ANTON SCHMITT, proprietor of the Phelps House; was born Nov. 4, 1830, in the village of Dexbach, Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Briel of the same place, who was born March 15, 1829; they emigrated to this country in 1854, and came to Lancaster June 10, the same year. Mr. Schmitt is a farmer and miller by trade; he bought a farm in Section 2, town of Beetown, on which he lived until April, 1855, when he purchased of J. Allen Barber a grist-mill and farm in the town of Lancaster, called Grant Mills, which he operated and tilled the farm until 1869, when owing to poor health he sold the mill and moved to the village of Lancaster; in 1870, he engaged in the general merchandise trade, which business he carried on in Lancaster and Fennimore until January, 1876; in 1870, he bought 28 acres of land in the village of Lancaster on which he built a dwelling house and other improvements, planted a vineyard of 2 acres, orchard and small fruit, which he has cultivated successfully in connection with his other business; is one of the first and most successful grape and small fruit growers in this part of the county. Has six children - Louise, born in Germany, Dec. 20, 1852, now living in Dutch Flat, Cal., married to J. E. Knott; Caroline, Aug. 18, 1855; Carl, April 20, 1857, died Jan. 2, 1870; Adolph, born April 25, 1859; Amelia, Jan. 12, 1861; Elizabeth, March 20, 1863; Veronica, Oct. 8, 1865; the four daughters and one son are assisting their parents in their present occupation. Mr. Schmitt has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the lodge for twenty years; always been in active business life, and self-made.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.