"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"
The grain business has been one of the proncipal industries of Cottonwood and adjoining counties for a number of decades, and a number of elevators have been erected to care properly for the great harvests of wheat. The one located at Mountain Lake is operated with success by Frank Schroeder, an enterprising gentleman who came to us from far across the sea.
Mr. Schroeder was born in the southern part of Russia, February 5, 1862. He is a son of David and Katherine (Neufeld) Schroeder, both natives of the southern part of Russia, where they grew up, were married and established their home, but in 1873 removed with their family to the United States, locating at Mountain Lake, Minnesota, two miles south of which village the father purchased a section of land. He was among the first colony of Russians to settle in Cottonwood county. He devoted his earlier life principally to the ministry, but followed farming after coming here, although he preached occasionally. He and his wife died on the home place in this county. He assisted in organizing the first church in his vicinity. His family consisted of thirteen children, eleven sons and two daughters.
Frank Schroeder spent his boyhood in Russia and there attended school for four years, finishing his education after coming to Mountain Lake. He assisted his father to develop the home place here, on which he remained until his marriage, after which he operated the farm of his mother-in-law for two years. He then worked for twelve years for B. Rempel at Butterfield, Minnesota, in the lumber and elevator business. Upon leaving the employ of Mr. Rempel, he launched out for himself in the lumber, elevator and farm implement business, but two years later sold out and removed to Mountain Lake and for a period of eight years worked for Schaffer Brothers, who owned an elevator here, which he purchased of them on July 1, 1914, and has continued to operate the elevator with pronounced success. Some years ago he also dealt in real estate.
Mr. Schroeder was married in 1886 to Katherine Rempel, a native of Russia and a daughter of Peter and Anna (Penner) Rempel. To this union six children have been born, named as follow: Cornelius and Frank, twins, the former deceased; Peter, William, Bernhardt and Martha Marie.
Politically, Mr. Schroeder is a Republican and a member of the Mennonite church.