Decide the Official Schmidt Family Crest

July 30, 2015December 12, 2015 Schmidt Reunion Contest contest, design, family, family crest, germany, graphic, herald, heraldry, hesse, hessen, hessia, iowa, kassel, machtlos, reunion, reunite, schmidt, schmidts, spencer, west bend 5 Comments

For the last several centuries, wealthy European families received official family crests from the authorities for noble deeds, academic achievement, or exceptional service to one’s ruler. Our Schmidt ancestors were humble, hard-working peasants in a tiny village called Machtlos, hidden away in the dense Wildeck Forest. As such, they were never recognized in this way. […]

Raubs of Dysart, Iowa are Part Schmidt

May 12, 2015 Schmidt Reunion Cousin Updates, Family History 2016, bohms, dysart, family, frank, franz, germany, hesse, hessen, hessia, hessian, hoard, iowa, kersten, louisa, machtlos, raub, rehmke, reunion, robb, schafer, schmidt, schmidts, spencer, vinton, wetzstein 1 Comment

Franz “Frank” Raub (1849-1920) of Dysart, Iowa Do you trace your ancestry back to Franz “Frank” Raub (1849-1920) and his wife Louisa (Kersten) Raub (1852-1932), who immigrated from Machtlos, Germany to Dysart, Iowa in 1880? If so, you are invited and especially encouraged to attend the Guinness World Record-breaking Schmidt Family Reunion on July 30-31, […]