Fred Maytag was born on July 14, 1857 near Elgin, Illinois. He moved with his family when he was five years old to a farm in Clay County, Illinois. The Maytags constructed a building that was stocked with goods, and young Fred began to work for his parents as a delivery boy for the family grocery store at the age of eight.

    The Maytags moved in 1866 by covered wagon to a rural farm in Marshall County, Iowa. Fred worked on the farm because his father was on a crew that traveled throughout the state and constructed buildings for people. Fred learned to guide a plow when he was only twelve years old. Fred continued to man the farm while his father was away during the summers, but Fred was confronted with a proposition. He was offered a position as a sales clerk for an agriculture implement dealer. Fred was encouraged by his parents to venture into this business opportunity, and this was the beginning of Fred's prosperous career. With the money Fred saved while working at the implement dealership, plus a loan from his father, Fred eventually was able to buy half of the dealership.