Fretheim, Henry J. 1872 – 1943

FRETHEIM, HELLEN, HOVE, FENDRING

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/18/2015 at 07:37:19

HENRY J. FRETHEIM.

Agricultural and stock-raising interests of Madison township find a progressive and worthy representative in Henry J. Fretheim, who owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land on sections 20 and 28. He is one of Winneshiek county's progressive and successful native sons, his birth having occurred August 1, 1872. His parents, Jens and Asa (Hellen) Fretheim, were born in Norway and the father came to America and located in Wisconsin at a very early date. After a short time spent in that state he moved to Allamakee county, where he lived a year or two, and then came to Winneshiek county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Madison township, improving and developing this fine property until his death, which occurred in 1887. His wife survived him for a number of years, dying in March, 1912.

Henry J. Fretheim was reared and educated in Madison township and after completing the course in the district schools attended Valder's Business College at Decorah. After his father's death the homestead came into his possession but he did not immediately take up his residence upon it, renting the land and going to Decorah, where he resided for nine years thereafter. At the end of that time he came back to the farm, turning his attention to its operation, and since that time he has made his home upon the property, which under his able management has become profitable and productive. The land lies on sections 20 and 28, Madison township, and Mr. Fretheim has added to the original tract until his holdings now comprise two hundred and forty acres.

On the 17th of March, 1897, Mr. Fretheim was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Hove, a daughter of Knut and Cornelia (Fendring) Hove, natives of Norway, who located in Winneshiek county and moved from there to Dakota, where the father took up land, which he is still operating. His wife passed away in the fall of 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Fretheim have become the parents of seven children: Joel; Glora; Herman; Clarissa; Lloyd; Parnell; and Evelyn, who died in 1899.

Mr. Fretheim owns a fine home on Franklin street in Decorah and is a stockholder in the Farmers Hog Buying Company of that city. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a devout member of the Lutheran church. He stands high in both a business and a social sense and well deserves mention as one of the representative agriculturists of Winneshiek county.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

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