Asjen Freese

FREESE, BUNS, FRERICHS, SMITH, PETERS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 23:29:29

ASJEN FREESE, who follows farming on section 35, Colfax Township, Grundy County, is a native of Hanover, Germany. He was born September 26, 1845, and is a son of Weert and Lina Freese. On emigrating to American, the parents located in Ogle County, Ill., where the father engaged in farming for five years. On the expiration of that period they came to Grundy County, Iowa, in 1869, and settled in Pleasant Valley Township, where the father purchased eighty acres of raw land and began the development of a farm. Making a good homestead, he resided thereon until 1893, when he removed to Colfax Township, where he is still living. The family numbered five children, of whom one died in Germany. The survivors are Kate, wife of Bernard Buns, a farmer of South Dakota; Woke, who married H. H. Frerichs, and lives on a farm on section 34, Colfax Township; Susan, wife of H. P. Smith, a farmer of the same township; and Asjen, of this sketch.

Our subject was seventeen years of age when with his parents he located in Ogle County, Ill. During the late war he enlisted, in 1864, as a member of Company F, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered out in September, 1865. After the war he returned to Ogle County, where he made his home until 1869, when he came to Pleasant Valley Township, this county, and purchased eighty acres of land, which was still in its primitive condition. He afterward bought three additional tracts of eighty acres each, and now has three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. For the first eighty he paid $12.50 per acre; for the second $22; for the third $25; and for the fourth $40 per acre. His farm is now one of the best in the county. He continued in Pleasant Valley Township until 1890, when he removed to Colfax Township. The home farm comprises four hundred and fifty acres, and he also owns about seventy town lots in the village of Holland. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and has met with an excellent degree of success in his undertakings.

In 1871, Mr. Freese was united in marriage with Hilke Frerichs. Her father came to this county in 1870, and is still living in Holland. By their union were born eleven children, eight of whom are still living: Lina; Sophia, wife of George Peters, of Butler County, Iowa; Kate, Rika, Dena, Hilke, Woka and Mina.

Mr. Freese is also an auctioneer, and does a large business along that line. During the past winter he cried fifty-seven sales. His method of disposing of property is very successful, and he has a high reputation throughout this and adjoining counties. In 1884 he established a general store in Holland. He possesses excellent business ability, is enterprising, sagacious and persevering, and through his well directed efforts he has acquired a handsome competence. In politics, he is a supporter of the Republican party, and has been honored with a number of offices. He served as County Supervisor, Constable of Pleasant Valley Township for nine years, was Justice of the Peace for six years, Township Trustee for two terms, and for a number of years has been a member of the School Board. Socially, he is connected with the Grand Army post in Grundy Centre, and he and his wife both belong to the Lutheran Church.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894