John F Frey

FREY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 00:28:26

John F Frey, Among the residents of Douglas township whose farming interests are worthy of more than passing notice is John F Frey, who resides on Sec 24, where he has a good farm of 120 acres that is pleasantly and conveniently located a mile and a half north of Madrid. He has been living n the county since 1871, claiming Germany, however as the land of his birth. His natal day was July 8, 1848, and in the fatherland he was reared to manhood, there remaining until he had attained the age of twenty-five years. He received good school privileges in that country but his knowledge of English has been acquired without the aid of teachers. He emigrated to the new world in 1851, taking passage at the harbor of Bremen on a sailing vessel, the ship Helena, commanded by Captain Folkmann, and after a voyage of forty-five days on the broad Atlantic anchor was dropped in the harbor of New York and the passengers landed at the eastern metropolis. Spending a night there, Mr Frey then started out to seek employment an secured a position as a clerk in a grocery store in New York city where he made his home until 1854, when believing that he might have still better opportunities nt eh west he made his way to Galena, Illinois. There he followed carpentering and continued to engage in that business for a number of years, working by the day for some time and taking part in the construction of many good buildings in that locality. He afterward engaged in conducting a hardware store and while living in Galena became personally acquainted with General U S Grant.
In 1870 Mr Frey arrived in Iowa, and purchased land in Douglas township, Boone county, Iowa, that he now owns. Only a few acres had been broken at that time. He then returned to Galena, where he remained until 1871, when he permanently located in Boone county. Here he began to break the prairie and to open up the farm upon which he has since erected a substantial home and good farm buildings. He has also planted trees and those of an ornamental character add to the attractive appearance of the place, while the fruit trees increase his income and add not a little to the family table. He raises a high grade of stock in connection with the cultivation o f the cereals best adopted to this climate and his business is so conducted as to bring him a very creditable prosperity.
Mr Frey was first married in New York in 1852, to Sophia Wolf, a native of Kiel, Germany and unto them were born six children: John Frederick, Carl H, Sophia L, the wife of Henry Pies, an extensive farmer of Boone county, Lyda O the wife of Mr Kies of Wisconsin, Hannah L the wife of Andrew Pies of California. On December 31, 1885, Mr Frey was gain married his second union being with Mary R Reed who was born in Clay county, Indiana, but was reared in Brazil that state, and afterward married William F Thomas. Unto the second marriage of Mr and Mrs Frey have been born four children: Claude A, Clarence Reed, Robert Lincoln, and Martha E. In his political affiliations Mr Frey is and earnest Republican and gives firm allegiance tot the party. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and his wife in the Methodist Episcopal church. Socially he is identified wit the Independent Order of Odd Fellow, has filled all the chairs in the local lodge and is a past grand. He has never had cause to regret his determination to leave the fatherland and seek a home in the land of the free. Noting the business opportunities here he has made good use of his advantages and as the years have passed he has acquired a comfortable fortune and is one of the substantial agriculturists of Douglas township.

1902 Boone County History Book