Fred H. Schomburg, Sr. was born on October 17, 1881 at 510 Front Street in Columbus, Georgia, and died on September 28, 1974. He was the son of Carl Frederick and Wilhelmina Emma Reich Schomburg. His father had been an apprentice in the watchmaking and jewelry trades in Germany before immigrating to the U.S. at the age of 19. When he was 25, Fred Schomburg bought and operated a packet steamer, the Callahan. He was also active in many business and civic organizations, including the YMCA, the First Presbyterian Church, the Columbus Fair Association, Schomburg Jewelers, the Girls Orphan Association and others