Richard Schmader convinced Darlene to do her best with only an outline of names and genealogy trails for the Schmader family.  Some information was derived from another recent compilation of the Knox Township history found in “A Proud People, A Proud Heritage.”

Mary Alice Schmader, of Lucinda was contacted for some information on her branch of the Schmader family and offered to aid Darlene.

Mary Alice Schmader is one of the many who has a double connection to the Simon Schmader I line along with at least 50 other families that have one spouse under one Schmader branch and the other spouse under another branch.

“Nearly every home in Lucinda was at one time occupied by a Schmader descendent or currently houses a Schmader descendent,” Mary Alice Schmader explained.

The hard-cover book, which consists of nearly 800 pages of Schmader family history, contains photos, families and a blend of stories dating back over one and one/half centuries.

“This is all because of two people,” Mary Alice Schmader said. “It’s amazing that so many descendents are connected simply because of one couple that married in 1847.”

The book price of $40-$50 will be determined later after an exact page count and total number of preorders. Copies can be reserved at this time by contacting Darlene Fescenmeyer at armitage@csonline.net or by contacting Mary Alice Schmader at 226-6934, or mailing 945 Lawn Drive , Lucinda, 16235.  

The Schmader story

Simon Schmader I landed in Philadelphia and crossed Pennsylvania until he came to Pittsburgh where he got a job loading and unloading logs that were sent down river from the Cook Forest area.

Simon Schmader I purchased nearly 60 acres and settled in Knox Township , known today as Lucinda.

After his arrival he met a young widow, Anna Maria Thuman Goetz whose husband had passed away on the trip to America , and on August 16, 1847 , Simon and Anna Maria walked from Lucinda to Fryburg’s St. Michael Church to be married. 

In the following 20 years the couple had 17 more children (Anna Maria had a daughter, Sophia “Sabina” Goetz, whom she had been pregnant with when her first husband passed), 11 boys including a set of twins and six girls.

The couple resided in a log home built by Simon I in about 1849 and since then six generations have lived on the homestead.

Cloth woven by Simon was dyed with hickory nut shells and the leaves of wild sumac while Anna Maria sewed the clothing by hand for the entire family.

Anna Maria baked in a large outside oven built of fieldstone and one-time local Indians hunting in the area smelled the baking bread and she wisely gave them some to keep peace.

Simon also cut and sold timber from the trees on his land for gunwales on the sides of ships to Andy Cook of the Cook Forest area.

Even Helen Furnace was touched by Simon Schmader I who worked there daily.  The furnace, recently repaired, was first restored by Daniel Schmader and his son, Danny, carrying on the tradition of hand-cut stone masonry.

After Anna Maria’s death in 1892, Simon I went to live with his son Joseph Schmader and his wife, Kate in Farmington Township until his death Jan. 7, 1902.

Simon Schmader II, another son, tore down the old log homestead and built a three-story Colonial brick house on the Schmader farm.

The home, of which is still currently owned by Simon’s great-grandson Russ Schmader.

The history of the first Schmader family, their daily existence whether it be designing quilts, baking, farming, lumbering or doing stone-masonry has continued down through the generations.

Raising large families was also common at that time and the family of Simon Schmader II and his wife, Minnie included 13 children of their own.

The story continues and the family grew. Look for more in the Schmader Family History Book, nearing completion and to be printed this year.