From 1841, Schroeder was a pupil of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium in Trier, one of Germany's oldest institutions of secondary education, from which Karl Marx had graduated in 1835.

Frederick A. Schroeder's oldest brother stayed in Germany, but joined the rest of the family a few years later.

In 1867 the firm of Schroeder & Bon switched its business activities from the production of cigars to the importation of tobacco leaves.

The economic success of the firm of Schroeder & Bon is also indicated by the fact that they were involved in several high-profile commercial cases which were decided by the US Supreme Court: In 1894, the firm was the losing party in the Supreme Court case of Erhardt v. Schroeder, 155 U.S. 124 (1894), which concerned the customs duties due on a shipment of tobacco.

In 1905, the Supreme Court decided the case of Allen v. Arguimbau, 198 U.S. 149 (1905), which concerned issues of federal jurisdiction.

Defendant Frank M. Arguimbau was sued in his capacity as surviving partner of the firm of Schroeder & Bon.

During his term, Schroeder sought to improve the city's financial situation and fought against the "Brooklyn ring" a political machine ran by the "Boss" of the Democratic party, Hugh McLaughlin.

Schroeder reportedly even took some corrupt officials to court and forced them to pay back public money they had put in their own pockets.

During Schroeder's tenure, Ocean Parkway was opened and the first wire of Brooklyn Bridge was strung.Schroeder was a member of the New York State Senate (3rd D.) in 1880 and 1881.

Among his honorary pall-bearers were his former business associate Isidore M. Bon, brewer H. B. Scharmann, civil war veteran and Brooklyn Union Gas (now part of KeySpan Corporation) president James Jourdan, and former general and Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F.