Fred C. Arndt Biography


	This biography appears on pages 529-530 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FRED C. ARNDT. 

	Germany has furnished to America many substantial citizens who 
have brought with them the enterprise and determination characteristic 
of the Teutonic race. Fred C. Arndt is among the number, but though 
born across the water, he is thoroughly American in spirit and 
interests and is accounted one of the public spirited citizens of 
Leoha, where he is now engaged in general merchandising, having one of 
the finest stores in McPherson county. He was born in Germany, January 
16, 1861 a son of Carl A. and Katherine Arndt, also natives of that 
country. The mother died there and in 1897 the father came to America, 
spending his last days in Connecticut. 

	Fred C. Arndt was a youth of eighteen when he crossed the 
Atlantic, attracted by the opportunities of the new world. He 
established his home in Connecticut, where he remained for seven years, 
working in an engraving plant. In 1886 he arrived in Dakota territory, 
establishing his home upon a farm one and a half miles west of Leola in 
McPherson county of six hundred and forty acres, which he still owns 
and which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and 
improvement. He lived upon that place for five years and his labors 
wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. He was then elected 
county auditor and occupied that position for two terms, for the 
capability with which he discharged his duties led to his reelection. 
He was then chosen by popular suffrage to the office of county clerk, 
which he held for one term and for one term he was chairman of the 
county central committee of the republican party. He has always been a 
stalwart advocate of that party and its principles and cooperates 
heartily in all plans and movements to promote its legitimate success. 

	When he retired from public office Mr. Arndt turned his attention 
to merchandising and since 1&98 has been proprietor of a general store 
at Leola, having now one of the largest and best equipped 
establishments of the kind in McPherson county. His trade is extensive 
and his success has come because he has ever been most careful in the 
selection of his goods, in the establishment of the personnel of the 
house and in the methods of business, thorough commercial integrity and 
reliability being one of the strong features of the house. He has other 
town property and stock in the Ward & Owsley Candy Company of Aberdeen. 

	In 1882 Mr. Arndt was united in marriage to Miss Marie Breitag, 
who was born in Germany and emigrated to this country in the same year 
as did her future husband. To them have been born twelve children, as 
follows: Minnie, who is the wife of Peter Schuchart; Emma, who is 
deceased; Ida, who gave her hand in marriage to Ernest Haacke; Anna; 
Olga; Fred; Herbert; Esther; Hattie; Arthur; and two who have passed 
away. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Arndt are members of the German Lutheran church and 
are widely and favorably known in the city in which they make their 
home. Mr. Arndt has served on the school board and at all times is a 
public-spirited man, giving earnest and hearty cooperation to many 
plans and projects for the welfare of the community. At the same time 
he has so guided and directed his efforts and activities that success 
is his in substantial measure, notwithstanding the fact that when he 
arrived in the United States he had a capital of but one hundred and 
seventy-five dollars. All that he now possesses has since been acquired 
and his business interests have at all times measured up to the highest 
standard of commercial ethics.