Holland City News, July 4, 1896

A telegram was received here Thursday afternoon from Hudsonville, informing the Commander of A. C. Van Raalte Post, G. A. R., of the death of Peter Schmidt, at the home of Mr. Mowry, in Georgetown. The event had been anticipated for several days and hence the comrades had made due preparation in anticipation thereof. Undertaker Nibbelink was dispatched after the remains, for interment in the soldiers’ plat at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. The funeral was to take place this (Friday) evening from the residence of J. H. Nibbelink, under the auspices of the G. A. R. Post. Having recently given an extended account of the eccentric and somewhat mysterious career of the doctor, we shall not enter upon any details at this time. His army record was Sergeant of Companies C and G, 9^th Wisconsin Infantry.

Holland City News, May 9, 1896

Since we mentioned the appointment in last week’s edition of the "News", of D. B. K. Van Raalte as guardian of Dr. Peter Schmidt, by reason of his intellectual inability to no longer maintain himself, his case has attracted special attention by the discovery of an old document, which goes to show that the well-known, eccentric, itinerant physician, a warm friend to the poor and a terrible enemy to himself, was the son of a baronet, driven from home by unjust accusations. Writes a correspondent in the "Detroit News":

"Of Dr. Pete’s antecedents no one seems to know anything. He was very reticent and rarely ever alluded to any part of his past life, except that spent in the service of his country during the late rebellion. It is a prevalent belief among his acquaintances that he was a graduate of some German university. He frequently spoke of things that happened when he was in Germany, and he certainly had a few equals in his very extensive knowledge of the classics of ancient Greece and Rome. He was often consulted by eminent scholars to settle controversies relating to Latin, Greek and Sanskrit. Year after year he traveled on foot through the country, administrating comfort to the sick and needy, never asking anything in return, unless the patient was fully able to give. At last he could work no longer, and he reluctantly applied for aid to A. C. Van Raalte, G. A. R. Post of Holland, of which he was a member. He was finally taken to Nathan Mowry, near Hudsonville, in whose home he is breathing his last.

"Nearly two years ago, Dr. "Pete" left a little tin trunk with an old friend, with the instructions to keep it until called for. This trunk was opened a few days ago. Among the contents was an old letter, upon a bluish parchment, written with red ink, much of which was obliterated with age. This letter must have been very precious to the old man, as it was closely wrapped in many folds of oiled silk, these in turn enclosed in a pocket of oilcloth. This letter bore a crest that represented a heart transfixed with a poniard, over which was "Carolinus V.," and beneath, the word, "Regis." It was dated August 17, 1837, at Cardiff, Wales, and ran as follows."

‘Peter, My Wayward Boy,

‘When your eyes see this I shall be dead and buried in the old vault at Somersetshire, where our fathers have been buried for the last 400 years. The physicians have again attempted to cut out the tumor from my face, but have given me over to be cured in the next world. I would have nothing to regret if it were possible for me to again hold you in my arms and hear you say that you forgave me for the great wrongs I unconsciously did you.

‘It is a terrible thing for me to die, hearing your curses ringing in my old ears and knowing how innocent I was of any intentional wrong to you or to the girl you loved so dearly. It was only a few days ago that I found that Harold was in reality the traitor, and not the firstborn of my heart. Helen did not live to und----(here quite a portion of the letter is too faded to decipher) many times over. The night that Clemmace was killed, I supposed that Harold was in his room instead of being in the hall.

‘ Oh, my dear boy, if I had not been so hasty in this affair, I might have died in peace in your dear arms; but now I am dying alone, while my boy is an exile from his native land, and is perhaps dying of a broken heart. Your brother, Harold, gets the entire estate, except the 4,000 that your mother left for you and your sister. If it were possible, I would have it otherwise, but the estate is entailed, and I am powerless in the matter.

‘Although Harold is your elder brother, you are the only son my heart has ever had, and to you has the entire wealth of my love ever been given. My sense of justice was too much shocked when I learned of the suspicions that were attached to you in the awful tragedy of Clemmace’s death. I was insane, I believe I could-- (here another lot of faded words.)

‘I cannot ask you to become reconciled to your brother, but Peter, would it not be better

to let the matter rest as it is, knowing as you do, that it would not bring Helen back to you, to add disgrace to our to fore unsullied house? I feel that your sensitive nature must so keenly feel you loss as to completely spoil your life; but, oh! my boy, try to cast it from you and live closer to the church and to your God, that we may at least meet with Helen in the better land.

‘The ring of the Cleghorns will await your orders at my lawyer’s in London. I feel that you will ever wear it with honor. I am (defaced) freely to give it. And now may heaven’s choicest blessing rest upon my wronged boy is the prayer of your dying father.’

Andrew Cleghorn, Bart.

"The particulars of the tragedy that wrecked Dr. "Pete’s" life will never be known farther than what are given in this long treasured letter from his father, if Cleghorn was his father, which seems possible.

"A certificate was shown from a Professor of Jena University, which seems to verify the above letter. It was to the effect that Peter Cleghorn had taken a special course in biology under the instruction of H. P. Harraburgher. This certificate was given June 16, 1836.

"Dr. "Pete’s" friends have taken the matter in hand and have written regarding the letter and the antecedents of the eccentric doctor."

Holland City News, September 17, 1887

Dr. P. W. Schmidt, familiarly known here as Doctor Pete, met with an accident at White Cloud last Tuesday evening. In attempting to get off the cars at that station by way of the rear door, and being somewhat slow in his movements, owing to rheumatism, he fell just as the train started to "pullout", and broke his arm just above the wrist and bruised his hip, so that he is quite helpless. He was picked up and taken into the station where, he says, he remained all night on the floor, without medical attention. Wednesday noon he was brought to this city, and is at present at the home of Mr. R. A. Hunt. Dr. J. A. Mabbs dressed his wounds and reduced the fracture and now he is as comfortable as could be expected. Dr. Pete attaches no blame to the railway company, but says that it was his own fault that he got hurt. He should have got out of the coach at the other end where passengers are helped off at each station.

 (Peter Cleghorn, born about 1820, emigrated from Greenock, England, arriving in New York on July 25, 1848.)