Sutter City Dreams and the murder of Charlotte Gardemeyer

March 01, 2018

Sutter City Dreams and the murder of Charlotte Gardemeyer

Sutter City Dreams and the murder of Charlotte Gardemeyer
Written by Amy E. Milburn

This original story appeared in "The Story of Sutter Buttes "Boom Town" by Stephen Hust.

Against the beautiful backdrop of the Sutter Buttes, a man by the name of Hermann Erke married his bride Charlotte Maria Katarena Harstromberg in 1868. Charlotte was born in Germany in 1846 and emigrated to the United States in 1868. Herman was a rancher, and settled down with Charlotte, and had four children in their 6-year marriage. Sadly, according to stories of the locals at the time, Hermann overworked himself making the rock walls around his property and passed away in 1874. This left Charlotte and her children to run the considerable ranch, a 500-acre homestead seven miles East of Meridian. Luckily, Hermann did provide for the property, and Charlotte and the children were quite well to do, with the locals saying that Charlotte was a woman known to have “considerable” means.

Then in 1884, an energetic, bombastic sewing machine salesman from San Francisco came to the Sutter Buttes area to sell sewing machines, and a new patented fence gait. It is unclear if Peter came to the Erke ranch to sell sewing machines or the gates, but what was certain is that Charlotte and Peter started a romance and married in 1887.

Now with plenty of money, and property, Peter set forth his plans to make his dream of “Sutter City” come true. Peter, got the locals support by hosting grand parties and talking about the future of the town. In his speeches, he spoke of a Grand Hotel at the base of the Buttes to be used as a hunting lodge, many affordable lots where homes would be grand, and be the county seat of Sutter County. There was even talk of a College, new elementary schools, railroad stops, a clock tower, and much more. When the news of this new town gained momentum, investors quickly grabbed property and worked with Peter and his group to start mapping out the town, selling the lots. There was even a huge picnic where sleeper cars brought investors from all over California to enjoy the spirit of Sutter City and tempt all to invest. It was a success, and Sutter City was getting ready to “boom”.

Bricks were used for the buildings because timber was scarce. Biggs was the town supplying much of the materials and bricks till local famers started having brick kilns put on their properties to get a part of the profits. Plots of the new town were selling quickly, and many people from rich to poor were investing all they had into the dream. Sadly, as rumors started spreading that several lawsuits and criminal charges were being made against Peter Gardemeyer, the dream became a nightmare almost overnight.

Gardemeyer was skillful at getting out of some of the lawsuits by technicalities, and out of danger from locals by promising them other favors. One such man was named Peter Schmidt, a German immigrant who moved from Texas to California in search for gold. He invested all the money he had, about $800, on a plot for his home, and was known by the townspeople to be mentally unstable. Gardemeyer, after being confronted by a very angry Schmidt, promised to employ him as a gardener for his new estate till the rumors quieted and the city could move forward with the original plan. This seemed to be agreed upon as Schmidt took up residence in Gardemeyer’s tank house and became their gardener.

Then in 1891, with pressure of criminal charges for selling single lots to multiple investors, he left Sutter in the night. There were rumors that he came in the cover of darkness, dressed in women’s clothing, and would venture to see Charlotte. However; for the most part he hit the rails out of town quickly and permanently.

Charlotte, with one child from Peter and three still living with her from Hermann, had to start all over again, this time without money or investment opportunities. She was able to keep the home, but was not able to keep on the staff, except for Peter Schmidt. Charlottes brother was concerned and reminded her that the townsfolk felt Schmidt was dangerous, but Charlotte stated that she could handle him, and kept him on as the gardener.

Then, one evening while Charlotte and her daughter Minerva were finishing up the dinner dishes, Peter Schmidt came in the house protesting that he was not called in for supper. Charlotte informed him that he was called and did not come. She also stated she would not cook another dinner just for him. This infuriated Schmidt who reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun he bought in Marysville just 14 days before. Minerva, seeing the gun shouted to her mother, but it was too late. A shot rang out, and all that Minerva could see her mother running after Schmidt, grabbing him by the collar and fighting with him. Two more shots, and still Charlotte was able to exit the house and chase Schmidt 80 feet out of the house. Minerva quickly followed and saw her mother standing with her hands at her abdomen. “Are you hurt mother?”, she cried. “Yes” said Charlotte as she grabbed for something to hold her up to keep her composure. Minerva screamed aloud “You’ll get it for this Pete!” Charlotte then asked her son Herman Jr. to go get Mr. Eugene Summy who lived close. Eugene was met outside of his house, being alarmed at the sound of gunfire, by Herman Jr who said, “Pete has shot my mother and she wants you to come down quick.”

News got to Constable Tharp quickly and he and his son raced to Charlottes home, about a half mile away. There they saw Charlotte in her room being comforted by Minerva and Eugene. After a quick account of the events, Tharp and son went down the road to John Abendroth's home. There they found Schmidt, sipping tea with his German friend. Tharp commanded he raise his arms and come with him, which he did. John Abendroth then stated that Schmidt planned on killing the entire family right then and there, and that he is now righted for all the wrong done to him.

Two days later, Charlotte died from complications of the shots to her abdomen.

More about Schmidt and his dealings with Peter Gardemeyer came to the surface during the murder trial. Apparently Gardemeyer met Schmidt in San Francisco, and convinced him to buy a plot for $850, which he did. When he arrived to claim the home, it was already owned by another man. Out of money and no place to go, he struck up the deal with Gardemeyer about being his gardener. This happened to several people in the town, so the hopes of Schmidt’s attorney that people would side with Schmidt, claiming that he was temporarily insane from being taken advantage of in such a way. The attorney also claimed that Schmidt was treated poorly and rarely paid or fed while being employed at the Gardemeyer home, but this was countered by Minerva’s testimony. The ‘temporary insanity’ plea did not work either, and Schmidt was sentenced to life in San Quentin.

According to some historians, Charlotte’s grave is next to her first husband Herman’s, but either a marker could not be afforded, or has been destroyed by time. A heart-breaking end to a sad story of a brave woman pioneer of the region, and a believer in the dream that was Sutter City.

This post was made by Deviation Diaries contributor, Amy E. Milburn.

Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 59, Number 70, 15 May 1888