North Branch, Sullivan County

The long vacant Associated Stores of J. M. Schmidt & Sons Co. Inc. can be seen within the small Sullivan County hamlet of North Branch. John Martin Schmidt (1836-1919) was the founder and namesake of the store. Schmidt was born in Baden, Germany and came to the United States at the age of 18 after an arduous 66 day journey across the ocean. He joined his father who had immigrated previously. Schmidt proudly served during the Civil War with 139th New York Regiment.

The store was well known through the region. Reading like an advertisement, the local newspaper described the store: “One of the most enterprising firms in Sullivan County is that of J. M. Schmidt & Son, in North Branch. Quoting them as dealers in “everything” is certainly no exaggeration for there is scarcely anything needed for the farm, home, factory, shop, barn or chicken-coop that you will fail to find at J. M. Schmidt & Son’s. They are also a market for everything there is to demand for. Their place of business is a scene of constant activity. They carry one of the largest stocks of groceries, flour, feed, crockery, clothing and wagons of any firm in Sullivan County. Courteous treatment and a determined effort to do the right thing at all times has resulted in a grand success.” (1)

In addition to the store, the Schmidt & Sons Company also operated a prosperous apple business. “This factory consisted of an apple peeling building and three drying houses located behind their store. The plant was very busy by 1890. They sold apples to every state in the union except Florida, Oregon and Washington. One fall they shipped out 168 loaded railroad cars. In 1903 they built a warehouse near the Erie tracks at Callicoon Station to store their apples. It was two stories high, 40' x 100' and had the capacity to store 10,000 barrels. The Schmidts employed almost 25 men and women. The apples were washed, sorted and peeled by hand. Apples were packed in 25-pound wooden boxes. Later an apple peeler/corer mechanism was brought in which was very similar to the ones we use today but on a much larger scale.” (2)

John Martin Schmidt died unexpectedly in 1919: “His son found him lying dead in the path. He had his cane in one hand and some flowers that he gathered in the other.” (3) Upon his death he was described as “one of the best known merchants in Western Sullivan [County].” (3)

Source:
(1) “North Branch.” The Tri-States Union. Thursday, May 18, 1911.
(2) Herbert, Cindy. “Bygone Days of North Branch.” www.jeffersonville.com. Accessed July 11, 2017.
(3) “Dropped Dead.” Republican Watchman. June 20, 1919.