DIES SUDDENLY OF APOPLEXY
Matt Freilinger, Well Known Early Settler
Passed Away Monday Noon After Collapse
on Street
Matt Freilinger, an old and respected citizen of Kossuth county died suddenly Monday noon of
Apoplexy. Mr. Freilinger with his son Matt of New Mexico, who was visiting him, started for a
walk. When about a block from the home of Mr. Krantz, where Mr. Freilinger lived, he remarked
that he felt faint and fell to the sidewalk. He never regained consciousness and was dead when
carried to the house. He has been a resident of Algona for about three years. He was one of the
early settlers on the river west of Bancroft, where he lived until about eight years ago when he
went to New Mexico. He did not like that country and returned to Algona. Mr. Freilinger was a
congenial and characteristic German and had many friends. He was born in Luxemberg, Germany,
and was sixty-six years of age. He was twice married, his first wife [Sarah Ann Devine] dying
about nineteen years ago. Five children were born to this union, Matt, Barney and George of
Estancia, New Mexico, Charles of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and one daughter, Mrs. Nellie White of
De Smet, South Dakota. He was again married [Mrs. Carrie A. Barker] and one daughter, Sarah,
who lives with the Wm. Norris [maternal grandparents] family near Lone Rock, survives him. A
brother of the deceased resides near St. Joe. George and Matt have been visiting their father this
summer, and all will be present at the funeral except Barney. Services will be held Thursday
morning at the Algona Catholic church and the remains taken to Bancroft for burial.
--Algona Upper Des Moines, 1 September 1915, page 4
Friends of Math Freilinger were astonished Monday to hear that he was dead. About noon he fell dead on
the sidewalk from an apoplectic stroke as he was walking with his son Matt about a block from the Kranz
home, where he had boarded for some time. The funeral will be conducted tomorrow morning at the
Catholic church, and the body will be buried at Bancroft. Mr. Freilinger had lived here two or three years.
He was an early Seneca settler, and lived in the Bancroft neighborhood many years. A few years ago he
went to New Mexico, and thence to Algona. He was married twice and was 66 years old when he died.
Four sons and two daughters survive.
--Kossuth County Advance, 1 September 1915, page 8
A SUDDEN SUMMONS.
Matthew Freilinger Dropped Dead Monday
Another old and well known citizen of Kossuth County passed from this life last Monday
afternoon. For some months past Mr. Matt Freilinger has made Algona his home and lived in the
Third Ward. Last Monday afternoon in company with his son, Matt, he left the house and started
to walk up town. They had gone but a short distance when the father was stricken with heart
failure, and the spark of life immediately departed. He had been in his usual good health, and had
partaken of a hearty meal before starting for up town.
Deceased was a native of Luxemberg, Germany, and came to America with his parents in 1870.
The family settled in Kansas, and Matt came to Kossuth county about 37 years ago, and for five or
six years worked for Barney Devine. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Devine, and they
moved to a farm west of Bancroft, in Seneca township, where they resided until the death of Mrs.
Freilinger, some years ago. Five children were the fruits of this union, four boys and one girl. He
also has one daughter by a second marriage.[**] The children are all living. He has one brother
living in this country, Peter Freilinger of Riverdale township.
The funeral services were held at the Catholic church in Algona, Thursday morning at 8 o’clock,
and the remains were taken to Bancroft for burial.
--Algona Courier, 3 September 1915, page 1
**Name: Sarah Ane Freilinger
Birth Date: 5 Nov 1903
Birth Place: Kossuth County, Iowa
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