Martinus "Martin" Andrew Schmitt

© The Guthrie News Leader

Tuesday, December 7, 1999

Submitted by: Bob Chada

Graveside services for Martinus "Martin" Andrew Schmitt, 99, were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at Roselawn Cemetery in Mulhall, Okla. under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home of Pawnee, Okla. Martin was born Dec. 15, 1899 in Osborne, Osborne County, Kan. to Michael "Mike" Schmitt and Franziska 'Frances" Weiger Schmitt. He passed from this life on Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, at Pawnee, having reached the age of 99 years, 11 months, and 19 days.

He moved to Mulhall, Oklahoma Territory on April 4, 1906 with his parents and two sisters by train from Blue Hills, Mitchell County, Kan.

He grew to manhood near Mulhall, Logan County, Okla. and worked in the oilfields in Osage County, Okla. as a young man.

Martin Married Sarah Ellen Mayfield on May 21, 1929 in Perry, Noble County, Okla., and she preceded him in death on March 23, 1999.

They moved to Pawnee County in 1933 and lived north of Pawnee on an acreage where they engaged in farming. On Christmas day 1937, they moved with their two young daughters, eight miles southwest of Pawnee by team and wagon, and a model-T truck. He farmed cotton and wheat, milked cows, and raised cattle and chickens. He sold cream and eggs, and milked cows until the 1960s. They sold their farm in November 1987 and moved into Pawnee in December of that same year.

Martin belonged to the Farmer's Union and was one of the first farmers to sign an agreement with the Soil Conservation District of Pawnee County in May 1948.

His first job was to terrace his cropland. He helped his wife, who taught school and was the 4-H leader, with 4-H activities and his daughters with their livestock, gardening and handicraft projects. Martin and his wife were honored in November 1986 with the Citation of Congratulations from the State of Oklahoma on being named "Conservationist of the Month" by the Pawnee County Conservation District Board of Directors. The citation was signed by Senator John L. Dahl.

Besides his wife, Sarah, he was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Mary Emma Schmitt in 1933; one grandson, Michael Kelley; two brothers: Johnie Schmitt and Joseph Schmitt; and four sisters; Lena Schmitt, Katherine Knittle, Anna Shaffer and Mary Jane Walton.

Martin is survived by Wilma Jean Kelley and her husband, Billy, of Pawnee, and Evelyn Deloris Trissell and her husband W. Alvin, of Vinita, Okla.; eight grandchildren: Sharon Lakey, Martin Kelley, Pamela Ware and Wallace Kelley, of Pawnee, Darrel Trissell and Charlotte Flock, of Vinita, Nina Miller of Indianapolis, Ind., Kevin T. Trissell, of Mons, Belgium; 13 great-grandchildren: Jason Lakey, Chad Kelley, Chance Tatum, Walter Ware, Phillip Kelley, Cliff Flock, Tonya Flock, Maggie Miller, Neal Miller, Kevin A. Trissell, Jeffrey Trissell, Brian Trissell and Ashley Trissell; plus a number of other relatives and many friends.