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The Schmutzler’s
Leopold
Schmutzler
1894
Ferdinand
Schmutzler is a product of the town in which he now
resides, and as he has resided here all his life, it is, perhaps, not to be
wondered at that he is a public-spirited citizen, and is interested in all that
tends to improve and benefit the section.
He was
born March 14, 1858, a son of Christian and Caroline (Seitz) Schmutzler, and grandson of Leopold Schmutzler,
who was born in Saxony, Germany, and followed the occupation of farming. After
a voyage of eight weeks he landed in the city of New York, in 1851, and came
almost immediately to Watertown, where he resided until his death, a few years
later. He brought with him to this country his wife, five sons and three
daughters, the names of the latter being:
Leopold (deceased); Christian; Frederick, who served in a Wisconsin
regiment and died after the war was over; Ferdinand (deceased); August also
served in the war and now resides in Wisconsin; Christina (Ferge)
died in Watertown; Mary (Vinz) resides in Green Lake County, Wis.; and Hannah (Ferge).
Christian
Schmutzler
Edward Schmutzler
Christian
Schmutzler was born in Saxony, February 24, 1830,
came to this country with his parents, and having learned the carpenters'
trade, followed it until 1888. He then assisted in founding the Watertown Shoe Company, in which he is a
stockholder, and was made its secretary and treasurer, which positions he still
holds. He has always been a Democrat in politics, and was one of the organizers
and now a member of the Evangelical Church. Socially he is a member of the I.
O. O. F. He was married before leaving Saxony, and the children born to himself
and wife are as follows: Charles, who died at the age of sixteen; Edward lives
in Watertown; Ferdinand; Minnie; Ulrich; Emma died at the age of twenty-nine;
and Lydia, who died at the age of twenty-five. Both parents are still living,
and are highly honored citizens of Watertown.
Christian Schmutzler Home 1902, Picturesque Watertown booklet
Ferdinand
Schmutzler, 1914 image
< click to enlarge
Ferdinand
Schmutzler
Ferdinand
Schmutzler was reared in the town of his birth and
was given a good practical education in the public schools. He started out in
life for himself as a clerk in a dry goods store at a salary of $100 per year,
and this occupation he followed for twelve years, the last year receiving $45
per month for his services. He then went
to Winneconne, where he opened and conducted a meat market for two years, but
in the spring of 1885 returned to Watertown, and entered the employ of Weber & Son
as a bookkeeper. In January of the following year he became a partner in this
business, and since that time has had charge of the books. This firm is doing a
profitable business, and the proprietors have shown themselves to be able and
experienced business men and strictly honorable in their treatment of their
many patrons.
Mr. Schmutzler was the founder and the first stockholder in the
Watertown Shoe Company, in which he still has an interest, and he is also one
of the organizers and directors of the Merchant's
Bank, in fact he is one of the most useful and enterprising citizens of the
place, and is deserving of all respect for he has made his own way in the world
without help from any one. In 1887 he was elected by his Democratic friends as
supervisor of the Third Ward, and for the past two years has been one of the
city aldermen. Socially Mr. Schmutzler is a member of
the A. F. & A. M., and at the present time is holding the position of
worshipful master. He was married September 4, 1880, to Miss Augusta Weber, a
daughter of Jacob and Minnie (Gloger) Weber, and five children have been born
of this union, three of whom are living: Walter
C., John J., and Lydia.
1909
07 02 A Fine Doll House. Ferd.
Schmutzler has built a fine doll house for his little
daughter Marie; it is a facsimile of Paul Thom’s
residence, [at 209 South] Washington Street, in all its details, inside and
outside, paint, architecture, etc. It is
furnished throughout and Miss Marie’s dollies have a very beautiful home. During the day time it occupies a conspicuous
place on the porch at Mr. Schmutzler’s home and is
admired by everybody who sees it. Ferd. Is certainly a genius and must have had a great deal
of patience while putting together this miniature doll house. WG
Ferdinand
Schmutzler, Mrs, nee
Augusta Weber
Watertown Gazette, 08 15 1929
At one
o'clock on Saturday, August 10, 1929, Mrs. Ferdinand Schmutzler,
wife of Justice of the Peace Ferdinand Schmutzler,
died at her home, 115 Washington Street. For several months she had been in
poor health, but her death came rather suddenly, her condition on Friday
becoming serious and grew suddenly worse till death set in February 17, 1858. She was born in this city, her maiden name
being Augusta Weber, daughter or the late Ex-Mayor Jacob Weber and prominent
business man.
On
September 4, 1880, she was married to Mr. Schmutzler,,
who survives her, also one son, John Schmutzler, of
Mitchell, South Dakota, and two daughters, Mrs. Ary
G. Keel and Mrs. Sidney C. Northrop, both of Watertown. She is also survived by four grandchildren,
one brother, Frank B. Weber, and two sisters, Mrs. Edward C. Schmutzler and Mrs. Paul Thorn, all of Watertown.
Tuesday
afternoon her funeral was held from her late home, Rev. Ware Foster of
Wauwatosa, former pastor of the First Congregational Church of this city,
conducting the services. The interment
was in Oak
Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Schmutzler was a woman of a peculiarly sweet and beautiful
character, so that she bore with uncomplaining cheerfulness the illness which
afflicted her for several months before her death. These characteristics made her many life-long
friends who feel the most sincere grief at her death. A kind and loving wife and mother, a good
Christian woman now sleeps in peace.
The
sympathy of all who knew her is extended to her surviving family, by whom she
will be so badly missed, but it is a great consolation to feel that the final
summons to this good lady was, ”well done, good and faithful servant, enter
thou unto the joys of thy Lord.”
Ferdinand Schmutzler Home, 1902, Picturesque
Watertown
c.1952
City assessor pic
Edward
Schmutzler
Oscar Schmutzler,
Sr
Donald Schmutzler
Oscar Schmutzler,
Jr (Hap)
Robert Schmutzler
1954
(09
22) Two grandsons of the late Edward Schmutzler who
founded the Schmutzler Furniture Co. and the Schmutzler Funeral Home here now are members of the Schmutzler Furniture Co. which is continuing the family
business interests. The two, along with
their father, have formed a three-way partnership. They are Oscar E. Schmutzler,
Jr., and his brother, Donald L. Schmutzler. They have joined their father, Oscar E. Schmutzler, Sr., in business. Another grandson of the company's
founder, Lt. Robert Schmutzler, is serving in the
U.S. Air Force.
1976
A wealth of detailing went into the
facade of the early Christian Schmutzler home, built
as a replica of the family home in Bavaria in the early 1850's. Although the house is still located at 614 Cleveland
Street, there have been some structural changes since its erection 125
years ago.
Christian Schmutzler was one of Watertown’s early builders.
He made extensive land purchases
and began his building operations. His
first building was a two-room bungalow on the site of the present home of Oscar
Schmutzler, Sr. (721 N Fourth), Christian Schmutzler's grandson.
He then completed the family home on Cleveland Street. This stone house has pillars inset at the
corners and extensive window ornamentation, both on the lintels and below the
windows.
The
present large brick home of Oscar Schmutzler is over
100 years old, completed in 1873 and remodeled extensively at later dates.
Watertown's
first City Hall on North First Street was
completed by Christian Schmutzler in 1884. Others of
his buildings include the first Webster School on
Western Avenue, the large John Cole home,
now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Schultz at 802 North Fourth Street, and the
Pugh home owned by Leo Bargielski at 501 South Fourth
Street.
Pugh
home
All
brick for the Schmutzler buildings was Watertown
brick.
The Schmutzlers are one of Watertown's few five generation
families who have been active in the Watertown community.
In
2004 the former Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home was
converted
into
the offices of the Pitman, Kyle & Sicula law firm
Schmutzer-Vick
1987
01 24 Raymond G. Vick Jr. will begin as an associate of Schmutzler Funeral Home as of Feb. 7, according to owners
Bob and Don Schmutzler. A native of Genesee Depot, Vick resides in
Waukesha with his wife, Janet, and 4-month-old son, Justin. The family will move into an apartment above
the funeral home at the beginning of February.
Vick is a 1976 graduate of Milwaukee Area Technical College-Milwaukee
funeral service program and has 12 years of experience in funeral service. WDT
1998
Watertown
Daily Times,
Schmutzer-Vick
will break ground for a new building at 500 Welsh Road on the city's west side
in August.
The
announcement comes as the firm celebrates its 125th anniversary as a family
owned and operated business in Watertown.
The
firm was founded in 1873 by Carl Nowack and Edward Schmutzler as a furniture and undertaking establishment, a
common business combination at that time.
In 1935, Edward's son, Oscar Sr., converted the family home on Fourth
Street into a funeral home. Oscar's
three sons, Oscar Jr "Hap", Donald and Robert as well as Hap's wife,
Kate, operated the firm for more than 40 years.
The
new one-story brick funeral home will be located on land purchased by Schmutzler-Vick in 1997.
The funeral home is the first parcel on the land to be developed. Other sites will be available for future
development. The recent construction of
nearby homes, a retirement home, two churches and future housing developments
signal significant growth in the area.
The building plans call for more than 7,000 square feet for two chapels,
a family lounge/arrangement room, a children's room, casket and cremation
display areas, a crematory, work rooms and offices.
When
the new facility opens, it will be the third location for the funeral home
since it was opened 125 years ago. The
first building was located at 401 E. Main St., the present site of Red Apple
Antiques. The current facility is at 721
N. Fourth St. That building will be sold
in the future.
Raymond G. Vick
1952- 2017
Raymond G. Vick, 64, of
Watertown, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, while at the
Watertown Regional Medical Center in Watertown.
Ray was born on Nov. 6,
1952, in Waukesha, the son of Raymond and Ruth (Klussendorf)
Vick. Ray married his wife, Janet F. Kruschke on Aug. 17, 1974, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Milwaukee.
Ray became a licensed
funeral director in 1977. He enjoyed being a funeral director as he felt it was
a great honor to serve families through those difficult times. Ray’s greatest joy was spending time with his
family, going on vacation, having his weekly breakfast with his granddaughter
and was extremely excited for the arrival of his next grandchild. Ray was fond of shooting trap and even got an
award for the high team average (which meant the team had really bad scores,)
loved steam engines and was very involved in Watertown community groups.
Ray bought the Schmutzler Funeral Home on Fourth Street in 1986 and then
the Hart Funeral Home in Marshall in 1991.
Ray then built the new funeral home on Welsh Road in Watertown in 1999
by the Watertown Farm & Fleet. Ray
was one of the first funeral directors to become a certified eye enucleator in
Wisconsin.
He was an active member
in church and church committees, Watertown Junior Jaycee’s, Elks, BNI, Funeral
Service Alliance board member, Oak Hill Cemetery board member, Watertown Humane
Society board member, Conservation Club member and a Chamber of Commerce
member, receiving the Business of the Year award in 1999. In addition, he was a member of the Watertown
Historical Society and the Watertown Arts Council. Ray was also highly involved
in Watertown Lions, serving as two-time past president, Melvin Jones award
recipient in 2010, Eye Bank services award in 1997, distinguished service award
in 2000 and a Birch Sturm award recipient.
Ray is survived by his
wife, Janet of Watertown; three children, Justin (Rebecca) Vick of Watertown,
Jennifer (Chad) Petersen of Sullivan and Jordan Vick of Watertown; one
granddaughter, Brenna Vick of Watertown; two siblings, Alysen
Tieman of Big Bend and John (Karen) Vick of North Prairie; one brother-in-law,
Paul (Kaye) Kruschke of West Allis; and several other
nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Ray was preceded in
death by his parents; one sister, Sandra Vick in 2016; one nephew, Troy Wilkening; and one niece, Tracey Skibbe.
Memorials can be
directed to the family in Ray’s memory, and all memorials will be directed to
groups in the Watertown community.
Funeral services will
be held at the River Valley Alliance Church, 610 Welsh Road, on Saturday at 11
a.m. A visitation will be held at the Schmutzler-Vick
Funeral Home, 500 Welsh Road, on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and also at the church on
Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Private family
burial will take place later at the Oak Hill
Cemetery in Watertown.
Reference:
Portions
of above derived from Memorial and
Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago;
Goodspeed Brothers, 1894.
Cross-References:
Schmutzler family members buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin