Franke, Frederick 1839-1920 & Mary Schuette Family

FRANKE, SCHUETTE, DUEVE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 5/15/2023 at 16:47:26

Franke, Frederick 1839 – 1920 and Mary Schuette Dueve family

This story was taken from page 388 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Frederick Franke was born July 4, 1839, in the Province of Hanover, Germany. In order to escape military service, which was required in Germany, he came to America at the age of 17 and settled at Guttenburg, Clayton Co., Ia.

On the 18th day of Aug. 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 27th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry. He took part in many of the major battles of the Civil War, including the fall of Vicksburg. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge at Clinton, Ia., on Aug. 8, 1865.

After returning to Guttenburg, he married Mary Schuette Dueve the following year. She had been born Feb. 13, 1846 in Schilks, Province of Prussia, Germany and came to America with her parents in 1860. In 1863 she married Henry Dueve who passed away a year later.

The Franke family lived near Guttenburg until 1872 when they came to Sioux Co. and took a homestead 8 miles northeast of what is now Ireton.

Life was hard during those early years on the prairie. The sod had to be broken for the first crops, then the grasshoppers devoured them. There were no trees for windbreaks and in those early winters the blizzards swept across the plains, isolating the homesteaders for days. Supplies had to be hauled from LeMars and there was never enough money to buy what was needed. Coal to provide heat and oil for the lamps were two items that were usually lacking. The children twisted flax straw into bundles to be used for fuel. When it was burned in the open hearth stove it also provided light on winter evenings. In summer the children twisted the hay into twine to be used to tie the grain into bundles in the fields. Mrs. Franke said they often thought of leaving but there was no money with which to make a move.

In spite of the hardships the family managed to maintain their home. Five girls and one boy grew to adulthood. One boy passed away in his teens.

Mrs. Franke passed away in Nov. 1912. He died July 28, 1920.

Mr. Franke was an active charter member of Ireton’s Launtz Post No. 215 Grand Army of the Republic. He took part in every Memorial Day service and shortly before his death was a member of the committee that had the monument of the soldier, installed at the cemetery.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From a family report on Ancestry.com public member trees. Information from sources other than this submitter.
Frederick A. Franke born 4 Jul 1839 Hanover, Germany died 28 Jul 1920 buried in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery at Ireton IA. His parents names were not given. He came over as a young single man. He married Mary Sshuette 10 Feb 1866 at Guttenberg Iowa .

Mary Shutte or Schuette was born 13 Feb 1846 Germany and died 17 Nov 1912 St. John’s Cemetery Ireton IA. Her parents were listed as Henry and Mary Scheutte. She was married for one year to Mr. Dueve.

CHILDREN: Sources for information were local obits and births, marriages, and death from records on Ancestry.com. Children listed in the family report on ancestry were:

1. Augusta Franke 1864 Iowa died 17 Jun 1943 Los Angeles CA buried Des Moines IA married George D. Rahe, one daughter listed Ethelyn Bell Erwin. From the family tree report on ancestry.com, George D. Rahe was born 5 Jun 1855 Indiana died 3 Jul 1930 LeMars IA married Augusta Mary Dora Duwe Franke born 11 Oct 1864 Ireton IA. Died 17 Jun 1943 Los Angeles CA. Two children were listed Ethelyn Bell Rahe 1894-1981 and Viola Essie Rahe 1904-1950.

2. Christina ‘Tillie’ Mary Franke born 11 Oct 1863 Guttenberg, Clayton Iowa died 27 Dec 1954 Le Mars, Iowa. Hawarden Independent, December 23, 1954 Ireton, IA - Mrs. W. S. Johnston, resident of Ireton since 1887, died early Monday morning at the Sacred Heart hospital at LeMars following a prolonged sickness due to her advance years. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church in Ireton. Burial will be in the family plot beside her husband who preceded her in death in 1923. Services will be conducted by Rev. O. J. Snuttjer, assisted by Rev. J. Boyd Stevenson. Members of the Presbyterian male quartet will sing. Six sons of Mr. & Mrs. J. R. Karr will be pall bearers. Christina Franke Johnston was born at Guttenburg, IA, October 11, 1868, and came as a child to Sioux County and was reared on a farm northeast of Ireton. She married W. S. Johnston at LeMars on June 16, 1887. The couple came to Ireton and she has made her home here since that time. Five children were born to this union, Mrs. J. R. Karr and Mrs. Adolph Twillman of Ireton; Mrs. Ira Levering of LeMars; Arthur Johnston of Omaha and Raymond Johnston of Austin, MN. There also survives 7 grandsons and 11 great grandchildren, a brother, Henry Franke of Ireton; two sisters, Mrs. James Cobb of Norcross, MN, and Mrs. Charles Werley of LeMars. Coming from a distance to be at the last rites were Thurlow Karr of New York City; Mr. & Mrs. Lyman Karr and family of Washington, D.C. and Leland Karr of Chicago.

4. Mary Dora Franke 1867-1944. Find a Grave lists Mary Dora Franke born 7 Apr 1867 Guttenberg, Clayton Iowa died 4 Jan 1944 Buried St. John’s cemetery Ireton IA. The Alton Democrat of Jan 13, 1944. Mary Dora Franke was born at Guttenberg, la., on April 7, 1867, the daughter of Fredrich and Mary Franke. In the spring of 1872 the family moved to Sioux County' and settled on a homestead in West Branch township eight miles northeast of Ireton. Here she grew up acquiring her education in the local schools. When the town of Ireton was established she came to town living there for a number of years. Later she worked in LeMars and Sibley, in and around Chicago and Evanston. She was a personal friend of Frances E. Willard, the renowned temperance reformer and founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She returned to Ireton in 1896 and lived here again until 1910 when she moved to Boulder, Colo with, the Edward Fair family! Recently she went to live with a sister at Norcross, Minn. She lost her eyesight a number of years ago but was a patient sufferer and was appreciative of the constant care that was given her. She departed from this life on January 4. l944, being 76 years and nine months of age. When a young woman she was united with the Methodist church and when her health permitted attended its services. She leaves three sisters, who are Mrs. W. S. Johnston of Ireton. Mrs. James Cobb, Noreross, Minn., Mrs. Chas. Werley «f LeMars and one brother, Henry Franke of Ireton. Preceding her in death was one sister, Mrs. O. D. Rahe of Los Angeles, Calif., one brother William. The remains arrived here Thursday morning accompanied by her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Cobb Funeral services were held Friday afternoon in the Satterlee Funeral home with the Rev. F. Grantliam in charge. Burial was made in St. John's Lutheran cemetery, beside the remains of her parents.
3. Emma Franke born abt 1871 IA died 1897 Spokane WA buried St. John’s Cemetery Ireton IA. Emma Cobb Marriage record lists Emma Henrietta Franke born abt 1872 Clayton Co. IA married 20 Feb 1900 Sioux County IA to James A. Cobb. From a family tree report on Ancestry.com, James Audubon Cobb was born 25 Sep 1875 IA married Emma Henrieta Franke born 17 Aug 1870 Clayton Co. IA died 26 Mar 1959 Otter Tail MN. Her first husband was A. B.Ferrie abt 1859 MI, they had a son Harold Leroy Ferrie 1895-1981. She then married James a. Cobb born 25 Sep 1875 IA, they had three children Kenneth Frederick Cobb 1901-1982, Cecil Hazel Cobb 1904-1988, and Verna Cobb 1907.

4. Anna Franke born abt 1873 Sioux County IA married 20 Feb 1902 Sioux County IA to Carl Werley.
Ancestry family trees – Charles F. Werley born 14 Feb 1878 Whiteside IL died Apr 1969 Le Mars IA Wife Anna M. Duwe Franke born Aug 1874 Iowa died 1965. Children were Lyle Werley 1904-1991 and Margaret Werley 1914-1990

5. Henry Carl Franke born 5 Jul 1874 Sioux Co. IA died 8 Sep 1965. Married Lydia M Siege 1877-1962
Funeral services for Henry Franke, 91, lifelong resident of Sioux County, were held at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ireton Friday with the committal service in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Rev. O. F. Pittack, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Hawarden officiating.
The Barnard-Dow Funeral home of Hawarden had charge of interment. Casket bearers were: Dan DeVries, John Dekker, Oscar Heidbrink, Edward Heidbrink, Milton Dittmer and Delbert Dittmer. Son of Fredrick and Mary Schuette Franke, he was born July 5, 1874, on a homestead eight miles northeast of Ireton where he continued to live until 1911 when he moved to a farm in Center Township three miles from his birth place.On February 14, 1901, he married Lydia Siege, also of Ireton. On March 12, 1902 he became a communicant member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Later he served this congregation as its treasurer for a number of years. For a number of years he was a trustee in his township and a director of the Farmers Mutual Coop Creamery and the Coop Gas and Oil company of Sioux Center. Mr. Franke spent his declining years in the Sioux Center nursing wing, which he entered in January, 1960, and where he died September 8. Preceding him in death, besides his parents were his wife on February 21, 1952; his one brother, William; four sisters, Mrs. Augusta Rahe, Miss Mary Franke, Mrs. Emma Cobb and Mrs. Christine Johnston, and a grandson, Daryl Franke. He is survived by two sons, Elmer of Maurice and Orin of Ireton; four grandchildren; two great grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Anna Werley of LeMars, who is 93 years of age. Sioux Center News, September 16, 1965
6. William Franke born 24 April 1876 died 28 May 1889
From the Alton Democrat Jun 1, 1889
Tuesday morning, William Frankie (Franke), youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Frankie, living five miles northwest of Maurice, arose in the the morning as healthy as ever and milked several cows, and fed the horses and a few minutes afterwards was found by his brother lying in an unconscious condition at the stable door. He was carried into the house where he expired a few minutes later. As he was some what troubled with heart disease this no doubt was the cause of his death. No injury was found on his body that would indicate his being struck by a horse. The funeral occurred Wednesday at two p.m. and was one of the largest seen in the vicinity. This is a sad blow to the parents who have the sincere sympathy of the entire community.
(In the 1885 IA State census of 1885 for West Branch Tsp., Fred Franke age 46 born in Germany wife Mary (Dewey, found on line) age 37 born Germany, children - August 19, Mary 17, Christine 15, Emma 13, Anna 11, Henry 9, Wilhelm 7 born in Sioux County IA. )

OBITUARY OF FREDERICK FRANKE
From the August 5, 1920 Hawarden Independent:
Frederick A. Franke, one of Sioux county's pioneer homesteaders and a veteran of the Civil war, died very suddenly Wednesday evening, July 28th, at his home in Ireton from a stroke of apoplexy. He had been in his usual health and had eaten a very hearty supper. After supper he went out on the lawn with his son Henry and other members of the family and it was while strolling around that he was suddenly stricken. He became unconscious and passed away in a very short time.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Lutheran church in Ireton, Rev. J. E. Rich. Schmidt preaching the funeral sermon. The funeral was largely attended. Comrades of the G. A. R., of which order the deceased was an honored member, acted as honorary pall bearers. Interment was made in the cemetery near St. John's church, southeast of Ireton.
Frederick A. Franke was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, July 4,1839. At the age of 17 he emigrated to America and located at Guttenburg, Iowa. On the 8th day of August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 27th Iowa Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. His company was first sent to Fort Snelling, Minn., on account of the Indian outbreaks, but late in the fall of that year they were transferred to the South. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and was then sent up through Arkansas to take Little Rock, and participated in a number of engagements in that state. He then went to Mobile, Ala., and participated in the fights at Fort Spanish and Fort Blakely. It was not until August, 1865 that he received his discharge at Clinton, Iowa, having honorably serving his country for a period of three years.
After the war he returned to Clayton county, Iowa, and in June, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Duwe.
In 1872 he came with his family to Sioux county and took a homestead in West Branch township, which was still in his possession at the time of his death. He remained on the homestead until 1901, When he and his wife came to Ireton to make their home. The good wife passed from him Nov. 17, 1912. He is survived by one son, Henry Franke of Ireton, and four daughters, Mrs. W. S. Johnston of Ireton, Mrs. James Cobb of Norcross, Minn., Mrs. Charles Werley of Le Mars and Miss Mary Franke of Denver, Colo. He also had 16 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
He recently made inquiry regarding the members of his old company and found that he and his comrade, Charles Hennrich of Ireton, were the only surviving members. His death leaves only one survivor of that brave 100 men who offered their lives that this government of the people and by the people should not perish from the earth. Comrade Franke was held in high esteem by everyone, and sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved children in their sad hour.
Poster's note: In the obituary, it appears that Mr. Franke married Miss Mary Duwe or Dawe but according to "Ireton, A Proud History, 1882-1982", p. 388, he married a widow, Mary Schuette Dueve. That is consistent with the information given in the 1925 census by his children Henry Franke and Anna Werley who spelled her maiden name Schutte and by daughter Christine Johnston who spelled her maiden name Schuette.

OBITUARY OF MARY FRANKE
Source: Ireton Ledger (11-22-1912)
Born: February 13, 1846
Died: November 17, 1912
Mrs. Fred Franke passed away peacefully Sunday afternoon at her home in Ireton. She was taken seriously ill with kidney trouble about three months ago and since then has been confined to her bed most of the time.
Anna Marie Franke, nee Schutte was born in Schielski, Westfala, Germany on the 13th of February 1846. She with her parents emigrated to America in 1860 and settled at Gurtenberg, Iowa in 1863. In 1865 she was united in marriage to H. Dueve who died a year later. In 1872 she married Fred Franke, moving onto a farm in Sioux County near Ireton. Since 1901 they have resided in Ireton.
At the time of her death she was surrounded by loving relatives. She had the tenderness of care all through her sickness. The deceased was a loving mother and kind neighbor and was regarded with high esteem by all who knew her.
She leaves to mourn her death besides her husband, six children, one son and five daughters. Other relatives were three brothers and four sisters. One son is dead.
Funeral services were held Wednesday November 20 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The German service were conducted by Reverend J.E. Schmidt and English services by Reverend Gerlard Schmidt, Rushmore, Minnesota. Interment was made in the St. John’s churchyard. The choir assisted at the Church and Cemetery.

Page 388 of the Ireton Centennial book 1882-1982 has this picture of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Franke.

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