Arnold Smidt came to U.S. by the ship "The Bremen" in 1926 at age 21. He met Kai Laybourn (from Denmark) on the boat and they became best friends. (Many years later, word was received in a black rimmed note from his wife that Kai had killed himself.) Arnold went to South Bend, Indiana for a job sponsored by an uncle, and later wrote a story of his trip, which was published in Germany. He had a sharp intellect and mastered English within his first years in America, completely losing his German accent.

After he had established himself as a salesman and had an apartment in New York City, he sent for his fiance, Jutta Gumpert. They were married on January 10, 1928 in City Hall the same day she arrived. Nine years his senior and Jewish, his Lutheran family did not approve of the union. They lived in Flushing, New york until 1948, when they moved to 112 Lathrop Road, (Town of Geddes) Syracuse, New York.

Arnold had a long career as a salesman and worked for Sears-Roebuck for 15 years in the appliance department. He deeply appreciated classical music and was a skillful inventor. He also enjoyed photography and developing his own black and white photographs. He was treated for manic depression in 1951 and struggled with it for some years.

Obituaries:
Arnold SMIDT, 68, of 112 Lathrop Rd., Westvale, was pronounced dead on arrival Sunday at State University Hospital. He was employed by Sears Roebuck and Co. 15 years as a salesman in the appliance department. Born in Bremen, Germany, Mr. Smidt lived in the New York City area before moving to Syracuse, where he lived 25 years. Mr. Smidt is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jutta GUMPERT Smidt; a son, Oliver E. SMIDT of Norwalk, Conn.; a daughter, Mrs. Frederick J. CAPELS, and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. Arrangements are by the Leitten Funeral Home of Mattydale. There are no calling hours.
[Source: either the Syracuse Herald-Journal or Post Standard, September 4, 1973; notes in brackets and capitalizations added by VC]

Arnold SMIDT, 68, of 112 Lathrop Rd., Westvale, was pronounced dead on arrival Sunday at State University Hospital. Surviving are his wife, the former Jutta GUMPERT Smidt; a son, Oliver E. of Norwalk, Conn.; a daughter, Mrs. Frederick J. CAPELS, and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be at a later date. Arrangements are by the Leitten Funeral Home, Mattydale. There will be no calling hours.
[Source: either the Syracuse Herald-Journal or Post Standard, September 4, 1973; notes in brackets and capitalizations added by VC]

• Married: 10 JAN 1928 in City Hall, Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York
• Note:

  No. 152292
  The City of New York, Office of the City Clerk, Municipal Building, Manhattan
  Certificate of Marriage
  I, "J. J. McCormick" Deputy City Clerk, duly designated by teh Clerk of the City of New York to solemnize marriages, Do Hereby Certify that I did on this "10" " day of "Jan" in the year A.D., 192"8", at the office of the rites of matrimony between "Arnold Smidt" of "Bklyn" in the County of "New York", State of "New York" and "Charlotte Gumpert" of "New York" in the County of "New York" State of "New York" in the presence of "A. Barsegliani" and "Paul Poonromo[?]" as witness.
  Witness my hand at the office of the City Clerk, Borough of Manhattan, Cit of New York, State of New York, "10" " day of "Jan" A.D. 192"8"
  /s/ J.J. McCormick
  Deputy City Clerk of the City of New York
  Borough of Manhattan
  [Source: Copied from original marriage certificate, January 10, 1928]

1. Marna June SMIDT b: Private
2. Living SMIDT

1. Title: Gumpert Gumpert Family Tree Chart, handwritten in German, author unknown, may be Jutta (Gumpert) Smidt, no date; later notations by Jutta Smidt
   Repository:
   Media: Other
2. Title: Certificate of Birth, Georg Arnold Smidt, Bremen, Standesamt, Germany, No. 1517, issued April 14, 1905
   Repository:
   Media: Book
3. Title: Smidt-Stiftung
   Author: Unknown
   Publication: A. Guthe, November, 1930, Bremen, Germany
   Note: Photocopy
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: Tafel 7
4. Title: Obituary, Arnold Smidt
   Publication: either the Syracuse Herald-Journal or Post Standard (Syracuse, New York), September 4, 1973
   Repository:
   Media: Newspaper