Frederick Wilhelm Schmidt, was born Sept. 11, 1864, son of Franz W. and Mary (Rissor) Schmidt. He worked on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age and then worked out on the neighborhood farms for four years. Next he rented 80 acres from William Carr in Birch Cooley township, where he stayed for three years. The next two and a half years were spent on a farm in Henryville township. In 1891 he bought the home farm from his father. Mr. Schmidt was married Feb. 6, 1894, to Mary Ahrendt, born June 1, 1875, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Lange) Ahrendt. Her father was a farmer of Flora township, coming from Rice county in 1887, and is now living at Brownson. His wife was reared by William Reike of Fairfax. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have six children: Lena, born Dec. 16, 1894, wife of William Ahrens, a farmer of Beaver Falls township; Laura, born Oct. 24, 1896, wife of Max Hueth, a farmer of Montana; Lila, born July 3, 1898; Mamie, born July 1, 1900; Esther, born June 17, 1911; and George William, born Jan. 25, 1915.