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Frank Schick was born in Hesse Darnstadt, in 1813. In early life he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. In 1834 he came to America, and after remaining in Ohio for one year, came to Illinois, settling in Mount Pulaski in 1836. A few years later he built a tannery and began shoemaking in the southwestern part of the village. For a time he was in the employ of Jabez Capps, the pioneer merchant, and by good management and economy, secured enough capital to open a general store in 1842. He continued the business until 1850, when he admitted Barton Starr to partnership, leaving the business in his care while he spent two years in the California gold fields. Returning, he continued the business in his own name until 1879, when the firm of Frank Schick & Sons was founded. He retired from the firm April 19, 1883, and lived in retirement up to his death, June 2, 1884.

The large well arranged, double store was erected in 1875 and is one of the first modern brick building in Mount Pulaski. The business was carried on by the three sons, John, Michael and Frank, until obligations, brought on by failure of crops and too great credits, forced the bothers to an honorable assignment, which they did in April 1885.

Frank Schick was twice married. The first wife was Margaret Young, who died in 1844. Only one of her four children survives, Mary, now wife of Conrad Stork of Stonington, Illinois. The second wife was Catherine Young, a sister of his former wife, and by her Mr. Schick had nine children, eight of whom are living. John, Michael, Conrad, Susan, Christina, Sebastian and Margaret. Of these, Susan is now Mrs. Philip Mishler, of Springfield, Illinois, and Christina is the wife of George Lechleiter, of Lincoln, Illinois. The others reside in Mount Pulaski. Gerhardt Schick, another son, was particularly distinguished for his scholastic attainments. While yet a young man, he mastered eleven different languages, ancient and modern, and taught them in remarkable success in St Louis, Philadelphia and Peoria. He died May 5, 1879 at the age of thirty-four years.

Submitted by the late Penny Husler.