A copy of the following unidentified newspaper article was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
Joseph Schmal was born at Lonheim, eastern Germany, in 1817 and died at Brunswick, this county, Saturday, December 30th* 1893 in his seventy-seventh year. And thus another one of Lake County's old pioneers and most respected citizens is laid to rest. Mr. Schmal moved from Germany to his home at Brunswick in 1838, fifty-six years ago and has ever since been a resident of this county. He funeral services were held at Brunswick New Year's Day, Rev. Kopelka officiating before a large concourse of friends thus attesting the esteem and respect he was held in. He leaves a wife four daughters, five sons, brothers, sisters, and a large circle of acquaintances to mourn his loss.
* NOTE -- An index for the Brunswick Cemetery, which is at the Lowell Public Library, shows the date of Joseph Schmal's death as Dec. 29, 1893.