The following information, pictures and documents are related to Carl Schmitke including the marriage license with Alvina. Note that the Schmitke name changed several times in spelling. The ship’s manifest has it as “Schmidtke”; Carl’s Discharge papers are signed “Schmetki”; the document from 1960 re: his confirmation shows it as “Schmidt” at his confirmation; Harold said Carl, at one time, changed it to Smith (as had his brother, Bill), but changed it back after getting too much mail for others; by 1924 it was “Schmitke” and remained with that spelling.
Carl Schmitke was born on October 1, 1894, his father, Wilhelm, was 28 and his mother, Augusta, was 31. The family came from a German area of what is now the Ukraine, but at one time was Poland, and, at the time they emigrated, it was ruled by Russia. Carl’s father died before the family emigrated. Carl once told Irvin that, at the age of 6, his oldest brother (Ferdinand) came back from serving in the Russian army, took him and said “we are going to America”. Ferdinand said they had wire on the borders with cans tied to the wire to hear if people were crossing out of the Ukraine.
Carl told Irvin that the family lived in an earthen house (made of dirt and grass) and that it had two rooms. One room was for sleeping and one was for cooking & eating. His mother swept the floor every day and made them as smooth as glass.
Carl’s brother Ferdinand and sister Maria had already emigrated to Canada when Augusta brought Carl (spelled “Karl” on passenger list), Mathilda, Wilhelm, and Olga over from the Ukraine. They traveled on the steamship Virginian to Quebec and then on up to Winnepeg. They reached Winnipeg in August 1908. The manifest states that Edward Stegman (Maria’s husband) paid for the passage. Carl was 13 years old at the time.
While in Quebec, Carl snuck across the border to the USA and attended school. This is where he learned English and reading/writing. It must have been a few months at the most, so this indicates he was a fast learner.
Carl, his mother and 3 siblings (Mathilda , Wilhelm, and Olga) came to Canada in 1908 on the Virginian, a ship of the Allan Line. So far, I have not discovered how they got from Ukraine to the ship. Here is the info. I found on the Allan Line: “Sailing from Glasgow and Liverpool, the ships of the Allan Line probably carried more young immigrants to Canada than any other line. Between 1852, when it was founded, and 1909 when it was taken over by the Canadian Pacific, the familiar red, white and black funnels of the Allan Line ferried these young charges to Canada.”
Carl married Alvina Baier on December 10, 1924, in Neche, North Dakota. They had 12 children in 15 years. When Carl married Alvina, he owned and rode an Indian motorcycle. Carl once said that Alvina was the only one who dared ride with him, therefore he kept company with her. Shortly after they were married, they sold the motorcycle and bought a car. He died on May 4, 1967, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, at the age of 72, and was buried in Stephen, Minnesota.
Carl Schmitke Prior to Marrying Alvina
Later Documents of Carl’s
Harold said that Carl told him that he married Alvina because she was the only girl that would ride with him on his motorcycle. They were married on December 10, 1924. Alvina was 21 years old and Carl was 30.
In 1960 when Carl began dealing with diabetes and other health issues, he worked to get VA benefits. The letters below were some exchanged during that time.
Pictures of Grandpa Carl after Marriage
Schmitke Family Archive 