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SCHMIDT Herman William  

Article written and compiled from imformation gathered from many sources including  Mandy Smith,  by Gordon Freegard

James Bell bought the blacksmith's business and his home at Tarcowie, even though he was still only a young man. The business grew, a bigger shop was added and extra men were needed, one of whom was Herman Schmidt who leaned his trade with James Bell and married Louisa Mary Baker, a servant of the Bell household.

Some years later James Bell (Junior) arrived on the goldfields in W.A., naturally his first idea was to get a job, blacksmithing if possible, but a job of some sort. He went to the Brown Hill gold mine and soon found that jobs of your own choosing were not easily come by. He was very fortunate because when he found his way to the blacksmith shop, who should he find there but one of the men who had learned his trade in his father's blacksmith shop. His name was Herman Schmidt (already referred to). Herman offered to introduce him to the manager of the gold mine. After waiting for a couple of hours the manager, a Mr. Geo. Miller, came to the shop and the introduction took place.

       

HERMAN SCHMIDT & HIS WIFE LOUISA            #1
 

      JAMES BELL & HERMAN SCHMIDT'S BLACKSMITH SHOP AT GNOWANGERUP 1909     #2

 

Now the highest recommendation Herman could give to the manager was "Anything I can do, Mr. Bell can do better. In fact he taught me all I know."Mr. Miller said James could start straight away, but he didn't have any tools. Father said "Give me a hammer and the matter and I will make a set for myself." So the tools were made and James Bell worked in the same shop for several years. He invented a candle holder called a spider for the use of the miners working underground. He won first prize at an art competition with this invention.
Then Bell and Schmidt in later life became parteners in a blacksmithing business in Gnowangerup and were lifelong friends.
Herman Schmidt retired to Nedlands.

 

 BELL & SCHMIDT ADVERT   1912         #
 

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References:                 Article:     Gordon Freegard

                                  Image:    1     Mandy Smith (Grand daughter)
                                                 2     Western Mail Newspaper
                                                 3     Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023 - 2026