CLAFLIN – A Century Farm started by Paul Schmitt was recognized when the Barton County Farm Bureau hosted its 104th Annual Meeting at the Parish Center in Claflin on Aug. 27.
The following information was provided by the BCFB.
Paul Peter Schmitt was born in May of 1846 in Berlin, Germany. In 1884 he arrived in the United States. He settled in Chicago, Ill., for a time, and worked in various occupations.
He found his way to Barton County, and in November 1890 married Anna Bloomer of rural Claflin. The couple farmed a quarter section of land northeast of Claflin, which was given to them by Anna’s parents.
After farming this ground for a few years, they moved to the southwest quarter section, adjacent to the future property they would purchase, and rented the home and land to continue farming.
After purchasing the adjacent half section, they began their plans for the land. Finding water proved difficult, but eventually became a reality. They planted numerous trees and built a large two-story frame home, a large barn, two granaries, and shelters for the chickens and pigs. A smokehouse and a corral for the cattle and horses were also built.
After completion of the large barn, neighbors and family were invited to a celebration square dance in the hay loft. The celebration was so successful that many more dances were held in the barn.
Paul Schmidt also owned land for a time, southwest of the homestead along the Walnut Creek. This is just southwest of the Barton Community College baseball field.
In 1916, Paul and Anna decided to move off the farm and built a home in Great Bend, where they spent the remainder of the lines. One of their sons farmed the ground for several years.
On Nov. 25, 1922, at the age of 58 Paul Schmitt received his naturalization paper and became a United States citizen.
In 1919, the Schmitts’ son James and his wife Emma moved into the homestead. James also had been farming the homestead and the 160 acres across the road from the homestead. He continued to farm this ground for many years until it was sold for residential lots and is called Bissell’s Point. James and Emma lived and farmed the homestead for 43 years.
James and Emma’s son Vernon farmed the homestead for several years and lived on the property. The home is now unoccupied.
Since 2010, Jason and Dara Miller Prescott have been farming for the homestead. Jason is Paul and Anna’s great-great grandson, the fifth generation
Community involvement
Dara was unable to attend the Barton County Farm Bureau meeting but Jason’s parents, Jim and Cindy Prescott, were in the audience and Cindy joined her son for a photo. Cindy Prescott told the Great Bend Tribune that while she and her husband own some of the land, they are retired and lease it to Jason and Dara. After all, no one is making more land and “we want to keep it in the family.”
The Prescotts are Farm Bureau members, with Dara serving on the Barton County board of directors.
Jason, Dara and Cindy all attend Heartland Community Church in Great Bend. Jason and Dara are also active in 4-H; they have two daughters and a son.
Cindy Prescott’s Uncle Charles Suppes is also a Century Farmer. The farmstead established in 1908 by Peter and Anna Enslinger received the award from the Rush County Farm Bureau in 2014.
Additional reporting by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune.
