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Schmidt, Ben J. (1908-1938)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Apr 27 p. 1
Birth date: 1908
text of obituary:
Ben J. Schmidt of Montezuma Killed Instantly On April 19.
The Montezuma reporter of the Mennonite Weekly Review send in the following news of a tragedy which occured [sic] there on Tuesday, April 19:
Ben J. Schmidt, 30, a farmer northwest of Montezuma, and also a house mover by trade, met with a tragic death Tuesday noon, April 19, near Garden City, Kansas, where he was moving a house. Moving the house under some high voltage wires which obstructed the work, Mr. Schmidt got on top of the house to clear the wires, which made contact and caused his sudden death.
Mr. Schmidt had formerly had some experience with moving houses under high voltage wires, but this time he failed to stay far enough away. As he fell to the ground, his helpers, his brother Jake and Jake Jantz, who were watching him, caught him in their arms and laid him to the ground dead.
He was immediately taken to the Hospital where a doctor pronounced him dead. He leaves his widow and six small children. This is a shock to the entire community which the people will not forget.
Mr. Schmidt was much loved, a devoted Christian and an industrious farmer.
Funeral services were held Friday afternoon with Rev. Albert Unruh and Rev. John A. Koehn in charge. Bro Koehn, a close friend and neighbor to Mr. Schmidt, who was on an extensive trip to Oklahoma and Texas and was now on his way to the Mexican border was stopped at Vaugh [sic Vaughn], New Mexico, and came home to attend the funeral. He and his wife will leave Monday to resume their trip and their work in the mission field.
