HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, VOL. II, 1918, page 320

The upbuilding of a city is not due to the efforts of a single individual but to the combined labors of many enterprising businessmen who are conducting various lines of commercial, activity. Well known in this connection is Frank W. Schmidt, who is proprietor of a meat market at Northwood. He was born May 25, 1865, in Van Buren, Jackson county, Iowa, and has spent almost his entire life in this state, being for a period identified with agricultural interests in Worth county, while since 1911 he has been proprietor of his present meat market.

His, father, Otto Schmidt, was born in Pommern, Germany, in 1829 and there learned the blacksmith's trade. At length he determined to try his fortune in the new world, and bidding adieu to friends and family, sailed for the United States in 1856. He was nine weeks on the voyage, which was made as passenger on one of the old-time sailing ships. He settled in New York., where he engaged in shoeing horses for Martin Van Buren, while later he became a resident of Hanover, Illinois, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. He afterward removed to Van Buren, Iowa, where he again engaged in blacksmithing until 1874, when he opened a general store which he conducted until 1880. In that year he removed to his farm, which he had previously purchased, and successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits. He also became well known in financial circles as the president of the German Savings Bank at Preston, Iowa, in which capacity he served until his death, which occurred in 1905, when he was seventy-six years of age. He was quite active and prominent in community affairs, filling several local offices, and at one time he was an extensive landowner, having several valuable farm properties, but later he sold most of these. It was in Van Buren, Iowa, on the 12th of March, 1860, that he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Pagel, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1844. She came to the United States with her parents in 1857, the Pagel home being established in Van Buren, Jackson county, Iowa, where the grandfather purchased a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in 1888. He had for several years survived his wife, who passed away in 1881. The death of their daughter, Mrs. Schmidt, occurred in 1912, when she had reached the age of sixty-eight years.

Frank W. Schmidt was reared in his native town and pursued his education in its public schools. He worked on the home farm with his father until 1886 and was then married and removed to Sheridan, Montana, but resided in the far west for only three years or until 1889, when he again took up his abode in Jackson county, Iowa. He afterward cultivated one of his father's farms for about eleven years or until 1900, when he removed to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, locating in Lincoln township. There he continued the cultivation of a farm for two years. He next removed to the old Edwin Cole farm, east of Kensett, and devoted six years to the further development and improvement of that property, after which he established his home in the town of Kensett, where he lived for two years and conducted a notion store. On the 1st of February, 1911, he came to Northwood, where he opened a meat market and three years later started a grocery in connection therewith. Today he has one of the largest and most thoroughly equipped markets and grocery stores of the city, and a liberal patronage is accorded him. He carries a large and select line of goods of excellent quality and his business methods commend him to the public

In 1886 Mr. Schmidt was married to Miss Lydia E. Burnett, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (George) Burnett. She was born at Green Island, Jackson county, Iowa, while her parents were natives of the state of Maine and settled in Washington township, Jackson county, on a farm which belonged to Mr. Burnett's father, who had been a soldier of the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt were born three children: Leroy O.; Edith M., the wife of R. B. Thompto; and Albert L., who is with the Red Cross organization at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Schmidt is a Mason and is also connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Wooden of America and the Knights of Pythias. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he is connected with the Baptist church of Northwood. In these associations are found the rules which govern his conduct and which shape his life in all of its relations. He is a man of genuine worth, highly esteemed by all who know him, and the circle of his friendship is constantly growing as the circle of his acquaintance broadens.

---

Transcribed by Gordon Felland - July 15, 2005