The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-26
WILLIAM h, SCHMIDT At
LAST CLAIMED BY DEATH
One of the Most Popular Citizens
of Indianapolis Succumbs After
a Lingering Illness.
HELD POSITION OF TRUST
Man Who Made Reputation in
Commercial World Served
Two Terms as Treasurer.

William II. Schmidt. one of the most
widely known men of Indianapolis, and for
two terms treasurer of Marion county, died
at the Fletcher Sanatorium shortly after
noon yesterday with what is known as
basilar meningitis.
Mr.. Schmidt was taken to the sanatorium
last August after a complete nervous col
lapse. brought on by the loss of his eye
sight but his condition did not become Sc
rious until within the last two weeks, in all
of which time he was perfectly rational,
and up TO within a few hours of his death
was perfectly conscious and conversant
about his business affairs.
The direct source of Mr.. Schmidts last
Illness was the collapse of his nervous sys-
tenn, occasioned by the loss of his sight.
1t is believed that his blindness was
brought on by too close confinement while
in the treasurers office. In May. 1900. just
after his retirement, his falling vision be-
came noticeable, and at once he was put
under the care of some of the most eminent
opticians in the country, but without avail.
Specialists were consulted from Boston,
New York and other Eastern cities, but
little encouragement was held out by them,
who pronounced il a hopeless case, and in
iy lost.
On the afternoon of the day that total
blindness was apparent Mr. Schmidt suf-
fered nervous shock, from which he never
recovered. The loss of his vision was due
supposedly, to a humorous growth at the
base OF the brain, and in Its development
nation followed and meningitis developed
lie taken TO the Fletcher Sanatorium
where for time his condition improved
but he soon relapsed and gradually became
weaker until death resulted.
Mr.. Schmidt was born at Madison, Ind,
Sept p. 1851 and came to this city with his
parents in 1858 and in short time after
ward entered the employ of the A. Kiefer
Drug Company as errand boy. His ener-
gy and ability won him steady promotion,
and at his retirement from commercial life
he was one of the heaviest stockholders.
He severed his connection with the firm In
1884 to enter the race tor county treasurer.
From the date of his majority he was
actively engaged in politics and at COM
paratively early age he was one of the rec
ognized leaders of the county. He seemed
10 be peculiarly fitted for this work and
was greatly aided In IL by his unusual lib
erality, which was practiced by him to
such a degree that il became almost a
fault. To any who had ever heard of him
and TO all of his acquaintances he was
known Billy In all of his labors for
the Republican party he was never an Of
fce-seeker, and the only honor that he ever
asked was the election to the treas s
office, which was secured by him for two
terms. He first assumed the responsible
ties of that office in 1895 and was again
elected In 1897, retiring in 1900.
At the expiration of his second term, be-
cause of failing health. Mr.. Schmidt retired
from the active political field with the
intention OF devoting the remainder of his
life TO his personal interests and rest. His
plans in this particular, however, We're
interrupted by his breakdown in health.
He took a short business and pleasure
trip through Mexico. where he had inter
ests in the Indiana Sonora Mining Compa-
NY. but this visit was cut short by his APP
preaching blindness.
Mr.. Schmidt was of the prime NOV
ers in the original baseball organization
for Indianapolis and with John T. Brush,
Charles r. Meyers and John T. McCutcheon
were the owners of the old Jack Glasscock
team which was the representative Indian
apolis team in the National League. He,
with the other members of the corporation.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2, COL 60