Captain Walter Karl Schmidt, pharmaceutist and proprietor of the popular Thums Drug Store at No. 84 Canal street, Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of this city, was born 7 March 1868, and is a son of August and Josephine Schmidt, a sketch of whose life appears on another page of this work.
Walter K. Schmidt was educated in the public school of Grand Rapids, and this education was supplemented by a course in pharmacy in the scientific department of the university of Michigan. In this line he served an apprenticeship of two years, under German tutors, H. & F. Thum, and is practically a bachelor of science, but lacked a few hours during semester study in some specialty of obtaining the diploma entitling him to that degree. From the date of his graduation, in June, 1891, until January 1, 1892, he was employed by his former tutors, the Messrs. Thum, and was then taken into partnership. His special qualifications as an analytical chemist were soon recognized, not only by his partners but by the scientific people of the community. Good positions and business opportunities were open to him in every direction, and he soon discovered the fact that his position as junior partner was neither profitable nor distinguished. This consideration finally led to his purchase of the entire business in October, 1894. To the original stock he has added a line of photographic supplies, on a small scale at first, but now extended so as to cover an entire floor of his block. This branch has become a very extensive department, and gives employment to a number of traveling salesmen, as well as to a number of employees in the store.
In keeping with his ancestral history, Capt. Schmidt, at a great sacrifice of his business interests, promptly offered his services, at the breaking out of the war between the United States and Spain. He had joined the militia of the state as a member of company B, Grand Rapids guard, in 1884, and had received excellent lessons in drill, which fully qualified him as a commander. Consequently, when the trouble with Spain arose, he was commissioned first lieutenant of company G, 32^nd Michigan infantry, under Col. McGurrin, and a sketch of this regiment will be found in the biography of the colonel on another page. On his return from active service. Lieut. Schmidt was promoted to the captaincy of company M, formerly company G, 2^nd Michigan national guards, a position he still holds. Capt. Schmidt is a member of Valley City Lodge, No. 86, F. & A. M.; Grand Rapids chapter, No. 7, R. A. M.; Daisy lodge, No. 48, B.P.O.E.; the German Workingmen’s society, the Lakeside Social club, and the Military club. Politically he is a democrat. The captain married in Grand Rapids, in October, 1892, Miss Nellie L. Turner, a native of the city and a descendant of one of its oldest and most prominent families.