Frederick Fischbach Biography


	This biography appears on pages 117-118 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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				FREDERICK FISCHBACH. 

	One of the extensive landowners of South Dakota is Frederick 
Fischbach, whose holdings comprise twelve hundred and eighty acres in 
Mellette township, Spink county, and in Rondell township, Brown county. 
Recognizing the fact that real estate is the safest of all investments, 
he has kept adding to his property and is today one of the prosperous 
agriculturists whose life work should serve to inspire and encourage 
others. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred near 
Trier, in the Rhine Province, on the 20th of October, 1850, his parents 
being Nicholas and Gertrude Fishbach, both of whom spent their entire 
lives in their native land and now lie buried at Seffern, near Trier. 

	The educational opportunities which Fred Fischbach enjoyed were 
those accorded by the public schools of his native country, where he 
remained until eighteen years of age, when he bade adieu to the 
fatherland and sailed for the new world. This was in 1868. He brought 
with him very limited capital and faced the necessity of finding 
immediate employment in order to provide for his own support. He began 
working as a farm hand in Wisconsin, near La Crosse, and there remained 
for some time, after which he removed to Colorado, where he lived until 
he came to South Dakota in 1886. Twenty nine years have since come and 
gone -years which have brought many changes for the state and for Mr. 
Fischbach, who within that period has advanced steadily until he today 
is recognized as one of the men of affluence in his locality. He took 
up a preemption in Edmunds county, which he sold after two years, and 
then rented land which he today owns. When it was possible he purchased 
the place and, adding thereto, he is today one of the large property 
holders of Spink county. Carefully and diligently he has continued his 
work until he now has extensive fields under cultivation, from which he 
annually harvests good crops. He also has upon his place thirty head of 
cattle, eighteen head of horses and a large number of hogs. He has 
erected a fine residence, in the rear of which stand good barns and 
other outbuildings, and these in turn are surrounded by well tilled 
fields, the farm presenting a most neat and thrifty appearance. 

	On the 25th of October, 1881, in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Fischbach 
was united in marriage to Miss Frances Breidenbach, a daughter of 
Bernard and Edigna (Koler) Breidenbach. Her father was a farmer by 
occupation and an early settler of Wisconsin. At the time of the Civil 
war he enlisted for active service at the front and did valiant duty in 
defense of the Union. He became one of the pioneer residents of 
McPherson county, South Dakota, and contributed to its early material 
development, continuing his residence in this state until his death, 
which occurred July 14, 1896, when he was seventy-three years of age. 
His wife followed him to the grave in 1906, when she was seventy-nine 
years of age, and both lie buried in the Sacred Heart cemetery at 
Aberdeen, South Dakota. They were members of the Catholic church and 
both were of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Fischbach have been born 
eight children: Frank, who died in infancy and was buried in Denver, 
Colorado; Mary, who has been a teacher but is now at home; Gertrude, 
who has been superintendent and is now deputy superintendent of schools 
at Redfield, South Dakota; Fred, who follows farming near the old home 
place, and who married Barbara Von Ruden, of Westby, Wisconsin, June 6, 
1911, and has three children, Catherine Frances, Frederick Conrad and 
Paul Henry; Joseph B. and Bernard, who are assisting their father; 
Edwin, who died in infancy and was interred in the Sacred Heart 
cemetery at Aberdeen; and John, who is a graduate of the Redfield high 
school and now at home. 

	The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church 
and Mr. Fischbach's political belief is that of the democratic party. 
He has filled the offices of clerk and assessor and has served in 
various other township offices, the duties of which he has ever 
discharged promptly, capably and loyally. If one were to analyze his 
life record it would certainly be found that hard work, sobriety and 
perseverance have been salient features in his success and he also 
attributes his advancement to the loyalty and encouragement of his 
wife, who has, indeed, been a faithful helpmate and companion to him.