Martin Schmidt was born in approximately 1789, probably in Germany. He served in Napoleon's army and fought against the Russians. He was captured by the Russians, and in 1812, was settled in the Volga German colony of Dehler.
He is recorded on the 1834 Dehler Census in Household No. 103 along with a note that he had relocated to the colony of Schönchen, however, Martin Schmidt from Dehler and his family are recorded on the 1834 census of Hildmann along with a note that he had arrived there from Dehler in 1818.
- 1834 Dehler Census (Household No. 103).
- 1834 Hildmann Census (Household No. 56).
- Belousov, S.V. "Prisoners of war of Napoleon's army in the Volga region: the arrangement, content, relationships with the local population." Bulletin of the Samara State University, No. 1 (Samara, Russia: Samara State University, 2006): 48-55.
Brent Mai