Christian Frey

FREY, LENTZ, MILLER, REHARD, STOOKEY, TROYER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/15/2004 at 10:24:27

Christian Frey was for a number of years actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in this county but now lives retired at Earlham, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. His birth occurred in Butler county, Ohio, on the 25th of January, 1847, his parents being John and Catherine (Stookey) Frey, the former a native of France and the latter of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in 1833, locating in Butler county, Ohio, where the father carried on farming until 1855, when he removed to Illinois. In that state he purchased a farm and throughout the remainder of his life devoted his attention to its operation, passing away in 1859. His wife was called to her final rest in the year 1880.

Christian Frey, who was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, acquired his education in the schools of that state and remained at home until he had attained the age of eighteen. He then secured employment as a farm hand and was thus engaged for seven years, while subsequently he cultivated rented land until 1895. In that year he came to Madison county, Iowa, and purchased and improved a farm in Jackson township which he operated for several years. On disposing of that property he bought an excellently improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he cultivated continuously and successfully until March, 1912, when he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Earlham, where he owns a pleasant home and now resides in honorable retirement.

On the 3ist of December, 1872, Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Troyer, a daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Miller) Troyer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They took up their abode in Illinois at a very early day and in that state the father carried on farming during the remainder of his life, passing away in 1889 at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife was eighty-two years old at the time of her demise in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Frey have been born ten children, as follows: Eva, who died at the age of sixteen months, in 1876; Nellie, who gave her hand in marriage to Fred Lentz, a farmer of this county; Walter, who passed away when two years old; Maggie, who is the wife of Jesse Rehard and resides in Montana; George, an agriculturist of Madison county; Willie, who died when two years old; Alpha, who died at the age of eight months; Harry, who operates his father's farm south of Earlham; Jesse, who makes his home in Montana; and a twin brother of Jesse who died at birth.

Mr. Frey gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in religious faith is a Methodist. He has come to be known as a man of tried integrity and worth, commanding by reason of his upright and honorable life the respect, confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”