SCHMID, Titus B. Sr.

SCHMID, Titus B. Sr. (Dubuque, IA, February 10, 1854--Chicago, IL, 1906). Educated in the Dubuque public schools, Schmid showed the signs of his future financial success by being able to save some of his allowance. This he invested around 1911 through Reverend Wolters of the First German Presbyterian Church of Dubuque in real estate in western Canada. The six hundred dollar investment within about a year appreciate to seventeen hundred dollars. Schmid's interest in studying law at Marquette University declined. He suggested to Reverend Wolters that a contact they had in Canada and several ministerial friends should form a company to pursue other real estate investments. The resulting Equitable Land and Investment Company listed as officers Rev. Rabenberg, who by then was involved in real estate full-time, president; Rev. Wolters, vice-president; and Schmid, secretary-treasurer. (1)

He entered Harvard around 1912 as a "Special Student" who would be regularly listed when his work proved satisfactory. This never came to pass as a telegram was received from their company's president asking if he could move to Saskatoon to begin his job as secretary. He was also involved with operating a custom thrashing crew and a livery stable. The outbreak of WORLD WAR I finished the all the Canadian business prospects and he returned to Dubuque after borrowing two hundred dollars. He repaid this with a loan from his father. (2) He traded his stock in the Equitable Land Company for a farm in Windom County, Minnesota. In 1916 he traded that property for a farm in Sand Springs, Iowa. He handed the deed to that property over to his father to repay loans. Out of the two farm transactions, Schmid was able to

joined his father Titus SCHMID in the management of the SCHMID BREWERY. This became the IOWA BREWERY until the merger which created the DUBUQUE BREWING AND MALTING COMPANY. In this company he was a major stockholder and a member of the board of directors. For many years he was also a director of the GERMAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK.

He was a member of the Dubuque Schutzen Society DUBUQUE SHOOTING SOCIETY, DUBUQUE GUN CLUB, Angler League, and the ELKS CLUB.

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Source:

1. Schmid, Titus B. History of Crescent Electric Supply Company," Self-published, p. 5

2. Ibid. 8

1. "Obituary," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 20, 1906, p. 2