Fred W. Schamber Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1754-1756 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	FRED W. SCHAMBER, one of the leading business men of Eureka, 
McPherson county, was born in Krem, South Russia, on the 13th of 
December, 1860, and is a son of Martin Schamber, who was likewise born 
and reared in that locality, the family having been established in 
southern Russia during the time when Catherine was czarina. She was a 
German and induced many of her countrymen to locate in Russia, giving 
them grants of land and exempting them and their descendants from 
military service for a period of one hundred years. The expiration of 
this period, a few years ago, doubtless led to the emigration of many of 
these worthy Russo-Germans to America, and South Dakota is favored in 
having gained a large relative contingent of excellent citizens through 
this means, among them being the members of the Schamber family. 

	In 1874 Martin Schamber came with his family to America, landing in 
New York city on the 13th of August, and thence coming through to what 
is now the state of South Dakota. He arrived with his family in Yankton 
in August of that year, and soon afterward located on a farm in Yankton 
county, and sheer improved an excellent property. In 1881 he engaged in 
the hardware and implement business at Scotland, Bon Homme county, being 
associated in the enterprise with Messrs. Wentzloff and Max, and after 
about one year he disposed of his interests there and returned to the 
farm, where he remained until 1885, when he again engaged in the 
hardware and farming implement business in Scotland, where he continued 
operations until 1892, when he sold out and engaged in the lumber 
business. His devoted wife died August 29, 1893, her maiden name having 
been Friedericka Mueller, and in the following year he disposed of his 
lumber business and removed to the state of Virginia, where he passed 
three years, since which time he has maintained his home in Scotland, 
South Dakota. He served for eight years as a member of the board of 
county commissioners of Hutchinson county, and has been incumbent of 
other offices of local trust.

	Fred W. Schamber secured his rudimentary education in his native 
land, having been a lad of about fourteen years at the time of the fam-
ily immigration to the United States. His father is a man of distinctive 
scholastic ability and had been a successful school teacher in Russia, 
so that after coming to South Dakota in the pioneer days, when 
educational advantages were chiefly notable for their absence, he was 
enabled to aid his children in carrying forward their studies, and 
through this effective home discipline the subject of this sketch 
rounded out his education. He remained associated with his father until 
1884. when he became identified with the clothing business in Scotland, 
Bon Homme county, thus continuing until 1887, when he located in the 
village of Tripp, Hutchinson county, where he was successfully engaged 
in the hardware and agricultural implement business until 1889, when he 
disposed of his interests there and took up his residence in Eureka, 
McPherson county, where, in company with his brothers Julius, Emil and 
Philip, he established himself in the same line of enterprise. In 1897 
Emil and Philip withdrew from the firm and were succeeded by Christopher 
Hezel and Milburn Matthews and the new firm then opened the Eureka 
Bazaar. In the following year Mr. Matthews withdrew from the firm, and 
in January, 1904, Mr. Hezel retired, since which time the enterprise has 
been conducted by the subject and his brother Julius, while their 
establishment is a large and well-equipped department store, while the 
trade controlled is a representative one and wide in its ramifications. 
Julius Schamber is the active manager of this business, and with the 
subject is also associated in the ownership of the Golden Rule store, of 
which Mr. Hezel is manager and also a partner. The subject of this 
review now devotes the major portion of his time to his collection and 
loan business, having attractive offices in the building of the Bank of 
Eureka. In company with his brother Julius and Isadore Seitzick and W. 
G. Jacobs, Mr. Schamber is engaged in the manufacture of ladies' 
wrappers, the factory being in Millville, New Jersey, and the enterprise 
proving a profitable one, its inception dating back to July, 1903, while 
all of the interested principals are residents of South Dakota. The 
subject and his brothers are the owners of a large amount of valuable 
real estate in McPherson county, including two thousand acres of 
valuable farming land, all of which is under cultivation or utilized for 
grazing purposes, while each of the brothers is the owner of a modern 
residence and has been successful in his business operations.

	In politics Mr. Schamber gives his allegiance to the Republican 
party, and he has ever shown a deep interest in all that concerns the 
general welfare and progress. He served for two terms as justice of the 
peace, in 1892 was elected to represent McPherson county in the state 
legislature, while in 1898 he was elected to represent his district in 
the state senate, making an excellent record in both assemblies and 
proving himself a valuable working member of both bodies of the 
legislature. In 1899 he was chosen the chief executive of the municipal 
government of Eureka, serving as its mayor for two years and giving a 
business-like and progressive administration.

	On the 13th of December, 1885, Mr. Schamber was united in marriage to 
Miss Matilda Hetzler, who was born in Missouri, being a daughter of Rev. 
Heinrich Hetzler, who was numbered among the pioneers of South Dakota. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schamber have two children, Edwin and Arthur.