Detloff, Frederica/Fredericka (Moellmann) 1848-1923

MOELLMANN, DETLOFF

Posted By: Ardythe Rees Stoesz (email)
Date: 7/30/2007 at 14:53:00

From the LeMars Sentinel, Friday, September 21, 1923, Page 1, Column 2:

PIONEER WOMAN IS DEAD

Mrs. Detloff Came to this County in the Seventies

Mrs. Frederica Detloff, a resident of LeMars for the past forty years died on Monday evening following an illness of several weeks duration at a local hospital where she had been taken to undergo treatment. The cause of death was ascribed by attending physicians as carcinoma of the the thyroid gland.

Mrs. Detloff resided at 415 Second Avenue S. W. for many years after retiring from life on the farm.

Frederica Wilhelmina Moellmann was a native of Germany where she was born on February 27, 1848, and was seventy-five years of age. She grew to young womanhood in her native land and with relatives came to America in 1872. In 1876 she united in marriage to John Detloff and the year following they came to Plymouth county and engaged in farming in Elgin Township. With her husband, Mrs. Detloff underwent the experiences which were the lot of early settlers and struggled through the grasshopper times and the privations which beset the hardy pioneers. She did her part in helping to ameliorate conditions and shared later in the prosperity which rewarded those who worked faithfully and well and had confidence in the future. To their union five children were born. Two of them are living and are William Detloff, who lives on the old home place, and Mrs. Mathilda Reese (sic-Rees), living near Seney.

Mrs. Detloff was early left a widow, her husband dying in 1883. After his death she took up her residence in Le Mars.

When a girl she was confirmed in the Lutheran church and followed that faith. About thirty-five years ago she joined the Evangelical church and was a member of that persuasion until her death.

She was a good Christian woman, who lived an upright life, was a devoted wife and mother, a good friend and kindly neighbor, held in the highest esteem in the community where she lived for nearly half a century.

The funeral services were held at one o'clock on Thursday from the old farm home and at two o'clock at Hildreth Memorial church. Rev. J. W. Davis, pastor of the church, conducted the services and the Western Union college male quartette rendered hymns appropriate to the occasion. The body was laid to rest in the city cemetery in the grave where the remains of her husband lie buried.

Submitters Notes:
Family tales say Fredericka lived with a daughter and her husband at one time for a while.

Fredericka Detloff was a homesteader. She also purchased land for a short time in South Dakota with her son, Will Detloff.

She took in borders for Western Union College using part of her home as an income.