Thomas Frahm

HEIDE, CLAUSEN, PLEON, FREDERICKSEN, STRUVE, ERICKSON, BOKEM

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/29/2004 at 10:34:04

As a farmer and citizen no man stands higher in Jackson County for honesty and integrity, than the subject of this sketch. His word is regarded as good as his bond, and the richest and best legacy that he will leave his children, is the record of a well-spent life, and the lustre of an an untarnished name.

A native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, our subject was born Jan. 31, 1832, and is the son of Peter and Catherine (Heide) Frahm, both natives of the same place as their son, and descended from a long line of German ancestry. Peter Frahm was an honest, industrious man, a farmer by occupation and succeeded in accumulating a competence. He died at the age of about fifty-five years. His wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, was the daughter of a substantial German farmer who with his wife lived and died in their native land. They were excellent people and members of the Lutheran Church.

Peter and Catherine Frahm had a family of thirteen children, all whom lived to mature years. They were named respectively, Hans, Anna, Maggie, Peter, Thomas, Christiana, Catherine, Claus, Elizabeth, Mary, Dora, John and Jerry. Of this large family there are now living five daughters and four sons. The eldest son, Hans, continues to reside in Germany. The others all came to America, and are residents of Iowa. They are engaged in farming pursuits, and by perseverance and industry have become comfortably situated in life.

The subject of this notice was educated in the schools of his native province. At the age of twenty-two years, he entered the army, but served only two weeks, his regiment being quartered in Denmark. He had become familiar with farm pursuits but at the age of twenty-four concluded that he could better his condition by coming to America. Accordingly, he set sail from Hamburg, and landed in New York City in August, 1857, going at once to Teeds Grove, Clinton County, this State, where his sister Anna, the wife of Peter Peterson, was then living. After making a short visit with them he hired out for $20 per month to Benjamin McIntyre.

Mr. Frahm worked on a farm about a year, then for three years engaged in breaking prairie. He had only $40 to commence with. He received $3 to $3.50 per acre for breaking prairie, and with his accustomed German thrift he saved his money and bought a tract of land in Iowa Township, this country, for which he paid $22 per acre. It was slightly improved and he built a log house, chopping the logs himself. He also made the shingles, and had a "raising bee," the neighbors assisting in the erection of his domicile, as was the fashion of the pioneer times. The people of those days were always ready to render each other assistance. Mr. Frahm got out his logs and shingles at noon while his cattle were resting and feeding. He and his young wife soon moved in a new home which had cost them only $7.50 in money.

Mr. Frahm was married in September, 1858, to Miss Annie Clausen of this county. She survived her marriage less than a year, dying in childbirth, thus leaving her husband alone in the world. Mr. Frahm was married to his present wife Oct. 15, 1860. Her maiden name was Annie Pleon. She was the daughter of Power Henry and Bertha (Smith) Pleon. They were natives of Germany, and old residents of this county, emigrating to Iowa in the year 1858. Here the latter period of their lives was spent, and here they passed to their final rest.

The two brothers and four sisters of Mrs. Frahm - Hans, Henry, Catherine, Lizzie, Annie and Maggie, all came to the United States, and are all living. Mrs. Frahm was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Feb. 25, 1827. Of her union with our subject, there have been born seven children, namely: Henry and John, deceased; Bertha, the wife of Hans Fredericksen, a substantial farmer of Clinton County near Miles; Maggie; John who married Miss Amelia Struve, and is farming on land adjoining the old homestead; Annie, the wife of Theodore Erickson, a farmer of Iowa Township; and Ernest who lives with his parents. The children are bright and intelligent and have been given the benefits of a practical common-school education.

Mr. and Mrs. Frahm in addition to their own children, took into the family his niece, Emma Bokem, when two days old, and have done by her the same as their own children. Mr. Frahm has always been a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has likewise been an active industrious farmer, who by dint of industry and economy accumulated from a very humble beginning, a competence. He is the owner of 420 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, the home farm being especially well improved. His buildings and surroundings are among the best and finest in all Jackson County. The residence stands on a beautiful knoll about ten rods from the road and with its handsome well-shaded and well-kept lawn, forms a rare picture in the landscape. In the erection of his farm buildings, Mr. Frahm has spent thousands of dollars and in thus adding to the taxable property of this county, he has been no unimportant factor in its growth and development.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)