother died when he was aged 5. His father immigrated with his surviving children to Wisconsin two years later.
Balthasar was the only member of his immediate family receiving his primary education in America, and one can imagine how he might have been teased as a boy about his name. He soon used the name "Paul Smith", by which he was widely known as an adult, even though he retained his birth name in most official documents.
Balthasar established a blacksmith shop in Juneau, the county seat of Dodge Co., and also served as town constable for a few years. Shortly before the turn of the century, he sold his business in Juneau and became the Manager of the Wisconsin Malt and Grain Co. in the small community of Pickett, Winnebago Co. His final years were spent living with his oldest son, Fred, Composing Room Manager for the Edgerton Tobacco Reporter newspaper in Rock Co.
Balthasar was the only member of his immediate family receiving his primary education in America, and one can imagine how he might have been teased as a boy about his name. He soon used the name "Paul Smith", by which he was widely known as an adult, even though he retained his birth name in most official documents.
Balthasar established a blacksmith shop in Juneau, the county seat of Dodge Co., and also served as town constable for a few years. Shortly before the turn of the century, he sold his business in Juneau and became the Manager of the Wisconsin Malt and Grain Co. in the small community of Pickett, Winnebago Co. His final years were spent living with his oldest son, Fred, Composing Room Manager for the Edgerton Tobacco Reporter newspaper in Rock Co.
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