FRAY, Ivan Conrad - 1912 Bio (1881-1965)

FRAY, RAM, ANDERSON, SWANSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/12/2007 at 21:13:01

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 402 and 403

Ivan C. FRAY.

Sweden has sent many thrifty and progressive citizens to Jefferson county. Prominent among the younger class of these is Ivan C. FRAY, whose birth occurred in Sweden about forty miles east of Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 19, 1881, his parents being John William and Louisa (RAM) FRAY, both natives of Sweden. For sixteen years, before coming to America in 1884 with his family, the father served in the king's army. When he left his native land he came direct to Jefferson county, Iowa, locating in Black Hawk township, where he farmed until 1906. In that year he removed to Keokuk county and purchased a farm which he still owns, and addition to cultivating his land he is operating a gristmill at old Manhattan.

Ivan C. FRAY was but three years of age when he came to America and his early years were spent attending the district school in Black Hawk township and assisting his father on the farm. Subsequently he worked out by the month but lived at home until twenty-three years of age, when he removed to a near-by farm, where he was employed for two years. After his marriage in 1905 he removed to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he remained for one year, and then removed to Polk township, Jefferson county, to locate upon the one hundred and sixty acre farm owned by Mrs. FRAY on sections 22 and 23, where they are still residing. Mr. FRAY is one of the well known stockmen of Polk township and deals extensively in cattle for the eastern markets. By his recognition and utilization of the opportunities for success which he saw in the business of buying cattle for the Illinois feeders, he has worked up a stock business which is not only very profitable at present but will offer even greater advantages in the future.

On the 27th of February, 1905, Mr. FRAY was married to Miss Lilly ANDERSON, the only daughter of Andrew and Sophia (SWANSON) ANDERSON, and to this union two children have been born, namely: Violet Arlene, born October 8, 1907; and Alice Iola, whose birth occurred May 28, 1911. In politics Mr. FRAY is a stanch republican and has served as school director in district No. 3 of Polk township. He was at one time a member of the Packwood Lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and both he and his wife hold membership in the Swedish Lutheran church of Packwood. Although still a young man, Mr. FRAY has shown conclusively that many of his salient characteristics are among the requisites for success -- alertness, energy, industry and integrity in all business dealings and social relations.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

*Note: This biography is for Ivan Conrad FRAY; the Ivan C. FRAY who is buried in Packwood Cemetery is Ivan Charles FRAY (1918-1980), a nephew of Ivan Conrad FRAY (1881-1965). This clarification comes from Sue R., whose aunt is a daughter of Ivan Charles. March, 2015