Francis Xavier "Frank" Schaub was born December 8, 1855, in Baden, Germany, son of Francis Xavier Schaub and his wife Helena. In 1868, Frank and his parents came to America and settled on a farm near Eagle Lake, Minnesota. Frank studied in the public schools of Blue Earth County, then completed his education with a course at St. Mary's School in Mankato.

At age 16, Frank entered into an apprenticeship with Mankato harness-maker, Henry Guth. After four years, Frank was ready to work on his own, and he applied his craft in Fairbault, St. Clair, and Sherburn, Minnesota. November 30, 1875, Frank married Mary Josephine Perault (often spelled Paro), daughter of Peter and Mary Perault of St. Clair. Frank and Josephine had eight children: Pearl (born 1876), Arthur (born 1879, died young), Helen "Middie" (born 1881), Josephine (died young), Luella Mae (born 1882), Frances Adelaide (born 1888), Carleton (born 1896; died from complications of measles in De Smet in 1905), and Sidney Frank (born 1900).

After running a successful harness shop in Sherburn for four years, Frank decided to sell his business and move to Dakota Territory; the family settled in De Smet on April 25, 1882. Frank purchased Lot 16, Block 2 on Calumet Avenue in the original town of De Smet. Across the street from Wilder Feed, this lot was just south of Carter Sherwood's De Smet Leader building and in the same block as Wilmarth Grocery, Clayson Drygoods, and Carroll's Bank. Behind it was Timothy Johnson's Wagon Shop. In 1883, Schaub built a large harness shop with the family residence above. According to Carter Sherwood, Schaub's place "overshadowed the Leader office by a respectable majority."

Although only mentioned once in the "Little House"® books, Frank Schaub was no doubt a person well known by both the Ingallses and Wilders. He sold not only harnesses (priced from $24 to $30, according to an 1893 advertisement in the Kingsbury County Independent), but satchels, traveling bags, valises, and trunks. Perhaps Charles Ingalls purchased Laura's wedding present of a new trunk (see These Happy Golden Years, Chapter 32, "'Haste to the Wedding'") from Mr. Schaub!

In 1896, Frank Schaub became mayor of De Smet. He had not run in the election but was elected by petition, winning by only three votes against the unopposed incumbent. Leaving the harness business in the early 1900s, Schaub purchased the Bradley Drug Store building on Calumet and opened a general merchandise store. He soon sold this business in order to concentrate on public service. He was Kingsbury County treasurer, Register of Deeds, De Smet City treasurer, and financier of the Ancient Order of United Workman lodge in De Smet.

In 1930, Frank Schaub was employed as census taker for Mathews Township, when he died suddenly after suffering a heart attack. His death occurred on April 25, 1930, exactly forty-eight years to the day that he first settled in De Smet. Frank Schaub was buried in the De Smet Cemetery beside his son Carleton. Josephine Schaub died July 21, 1943 in De Smet, and she was buried in the family plot.