USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 12
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At first Mr. Fleming was engaged in dairying, which he found very disastrous, and for three years was merely able to hold his own. At present he carries on general farming and the feeding of steers; he is also a cattle and hog buyer, shipping to the Chicago markets. A period of forty years has brought about many changes in farming methods, also prices. At one time oats sold for fourteen and fifteen cents per bushel, corn at twenty-one cents per bushel, and hogs brought $2.75 per hundred weight. Considering these facts and a loss of $2,500 one year in feeding cattle, his success has been remarkable.
The Fleming farm is one of the best cultivated farms in that region.
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It is operated according to modern methods with all the modern machinery. Mr. Fleming has always believed in doing everything effectively and thoroughly. He has never forgotten the kindness of Mr. Chittendon in standing back of him during his early struggles and is grateful for his friendship and support.
Mr. Fleming was married June 25, 1873, in Chicago, to Isabella Taylor, also-born in Scotland. They became the parents of the following children: Clarence Robert, Alexander Taylor, William Cochran, L. Isabelle, Anna Louise, Florence Elizabeth and Alice Lewellyn. Clarence died at La Porte, Ind., in 1912 of pneumonia; and Florence died in October, 1918, during the influenza epidemie. Of the surviving children Alexander lives in Marengo Township, and William in Coral Township, both excellent farmers. The daughters have all taken up the teaching profession and at the present writing Isabelle and Anna are in the Chicago public schools, and Alice in the home school at Marengo, Ill.
FRANK J. FLOOD.
Frank J. Flood, one of the progressive farmers of MeHenry County, is a resident of Woodstock, his farm being on the edge of the city. He was born one mile east of Woodstock, May 27, 1866, a son of Owen and Margaret (McDonald) Flood, both natives of County Cavan, Ireland, where they were married. In 1845, they came to the United States bringing with them their infant son. For the first two years they were in New York state where the father worked on the construc- tion of the Erie Canal, and then looking for similar labor, he brought his family west, and located in MeHenry County, in 1847.
He secured forty acres of government land east of the present site of Woodstock, which at that time had not come into existence. There was a little log house on the land, and the timber was dense about it. There the family lived until 1869, when removal was made to a farm two miles further east in Greenwood Township, which was made the permanent homestead. This 120 acres of land is now owned by Frank J. Flood. The father lived on this farm until his death which occurred in 1891, when he was eighty years of age. The mother survived him until 1901, when she too passed away, aged seventy-six years. From the time he was seventy-eight until his demise, the father was retired from all active pursuits. He never cared for public life, but did his duty
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HARTSON A. CHASE
anna E. Petersen
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as a citizen, voting the Democratie ticket. Both he and his wife belonged to the Catholic church at Woodstock.
Frank J. Flood remained on the homestead until he was twenty-two years of age, and then came to Woodstock and engaged in stock buying and shipping, specializing on dairy cattle, which he gathers in the west, fattens and then supplies the needs of farmers in this locality and the Chicago market. He is one of the best known men in this line in northern Illinois. He now owns the homestead, which he purchased for cash from the other heirs, and he has made many improvements upon it. Mr. Flood is a Democrat by inheritance and conviction, but like his father has not cared to enter public life. Also like his father, he is a consistent member and generous supporter of St. Mary's Catholic church of Woodstock.
On March 29, 1913, Mr. Flood was united in marriage with Miss Rose McCoy of Grafton Township, a daughter of Arthur McCoy. Mrs. Flood was born a few miles south of Woodstock. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Flood are three in number, as follows: One who died in infancy; Margaret and Francis.
The Flood family is undoubtedly one of the best known ones in McHenry County, and its members have also been very active in the upbuilding of St. Mary's Catholic church of Woodstock. Mr. Flood's operations as a farmer and stockman entitle him to consideration and place him among the representative men of his county and state.
VERNON N. FORD.
Vernon N. Ford, one of the retired farmers of Algonquin, was formerly largely interested in the agricultural progress of McHenry County, and owned his homestead in Algonquin Township. He was born in Algonquin Township, October 2, 1843, one of seven children born to his parents, Hiram and Lucy (Brown) Ford. Hiram Ford was born in Vermont, and in 1841 he came to McHenry County, locating in Algonquin Township, two miles west of Algonquin, where he lived until his death, May 18, 1848. His wife died in May, 1886.
Vernon N. Ford was reared in his native township, and attended its schools. He was engaged in farm work until his enlistment, when eighteen years old, in Company I, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, and he was mustered out
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May 17, 1865, as a corporal. Returning to Algonquin Township, he resumed farming, continuing in that line of endeavor until ISSO, when he retired, and moved to Algonquin. Mr. Ford has served as a school director for many years, and for thirty-one years has been township clerk, and he has also been deputy township assessor.
On September 5, 1877, Mr. Ford was married to Miss Nelia E. Dodd, a daughter of Ambrose Dodd, and a member of one of the prominent families of Algonquin Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have the follow- ing children: Albert V., who lives at Harvard, Ill .; Nella B., who is Mrs. Frank W. Runge of Evanston, Ill .; Elmer A. is a veteran of the World War; Jessie E., who is at home, is a music teacher; and one who is deceased. He is a man highly respected in his neighborhood, and his children are fully sustaining the family name.
WILLIAM H. FORREST.
William II. Forrest, formerly actively engaged in farming, is now living in honorable retirement at Woodstock, where he is numbered among the representative men of the county. He was born November 8, 1858, a son of Robert Forrest, born October 14, 1835, died November 10, 1916, and his wife Nancy, who was born September 26, 1832, and died February 1, 190S. Robert Forrest was a son of William and Jeanette (Drennan) Forrest, natives of Scotland, who, when their son, Robert, was still an infant, came to Canada, there remaining until 1842, when they came to the United States and secured land from the government in Hartland Township, MeHenry County, five miles west of Woodstock. They were accompanied by his wife's sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. John Planman, who located in Seneca Township, not far away from the Forrests.
After a few years William Forrest went to Chicago, where he died at the age of forty-four years, leaving his widow with three children, namely: Robert, who later became the father of William H .; Mary, who married Charles Heaton, moved to Kansas, and is now Mrs. Riley, living in Iowa; and Jennie, who married James Vanorsedal, moved to Iowa.
As a lad Robert Forrest had to assume charge of the farm, and at his mother's death, of his sisters. When he was nineteen years old he was married to Nancy Mitchell, born in New York, whose parents
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brought her to Hartland Township, but later moved to Iowa. Robert retired from the farm, and spent the remaining twenty-eight years of his life at Woodstock. A public-spirited man he was instrumental in starting the MeHenry County Fair Association, and had charge of the grounds during the annual meetings, and he was also one of the pro- moters of a local ereamery, and for a time was its manager, but failing health necessitated his retirement from all business activities. In addi- tion to his 240-acre home farm, he owned 260 acres, and operated both properties while engaged in agricultural lines. He first began breeding Durham cattle, keeping some thirty head, and for several years was an exhibitor, with flattering success. He also bred Poland-China swine, and his efforts resulted in a betterment in the neighborhood stock and the present recognition of the desirability of handling high-grade stock is the outcome of the example he set. His children were as follows: Mary Jeanette, who is now Mrs. Charles Judd of Woodstock; Charles T., who is living retired at Woodstock; and Frank R., who is living at Mobile, Ala.
William H. Forrest was married December 15, 1883, to Flora Gould, a daughter of James and Joanna P. (Phetteplase) Gould, natives of Massachusetts, who came from Chicago, where they had been living for a time, to Woodstock, on the first train operating between the two places. They had also lived at Dayton, Mo., where Flora was born February 21, 1860. On account of war conditions, Missouri was not a comfortable place for loyal Unionists, and so Mr. Gould was glad to get across the Mississippi River into Illinois. He secured a farm in Dorr Township, two miles west of Woodstock, but his last few years were passed at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Forrest, where he died in 1901, aged seventy-six years, his wife died in 1899. Their only son, , Frank, lives at Woodstock.
At the time of his marriage, William H. Forrest took up farming on land he had bought from his father, and for thirty-five years devoted himself to operating it. He also raised Durham cattle and Poland- China swine, and then later established a herd of Holstein cattle. In 1918 he retired and moved to Woodstock, although he retains a part- nership with his tenant. He is a director in the Farmers Exchange State Bank at Woodstock, and a man of consequence in his community. For thirty years he served on the school board, and was supervisor for six years. Of late years he has spent his winters in Alabama, and has made some profitable investments in that state. Although he and his wife have no children of their own, they have reared two, namely: Daniel
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IHISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
Bedoe, whom they took when eight years old; and Fred Simmons, when he was ten years old. Mr. Forrest has always voted the Republican ticket, and supported its principles. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows, having joined that order over thirty years ago. Mrs. Forrest is one of the most active members of the Red Cross chapter in her neighborhood, and is a lady of great executive ability, who gave liberally of her time and energy to promote all kinds of war work during the late war.
WALTER E. FRAASE.
Walter E. Fraase, one of the rising young business men of Harvard, is the sole proprietor of the Economy Garage, one of the best equipped . of its kind in this part of the state. He was born in McHenry County, October 16, 1889, one of the six children of his parents, Otto F. and Hannah (Hyde) Fraase. Otto F. Fraase was born in Germany, but came to the United States when he was eighteen years old, and located in MeHenry County, where he has been engaged in farming for many years.
Walter E. Fraase attended the common and high schools of MeHenry County, and when he was eighteen years old he learned the trade of a machinist, and worked at it for a time, and then established himself in a garage business at Woodstock, where he remained until the spring of 1914, when he came to Harvard, and opened his present garage. His stock is worth $5,000, and he does a large business, giving employment to five people.
On July 3, 1913, Mr. Fraase was united in marriage with Miss Mertel Merchant, a daughter of Frederick Merchant of Rockford, Ill. Mrs. Fraase died September 26, 1917, having been a devoted wife, and con- sistent member of the Presbyterian church of Harvard. Mr. Fraase also belongs to this church. Politically, Mr. Fraase is a Republican, but he has not sought publie preferment. He belongs to Harvard Lodge No. 309, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Fraase has made his own way in the world, and deserves the success which has attended him, for he has worked hard for it.
GEORGE W. FRAME.
George W. Frame, postmaster of Woodstock, and one of the repre- sentative men of MeHenry County, is a native son of Woodstock, and
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deeply interested in its growth and advancement. He was born at Woodstock, October 1 1866, one of the five children of Norman and Susie (Sando) Frame, the former of whom was born in West Virginia. He was a farmer and manufacturer, and died in 1901.
George W. Frame attended the grammar and high schools of Wood- stock, and after completing his school courses, embarked in a pickle business, conducting it profitably until 1900, when he sold and went into a feed and milling business, carrying on that enterprise until he was appointed postmaster of Woodstock, January 16, 1917, when he succeeded W. S. McConnell. Mr. Frame has fifteen employes under him in the post office, and his assistant is Bert J. Deitz. Under his capable management, the affairs of the office are conducted in a very satisfactory manner, and he is extremely popular with all c'asses.
Mr. Frame was married to Miss Alma R. Cowlin, a daughter of Abraham Cowlin, and they have a son, Harold W., who served his country as a soldier in the World War. The Presbyterian church of Woodstock holds the membership of Mr. Frame and his family. Mr. Frame is a member of the Order of Elks. His political convictions have made him a strong Democrat, and he has always been active in party matters, so that he was the logical candidate for the office of postmaster, and his work since receiving the appointment proves that the choice was a happy one.
CHRIST FRANKE.
Christ Franke, senior member of the reliable firm of C. Franke & Co., of Algonquin, is one of the substantial men of MeHenry County. He was born in Germany, April 4, 1863, one of the four children born to Christ and Christina (Geister) Franke, also natives of Germany. In 1865, the father came to the United States, and first settled in Algonquin, but later moved to Cook County, Ill., where he remained until his death which occurred in 1865. The mother survived him until the fall of 1872. The father was a mason by trade.
Christ Franke attended the common and high schools of MeHenry County, and learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until 1894. In that year he went into the retail liquor trade, but sold his business in 1912, and bought his present elevator, and since then has dealt in flour, feed, coal, coke, seeds and salt. , In 1916 he took his sons Arthur F. and Clarence W. into the business with him. In addition to
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his business interests, Mr. Franke owns a valuable farm of 16612 acres in Algonquin Township.
In 1887 Mr. Franke was married to Miss Augusta Wollert, a daughter of Fred Wollert, and they have two children, namely: Arthur F., who was born January 6, 18SS, married Alida Redquist, and they have two children, Dorothy A., and Arthur C .; and Clarence W., who was born October 25, 1889, married Ella Ritt, and they have a son, Clarence C. The family all belong to the Lutheran church. Mr. Franke is a Repub- lican, and was elected mayor of Algonquin in 1913, and re-elected in 1915. Prior to 1913, he served for eight years as a member of the city council.
HORACE C. FREEMAN.
Horace C. Freeman, one of the most progressive farmers of MeHenry County, owns and operates a farm of 161 acres of valuable land on section 12, Greenwood Township. He was born in Greenwood Town- ship, March 23, 1875, a son of Henry and Sarah (Howard) Freeman, natives of New York state, both of whom are deceased. Henry Freeman was a farmer and lived in MeHenry County for many years prior to his death.
Horace C. Freeman attended the schools of his native township. and has always been engaged in farming. He now carries on general farming and stock raising, specializing on a good grade of stock. His political convictions are such that he is an independent Republican.
On December 25, 1898, he was married to Mary A. Barber, also born in Greenwood Township, September 27, 1876, a daughter of John Barber. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are the parents of the following children: Helen, Arlene, May, Flora, Walter, Frank, Mildred and Marion and Lawrence C., who are living, and Celia, who died at the age of four years. The family is an old one in McHenry County, and its members are held in high esteem by the people here, for they have proven themselves excel- lent farmers and business men, and very desirable citizens in every respect. Mrs. Freeman is a Methodist, as are the older children.
WILLIAM M. FREEMAN, M. D.
William M. Freeman, M. D., an eminent physician and surgeon of Woodstock, has carned his present standing in his profession through
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
his natural ability and careful training for his calling. He was born September 3, 1877, at Chicago, Ill., one of the five children of John J. and Marjory (Spence) Freeman, of Chicago. John J. Freeman was for years connected with leading mercantile houses of Chicago, and now lives in Aurora, Ill. His wife died in 1913.
William M. Freeman attended the grammar and high schools of Aurora, and then, deciding upon entering the medical profession, he matriculated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1901. Following his graduation, Mr. Freeman spent the subsequent two years as an interne in several of the Chicago hospitals, gaining in this way a varied and very valuable experience. He then located at Crystal Lake, where he engaged in a general practice for fourteen years. Desiring a broader field, he made a change in February, 1918, coming at that time to Woodstock, and here he has firmly established himself in the confidence of the publie. Dr. Free- man is a member of the MeHenry County Medieal Society, the Illinois State Medical Society, and the Tri-State Medical Society. His fraternal connections are with the Masons, Odd Fellows, and Moose. In politics, he is a staunch Republican.
In 1903 Dr. Freeman was married to Miss Ella M. Corner, a daughter of Thomas Corner, and they have three children, namely, Irene M., born February 3, 1905; Helen L., born October 6, 1907; and Harold M., born April 2, 1911. The family belong to the Congregational chureh. Dr. Freeman is a highly-trained medical man, and keeps abreast of modern progress in his profession by constant reading and study. Per- sonally he possesses those characteristics likely to win confidence, and has built up a large and lucrat ve practice.
PETER FREUND.
Peter Freund, now deceased, was formerly engaged in farming in McHenry County, and was regarded as one of the substantial men of this locality. He was born in Germany, and when he was twenty years of age, he came to the United States with his parents, John Peter and Margaret Freund, and his brothers, John, Jacob, Michael and Christ, all of whom are now deceased, Christ dying in California, and the others in MeHenry County.
Peter Freund was married to Susan Hess, and settled on land where
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he lived and died. He ereeted the finest house on the bay. His children were as follows: Barbara, who is Mrs. Wolfe of Chicago; Jacob, who lives in the village of McHenry; John, who lives in the vicinity of Me- Henry; Christina, who married John Miller, died at the age of thirty- five years; Mary, who married Niek Webber, died when about thirty- five years; M. Joseph, who lives near McHenry; Hubert, who is the next in order of birth; Nicholas, who is a blacksmith of Spring Grove; Peter, who lives near Johnsburg; Michael, who lives near Spring Grove; and Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Matt Freund, lives near Spring Grove.
Hubert Freund was born on the old farm, July 29, 1867, and re- mained at home until after he had attained his majority. For nine years he rented the Jackson farm in Richmond Township, and then bought the Bell farm of 120 aeres in Richmond Township, and erected a new dairy barn on it and made other improvements during the ten years he owned it. In 1909 he sold his farm and bought the Covell farm of 220 acres, one mile east of MeHenry, on which he has put up a silo, and built a dairy barn. He has a herd of thirty-five cows of the Holstein strain, and has Percheron horses for farm use. His farm is located on high land and has good natural drainage. In polities he is independent.
When he was twenty-two years old, Hubert Freund was married to Kate Meyers, a daughter of Anton and Emma Mary Meyers, and they have the following family: Anton, who married Mary Freund, lives near MeHenry; Emma, who is Mrs. Peter M. Freund, lives near Spring Grove; Barbara, who is Mrs. Joseph L. Freund, lives near Johnsburg; and Gertrude, Margaret, George, Joseph, Alfred, Florence and Rosela, all of whom are at home. The parents were members of the old St. John's Catholic church at Johnsburg, but Hubert Freund and his family belong to St. Mary's Catholic church at MeHenry.
STEPHEN H. FREUND.
Stephen H. Freund, who has served as supervisor of MeHenry Township, is one of the progressive farmers of this county, and a man well and favorably known. He was born in Richmond Township, McHenry County, September 26, 1864, one of the nine children of Mathias S. and Anna (Freund) Freund, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1850 and 1843, respectively. For many years
Mary Rehorst
Himy Rehorst
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
the father was a farmer upon an extensive scale, but he is now living retired. The mother died March 20, 1917.
Stephen H. Freund attended the public and private schools of his native county, and was reared upon his father's farm. Although he learned the trade of a carpenter, he only followed that calling a short time, having otherwise devoted himself to farming. He now owns a beautiful farming property, adjacent to the city of McHenry, consisting of 173 acres of very valuable land.
On January 25, 1888, Mr. Freund was married to Miss Catherine Klapperich, a daughter of Peter M. Klapperich, and a member of a very prominent McHenry County family. Mr. and Mrs. Freund have seven children, as follows: Mary N., Anton P., Cecelia E., Carl J., Herbert H., Helen L. and Bertilla A. Mr. Freund is independent in his politics, and in 1909 he was elected supervisor of McHenry Township, and re-elected to the same office continuously ever since, serving a por- tion of the time as chairman. He has served on the school board of his district, and was a member of the board of education for the city of McHenry. He and Mrs. Freund belong to the German Catholic church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Both in public and private life Mr. Freund is very prominent, and his standing in his community is unquestioned.
CHRISTIAN FRITZ.
Christian Fritz, commissioner of roads for Coral Township, and one of the representative men of McHenry County, has one of the choice farms of his township, which has been developed by an immense amount of hard work on his part. He is an expert in road improvement, as is attested by the many miles of excellent highways under his super- vision. He was born in Dundee, Kane County, Ill., January 23, 1871, a son of Christ and Minnie (Hence) Fritz, both of whom were born in Mecklenburg, Germany.
Christ Fritz came to the United States when he was between nineteen and twenty years old, and was married at Dundee, Ill., in 1870. When his son Christian was one year old, he took his family in a wagon to Adams County, Wis., having traded his house at Dundee for an unde- veloped farm, and there he remained until 1915, or for over forty years, and during that period developed it into a very valuable property
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This farm comprises 290 acres of land on the Wisconsin River, and on it he built a fine set of buildings. During the time he lived there he served on the school board and was a representative man in every way. Upon his retirement from the farm he went back to Dundee so as to be among his old friends.
Christian Fritz is the only member of his family to come to MeHenry County. Until he was seventeen years old he was on the home farm in Wisconsin, but then began working out by the month for farmers, so continuing until he was nineteen, then leaving Wisconsin for Illinois, and for several years worked on farms in the vicinity of Dundee. When he was twenty-two years old he was married to Freda Lussow of Mil- waukee, Wis., who had come to the United States three years prior to her marriage. Her father's last years were spent in the Fritz home, where he died in 1918 at the age of eighty-three years, the mother having passed away three years previously.
At the time of his marriage, Christian Fritz rented a farm near Dundee, staying on it for seven years, and then rented another farm in Riley Township, where he remained for five years, a portion of the time being on the Fred Schultz farm, paying cash instead of produce for his rent. Mr. Fritz then bought his present farm, in 1905, it being the 160-acre property known as the Joseph Kalbaugh farm, and since then he rebuilt the house, and has a barn 36 x 96 feet, with an el 36 x 30 feet, using the latter as a horse shelter. The basement is cemented, and the outbuildings are equally modern. He has a silo and has tiled sixty aeres, which are now the most productive of his land, the process requiring over nine carloads of the tile. Each year he has made improve- ments, but they have paid, for the farm for which he paid $75 per acre in 1905, is worth several times as much today. Dairying is his principal interest, and he milks about forty-five cows. For twenty-five years he has operated a threshing machine, and for several years has done the local threshing, siło filling, corn shelling, etc. For six years he has been road commissioner, and during that period has put the roads in fine condition, and the cement bridges over the streams are well built, some of them costing as much as $3,000." He keeps up the road grading, and is constantly urging the necessity of continuing these improvements.
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