Julius Schmid

Place: Schorndorf

Born: 1865

Death: 1939

Biography:

Julius Schmid was born on March 17, 1865, in Schorndorf , Kingdom of Württemberg . He was born Karl Julius Schmid but was known as Julius throughout his life. Born into a Christian family, the son of a butcher, the Schmid Family is recorded in the Evangelical Church book of Schorndorf and in Strümpfelbach with the original spelling of the name being Schmid. Julius Schmid's ancestors have been researched back 8 generations to the last half of the 17th century on both the paternal and maternal sides and all of his ancestors were born and shortly thereafter baptized Christian. Despite being a paralytic from infancy and walking with 2 canes for most of his life, Julius persuaded his grandfather to give him passage to America where he emigrated to New York City in 1882 at the age of 17, and founded Julius Schmid Company in 1883. Despite being a paralytic from infancy and walking with 2 canes for most of his life, Julius persuaded his grandfather to give him passage to America where he emigrated to New York City in 1882 at the age of 17, and founded Julius Schmid Company in 1883. Julius’ early beginnings in New York were difficult. Unable to find a job, he soon found himself having to sell his clothes and sleeping on park benches. He eventually managed to find work. Julius Schmid was a pioneer of condom manufacturing. Ramses was one of his major condom brands. His enterprise was hampered because his contraceptive business was illegal in the early 20th-century United States (prior to Margaret Sanger's local legalization and nationwide Griswold v. Connecticut).