Reinhold Henry Kleinschmidt
History of Montana, 1894
US Genweb Montana Archives

Reinhold Henry Kelinschmidt, one of the most prominent 
merchants in the state, a member of the firm of Kelinschmidt 
and Brother, of Helena was born near the city of Magdeburg, 
Prussia, November 4, 1847 the son of Carl and Elizabeth Kuphal 
Kleinschmidt-the former a native of the Hartz Mountains of 
Hanoverian birth.

After the demise of the father, the mother with her children 
came to America landing in Baltimore in 1856.  The family first 
located on a farm in Allegany County Maryland and later removed 
to Bloomington Illinois where young Kleinschmidt obtained 
employment in a nursery.  In 1859 the family removed to Hermann, 
Missouri where they also resided on a farm and Reinhold being 
again employed in a nursery.  In 1860 the family removed to 
Boonville, same state where our subject attended school about 
six months.  Before arriving in America he had received 
excellent school privileges, and his extensive business 
experience has made of him a well-informed man.  Lexington, 
Missouri was the next home of the family and there Mr. 
Kleinschmidt found employment in a printing office, doing 
all kinds of work connected with such an establishment 
until the commencement of the war of the Rebellion.  The 
family removed to Liberty, that state, whither he followed 
later, and where he obtained a position as clerk in a store 
remaining a year.  Leavenworth Kansas next became the place 
of his abode and for a short time he was employed in a hotel.  
Returning home, he and a brother enlisted in the U.S. army 
but on account of his extreme youth he was discharged from 
the service, being then under fifteen years of age.

After this Mr. Kleinschmidt secured a position in a 
confectionary at Liberty Missouri where he continued until 
the end of 1865.  Desiring that his labors should more 
directly benefit himself, he in partnership with his 
brothers established a store in that town, but soon 
after removed to Leavenworth and then to Lawrence, Kansas 
at the close of the war.  In 1865 the brothers extended 
their business to Las Vegas, New Mexico.  From there 
they removed to Montana in 1867 where Reinhold and his 
brother Albert, the newly formed firm of Kleinschmidt 
and Brother, entered upon a business career which has no 
parallel in the commercial annals of Montana.  The members 
of the firm are reliable businessmen, possessed of excellent 
executive ability, sagacity and far sightedness and strong 
organizing powers.

On the 19th of May 1880 Mr. Kleinschmidt was married at San 
Francisco California to Miss Amelia H. Mau, daughter of H. 
Albert Mau, as estimable lady of culture.

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