Ohio County, West Virginia Biography of Fred Christian SCHMEICHEL ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Nancy Taylor, <Spritehawk@aol.com>, April 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 436 BIO: FRED CHRISTIAN SCHMEICHEL, Wheeling, Ohio County FRED CHRISTIAN SCHMEICHEL. One of the largest and most prosperous houses in the downtown retail district of Wheeling represents the accumulating energy and prosperity of the Schmeichel family, and in recent years Fred Christian Schmeichel has given the name new distinction in the business affairs of Morgantown, where he is a prosperous furniture merchant at 129-131 Front Street. He was born at Wheeling, September 26, 1874, son of Frederick and Louise (Ulrich) Schmeichel. The business community of Wheeling has always had a great deal of respect for Frederick Schmeichel, not only because of the extent of the business he has developed, but also for his personal character. He was born at Graudez in West Prussia April 9, 1841, so of Michael and Emelia (Werner) Schmeichel, natives of the same province. Michael was a wagonmaker by trade, though most of his life was spent as a farmer, and he and his wife lived out their lives in Germany and were devout members of the Lutheran Church. Frederick Schmeichel after completing his common school education learned the cabinet making trade. He landed at the Port of New York March 3, 1870, after a voyage of fourteen days. He went direct to Wheeling, and for about five months was employed as a cabinet maker, then did stair building and general carpenter work until 1873, in which year he started the foundation of the splendid business of which he is now head. His first modest stock of furniture was opened in a small store, little better than a shanty, on Market Street in Wheeling. Nearly all the goods he sold were made in his own shop, and these goods had a substantial quality that attracted patronage, and consequently the prosperity of the house increased from year to year. He always remained at the old location, but successively tore down and built one store after another, each larger than the preceding, until in 1905 he completed a four story and basement brick building, sufficient to accommodate the great and varied stock of furniture and house furnishing goods carried. Frederick Schmeichel did business under his own name until 1896, when he formed the firm of F. Schmeichel & Son, his associate being Fred C. In 1909 the business was incorporated as F.. Schmeichel & Son Company, and that is the present title of the firm. All the stock is owned by the family. Frederick Schmeichel is president, his wife is vice president, and the son Edward is secretary and manager. The house is the oldest in its line in the City of Wheeling. Frederick Schmeichel has been interested financially in a number of enterprises and is thoroughly public spirited. He is a member of the St. John's Evangelical Church, and has been president, vice president and is still a director of the congregation. At Wheeling November 27, 1973, Frederick Schmeichel married Louise Ulrich. She was born in Hanover, Germany, February 24, 1851, daughter of Henry Christian and Ludowick (Brandt) Ulrich, natives of Hanover, where both of them lived out their lives, her father being a veterinary surgeon in the service of the German Government. Of the eight children of Frederick Schmeichel and wife, Fred Christian is the oldest. Ludowicke, born in Wheeling July 12, 1876, is unmarried. Harry, born at Wheeling August 4, 1878, is associated with his father's business and by his marriage to Jennie Vass, of Wheeling, had four children, named Caroline, Marie ( who died in infancy), Harry Jr., and Eugene. Arthur Schmeichel, born at Wheeling February 11, 1880, is also in the store, and he and his wife, Anna, have a daughter Leota. Marie, was born at Wheeling June 25, 1883, is the wife of Curtis Lockhardt, and they live at Pittsburgh. Edward, born June 25, 1886, is now manager of the business at Wheeling, married Emma Guth and they have a son, Edward, Jr. Oscar, born June 14, 1888, is also in the Wheeling business and married Emelia Bishop. The youngest child, Albert, born August 5, 1891, died in infancy. Fred Christian Schmeichel, who was born at Wheeling September 26, 1874, was educated in the public schools of his native city and graduated from the Frazier Business College in 1887. His early training in commercial lines was received as clerk in a retail grocery store of his uncle, H. F. Behrens, with whom he worked about six years. He then joined his father in the furniture store, and when the business was incorporated he became store manager, a post of duty he held until January 1, 1911, having the satisfaction of seeing the enterprise greatly expand during that period of about fifteen years. In 1911 he joined the Palace Furniture Store at Wheeling, but in August, 1913, came to Morgantown and bought the furniture business of F. A. Hennen at 129-131 Front Street. This was then a small and unpretentious establishment, and needed just the energizing spirit and broad qualifications of Mr. Schmeichel as a merchant to give it the progress and prosperity it has since enjoyed. In 1916 Mr. Schmeichel remodeled the store, building a three story brick addition, and now carries a stock of five times greater than when he took charge, and the volume of business has increased fully six fold. At Morgantown Mr. Schmeichel has made himself an interested factor in community affairs, is a charter member of the Morgantown Rotary Club, a member of Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In Masonry he is affiliated with Ohio Lodge No. 1, A. F. , and A. M., at Wheeling, Wheeling Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite, is a charter member of the Lodge of Perfection at Morgantown, a member of Osiris Lodge of the Mystic Shrine and is a past grand patron of the Eastern Star of West Virginia and a member of the White Shrine at Wheeling. In October, 1921, he received the K. C. C. H. degree. He is also a past master of Ohio Valley Lodge No. 30, Knights of Pythias, at Wheeling. On October 19, 1898, Mr. Schmeichel married Marie Augusta Reinecke. Mrs. Schmeichel was born in Braunschweig, Germany, May 22, 1876, daughter of Karl and Augusta (Marckmann) Reinecke, her father a native of Holzminden in Braunschweig and her mother of Stadtoldendorf. Her father died in Germany February 7, 1907, and her mother died when Mrs. Schmeichel was four years of age. Karl Reinecke was a civil engineer by profession, and used his skill in the building of a number of railroad tunnels. Mrs. Schmeichel has a younger sister, Anna, who was born February 26, 1979, and is the widow of Joseph Brandschweder and lives at Dusseldorf, Germany. Mrs. Schmeichel came to the United States in July, 1894, on a visit to her aunt at Bellaire, Ohio, and while here became acquainted with Mr. Schmeichel, their marriage occurring four years later. Mr. and Mrs. Schmeichel have three children. Emelia, born September 8, 1899, graduated in music at the West Virginia School of Music in 1921 and is a member of the class of 1923 in the State University, studying for the A. B. degree. The son Karl Frederick, born May 30, 1901, while is in his senior year of the Morgantown High School was appointed to a cadetship in the United States Naval Academy, and spent one year in the Preparatory Severn School at Boone, Maryland. While there as a member of the wrestling team and in a wrestling match he broke his foot, an accident which prevented his entering and graduating from the Naval Academy. The youngest child, Arthur Louis, born September 29, 1903, is a member of the class of 1922 at the Morgantown High School.