oelschmi.html

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., August 4, 1960, page 1

PIONEER WOMAN LAID TO REST

Elizabeth Aerni Schmid was born in Kanton Thurgan, Switzerland, August 30, 1875, the eldest child of Joseph and Lisetta Aerni.
In 1892, when she was seven years old, her parents came to the United States, settling at Bethany, Oregon, one of the early settlements west of Portland. In the spring of 1894 Joseph Aerni heard of the lush grass growing in Trout Lake, and that land there could be homesteaded, so he went up late in the fall to see.
In the spring of 1895, he moved his family of six children to Trout Lake over rough trails on foot and horseback. They settled on the claim where the Hollenbeck mill is now located, moving into a little log cabin.
Elizabeth Aerni was married to Peter Schmid in 1890. To this union were born nine children.
In 1909 she was married to Jacob Schmid. To this union were born four children.
In spite of her many hardships and trials she kept her sweet personality and was loved by all who knew her. She was artistic in many ways and carved wooden toys for her children and grandchildren as Christmas gifts. She always made the home life more beautiful by her clear beautiful soprano voice, which remained the same until her body was too weak to use it. Her yodeling of Swiss songs was lovely to hear and when the Aerni family, in their gatherings sang or yodeled, listeners could never forget the beauty of it.
Elizabeth Schmid passed away July 19, 1960 at Skyline Hospital with her daughter Elizabeth and son John at her bedside. She was a great patient there for 10½ months. She is the last of the Valley pioneers who came in the 1880's and remained to live in the valley. Her sons and daughters and their families have had an active part in the activities of the valley. She leaves to mourn her loss: three sons, John, Adolph and Walter, all of Trout Lake, and four daughters; Mrs. Rose Sickafoose of Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Bertha Keizer of North Bend, Ore., Mrs. Esther Jennings of Trout Lake; and Miss Elizabeth Schmid of North Bend, Ore. She also leaves twenty-four grandchildren, forty-one great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren, four brothers; Joshua Aerni of Jefferson, Ore., Joseph Aerni of Carson, Wash., Earnest and Carl of Scio, Ore.; four sisters, Mrs. Mary Kautz of Vancouver, Wash.; Mrs. Lydia Wooten, Salem, Ore.; Mrs. Martha Martin of Albany, Ore.; and Mrs. Edna Whittaker of Portland, Oregon.