Andrew Christian Frandson (1849-1913)

FRANDSON, MERKEL, HERMANSON, HANSON, SORENSON, BORN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/30/2024 at 22:38:53

From Story City Herald January 8, 1914 (page 1)

OBITUARY

ANDREW CHRISTIAN FRANDSON

Andrew Christian Frandson was born Dec. 8, 1849 at Nestved, Sjeaelland, Denmark, and died at Story City, Iowa, Dec. 29, 1913.

At the age of 19 years he came to America with his uncle Carl Merkel. Work at this time was very scarce and for the first few months he practically worked for his board but with the privilege of going to school during the winter months. He later secured work as a cooper, his trade, at Marshalltown. Here by the hardest kind of work and perseverance he accumulated enough money to make first payment on a forty acre tract of virgin Story county land.

In 1874 he began to improve the forty which was to become the nucleus of the home which had been his for so many years.

On September 3, 1876, he was married to Miss Anna Metta Hermanson. The little house to which he brought his bride was largely built by his own hands. They have been married a little over 37 years. To this union were born 13 children, twelve of whom are living, one died in infancy in the year 1895.

He left to mourn his untimely death his loving wife and children: Julius Herman Frandson of Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs. P. G. Hanson and Mrs. M. H. Sorenson of Ruthven; Kate Frandson, Hulda Frandson, Albert B. Frandson of Story City; Edward Frandson of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Jay Born of Gilbert, Theodore Frandson of Story City; Arthur Frandson, at present a student of University of Nebraska; Clara and Willie Frandson, both Story City High School students.

Mr. Frandson with the hearty co-operation of his wife did all they could to rear their children in the way they should go. He was an untiring worker and never spared himself in his efforts to develop his family and home--so successfully did he labor that by his hard work, thrifty habits and good management he succeeded in attaining a position of independence not reached by the average man. He believed devoutly in the square deal for all and practiced it even to the minutest detail in his dealings with his fellowmen.

He had, with the exception of a skin complication which developed a few years ago, enjoyed good health. He never had serious illness and it was rare indeed when even for a day he could not attend his regular duties. The affliction from which he had suffered some pain and distress for a couple of years and had just been successfully removed by a specialist of Omaha. At the time of his tragic death he was in especially good health and spirits.

The fact that Mr. Frandson was always so cautious and careful makes it hard to understand just why he could meet such a sad railroad accident a his very door, so to speak, for it was only a few rods from home.

Mr. Frandson had just bid his family adieu for the evening as he expected to attend a lodge meeting in Story City. One of his boys had just helped him hitch his favorite horse to a light buggy and saw him start, and was still in the yard when the accident occurred. The evening train struck the buggy in which he drove in such a way that death was instantaneous.

To the family this was an extremely sad ending of the year 1913. They had had a very delightful Christmas and strange as it may seem Mr. Frandson had just enjoyed a visit from all his children. Those who had not been at home recently he had just visited.

He was a quiet, unassuming and home-loving man. He was rarely away from home for more than a few hours at the time.

He was brought up in the Lutheran Faith, baptized and confirmed in the church, but in late years he attended the Evangelical service. He was a thorough christian in word and deed. He loved and revered all nature as God's handiwork.