Johann Frenking, 1899 Biography

FRENKING, ROLLMANN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/6/2005 at 22:20:14

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Johann Frenking

If the Anniversary Edition were to present the biographies of the citizens of Roselle without that of Mr. Jans Frenking, then, in spite of the fact that he has been deceased for two and one-half years, the work would be quite incomplete and inadequate, because the very name Frenking still lives on in Roselle, and the activity of the deceased still lives in the in the memory of all the residents of Roselle Township, indeed in most of Carroll County. He was a man of noble character, who always had an open and warm heart for the suffering of his fellow people, but in the circle of his friends and acquaintances was cheerful and pleasant, whereby, during his lifetime, the deceased enjoyed the greatest respect and friendship of his many acquaintances.

Johann Frenking was born in Appelhülsen, District of Münster, Province of Westphalia, on 24 October 1840, to good and Christian parents who belonged to the peasant class, and who provided their son Johann a good upbringing. Here he attended the elementary school, and when he was sufficiently instructed in religion, he received First Holy Communion in the local parish church. He then decided to become a farmer, to which end, since his father was an experienced farmer, he had the best opportunity. Accordingly, he worked on his parents’ farm with his father until he was nearly 28 years old. Since several of his acquaintances had already emigrated to the Free States of North America, he therefore also decided to follow his lucky star and to establish, if possible, a secure means of livelihood on the far side of the ocean. After the end of the year 1868, he crossed the ocean and upon arriving here in America, he settled first in Mount Sterling, Illinois, where, however, he remained only one year. He then moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he traveled for a time for a liquor dealership and was employed in a beer tavern.

In 1875, he first came to the town of Carroll, which was still very much in its early stages of development. He immediately obtained a job with a fellow-countryman, Mr. Louis Keckevoet, who conducted a lively business in general merchandise. But with the desire to see a part of the vast America, he set off and traveled westward. We see him occupied for a time in Denver, Colorado, and since at that time there was a rather steady stream of people to the Black Hills, he decided to join this stream and worked for a time in Deadwood, South Dakota. But from there he came back to Carroll, Iowa, where he again found employment with Mr. Keckevoet.

Mr. Johann Frenking found himself at the age where one longs for independence. In Roselle he made the acquaintance of a young lady, Miss Anna Rollmann, the daughter of an honest and respected farmer, whom he married in 1881. He then took over as manager for one of the branch businesses of Mr. Keckevoet in Roselle, and two years later, after he had first made another trip back to Germany and again had seen his family in the old homeland, he took over the business on his own in 1883. Mr. Frenking was a good businessman, and his wife, who was well-liked and always friendly and courteous, assisted her husband in running the business, so that in time they built up a good successful commercial operation. Mr. Frenking enlarged the business and made various favorable improvements. But he was especially fond of a beautiful garden, which he had splendidly laid out next to and behind his house, so that in time it was well-known for its beauty. During the later years of his life, Mr. Frenking no longer enjoyed the best health, wherefore his dear loving wife and his fine children often spent time caring for their dear father. Although the best doctors were often consulted, his situation was grave. And when one more case of pneumonia set in, he passed away in the company of his wife and children on 5 April 1897, after he had received Last Rights from Rev. Father Frey. He was deeply mourned by his wife and children. The present widow was born in 1859 in Appelhülsen, Westphalia, attended school in her hometown and received First Communion, and as a young woman of 19, she immigrated to America with her parents and siblings. After she had spent a year in Chicago and some time in Carroll, the wedding with Mr. Johann Frenking took place, and this marriage has produced 10 children, of which six already are united with their father at the throne of God.

As a postscript, it may here be mentioned the widow Frenking enjoys the greatest respect and has a good business patronage. A year ago, she expanded her stock in trade, so that in addition to her business in groceries and dry goods, she also now has crockery and tin ware. Her oldest son Bernhard, who successfully attended Saint Francis College in Quincy, Illinois, is a loyal son who energetically supports his mother in her business endeavors.