Fred Heidel (1866-1944) was born at Wood, Washington County, Minnesota, the son of August and Margaret Heidel, natives of Germany who had come to the United States in 1848 landing in St. Louis. In 1856 they moved to Woodbury, near St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Heidel came to Valley City in 1887 to work for his brother C. E. Heide] in the general merchandise business, for eight years. He then worked for O. S. Lee in the hardware business for three years; on the death of Mr. Lee, Sim Mason and Fred Heidel bought the business which continued for several years when Mr. Heidel sold his interest to Sim Mason and started his own store. Afterward Sim Getchell and Mr. Heidel bought the Stenke & Stenke business combining the two stores until Mr. Getchell retired and Mr. Heidel bought him out. In 1898 Mr. Heidel married Kate Conover, who was head of the Training School of the Normal School. They had no children but helped many young people secure an education. They were staunch supporters of the Methodist Church. Mr. Heidel was an alderman from the First Ward and City Treasurer, also a member of the Park Board.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 98