Bio: Fricke, William C. & Eva (Fretsche)

Contact: History Buffs

 

 

William C. & Eva (Fretsche) Fricke

 

Greenwood, Eaton, Clark, Wisconsin

 

William was born 17 Feb 1820, in Diepholz, Ger., the son of Christopher and Christina (Nolte) Fricke, both natives of Germany.  William was a soldier in the German Revolution (1848-49), having fought against the king in favor of a republic.  When that effort failed, he with others, took passage on a ship to the USA.  Stopping first in Milwaukee, in the fall of 1849, Mr. Fricke worked at the shoemaker's trade until the summer of 1850, and then moving to Newburg, WI to work at his trade until 1855.  His marriage to Eva took place 9 Aug 1852.  She was born 15 Mar 1830, the daughter of Gotfried and Justine (Dobig) Fretsche.  Three years later they moved to Waco, TX , but returned to Newburg 2 yrs. later.  During the Civil War, he served as a Corp. with Co. B, 3rd Wis., Inf., having enlisted 20 Aug 1864 for 3 yrs. of service as a substitute. At that time, he was 24 yrs. old, 5', 7" tall, had a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.  Because of the close of the war, he was mustered out, 18 Jul 1865 at Madison, WI.  In 1876, he settled his family on 80 acres in sec. 26, Eaton Twp., Clark Co., WI.  The Frickes had 12 children, but only 10 lived to adulthood: Ida, Minnie, Oscar, Emma, William, Matilda, Louise, Bertha, Robert who died at the age of 24 in Milwaukee, and Otto who died 15 Apr 1880 when he was 20 yrs. old. Politically, William was a Democrat and twice he was a member of the Town Board and also served on the School Board for several years. The village of Greenwood was incorporated as a city 2 Apr 1891 and when the first election was held, William and another Civil War Veteran, Robert McCalvy, were the Ballot Clerks. Eva died 9 Jul 1901and William died 17 Feb 1897. Both of them are buried in the Greenwood City Cemetery.

 

 

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 347

WILLIAM C. FRICKE, of section 26, Eaton Township, Clark County, was born in Hanover, Germany, in the town of Diepholz, February 17, 1820, the son of Christopher (deceased) and Christina (Nolte) Fricke, both natives of Diepholz. They were the parents of five children: William, Henry, Frederick (the tow latter reside in Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa), and Elizabeth, deceased. One son also died in childhood.


William C., our subject, was a soldier in the German revolution in 1848- 49, having fought against the king. He was in favor of a republic, and when he saw they had failed, he, with others, took passage on a ship for the United States. Stopping first in Milwaukee, in the fall of 1849, Mr. Fricke worked at the shoemaker's trade until the summer of 1850, when he removed to Newburg, Washington County, Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade until 1855. In that year he went to Waco, Texas, remaining until 1857, and then returned to Newburg, where he worked at his trade until 1876. He then came to this county, and settled on his present farm of eighty acres, sixty of which is cleared.


Mr. Fricke was married August 9. 1852, to Eva Fretsche, daughter of Gotfried (deceased) and Justine (Dobig) Fretsche, both natives of Saxony, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Fricke have had twelve children, eight of whom still survive: Ida, Minnie, Oscar, Emma, William, Matilda, Louise and Bertha. One son, Robert, died in Milwaukee May 1, 1880, at the age of twenty-four years. He was one of the best telegraph operators in that city. Another son, Otto, died April 15, 1880, at the age of twenty years. Mr. Fricke was brought up in the Lutheran Church, but is not now identified with any church. He has been a member of the Town Board twice, and also of the School Board several years. Politically he is a Democrat.

 

William died February 17, 1897 and Eva died July 9, 1901. Both of them are buried in the Greenwood City Cemetery.

 

 

A BIT OF PIONEER HISTORY

Clark County, Wisconsin

 

Oscar Fricke Remembers Things

 

The reporter found Oscar Fricke and his good wife sorting over old relics and packing some for removal to the new home on Court St. Evidently Oscar was in just the right mood to think of other days after the momentum was gained. "Gosh, I don’t know when a fellow is interviewed he cant think of anything." Oscar leaned back in the rocker and covered his eyes with his hand in his characteristic way. But he went on "Our folks settled on the 26 road in the fall of "76. I was a youngster of thirteen then. You know I always believed in a Xmas tree and my folks had one every year without exception and we keep it up even to now. I believe thoroughly in Xmas trees for children and looked forward with great joy to each coming festival. My father was a shoemaker and the best present I ever got was a pair of red -topped boots and a pair of skates to go with them. It is very fresh in my mind today" At this moment Oscar paused for a moment and a lady on the other side of the room interrupted "Yes, and the happiest Xmas present you ever had was the year before we were married when you made me a present of a beautiful white fascinator which was all the go then." Fearful that other things might leak out our friend rambled on "I had some Christmases that were not so happy. One Xmas I worked all day in Miller Bros. camp. This was back of Harry Mead’s old farm. We did not have any fat goose for dinner either. One time we went into camp on New Year’s day. There was a whole crew of us. We went up for Jake Huntzicker and started from his farm. We had our dinner at Withee and started on. We got within four miles of camp and to a place where the road left off and the swamp began. It was a big tamarack swamp and we took a couple of yokes of oxen and ten or twelve men for leaders and broke the road. We finally reached a set of old logging shanties which had been abandoned. They were without doors and windows and this is where we camped for the night. I remember the New Year’s supper which consisted of boiled frozen potatoes and some fried pork. The next morning it was reported to us that it had been 46 degrees below zero. You might well imagine that we did not have a very comfortable night of it. George! We were cold that night" and Oscar leaned back and twisted the stray locks and sighed.

 

Census Records

 

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: William Fricke    Age in 1860:40     Birth Year: abt 1820     Birthplace: Hanover
Home in 1860: Trenton, Washington, Wisconsin    Post Office: Newburg
   Household Members: Name Age
            William Fricke   40
            Eva Fricke         29
            Ida Fricke           7
            Robert Fricke      3
            Minna Fricke      2
            Otto Fricke         1

1860 U. S. Federal Census - Trenton, Washington County, Wisconsin

Name

Relation

Sex

Race

Age

Marital

Nativity

F-Nativity

M-Nativity

Occupation 

Fricke, William

head

m

w

40

m

Hanover

 

 

shoemaker of boots

Fricke, Eva

wife

f

w

29

m

Oldenburg

 

 

 

Fricke, Tela

daughter

f

w

7

s

Wisconsin

 

 

 

Fricke, Robert

son

m

w

3

s

Texas

 

 

 

Fricke, Minna

daughter

f

w

2

s

Wisconsin

 

 

 

Fricke, Otto

son

m

w

1

s

Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

1870 United States Federal Census
Name:  William Kreke    Estimated Birth Year:  abt 1820    Age in 1870:  50
Birthplace:  Hannover / Hanover
Home in 1870:  Trenton, Washington, Wisconsin    Post Office:  Kewaskum
   Household Members:  Name  Age
            William Kreke    50  Hanover       Shoemaker        1500   300
            Eva Kreke         42  Saxonia       Keeping House
            Ida Kreke          17  WI
            Robert Kreke     15
            Mina Kreke        13
            Otto Kreke        11
            Oscar Kreke        8
            Emma Kreke       5
            William Kreke      3
            Mathilda Kreke    1

next family

            Gottfried Fretsche  72  Saxonia  Farmer              800  125    

            Augusta Fretsche   63  Saxonia  Keeping House


1880
United States Federal Census
Name:  William Fricke    Age:  60    Estimated Birth Year:  abt 1820
Birthplace:  Hanover    Relation to Head of Household:  Self (Head)
Spouse's Name:  Asshar    

Father's birthplace:  Hanover    Mother's birthplace:  Hanover    Occupation:  Farmer
Home in 1880:  Eaton, Clark, Wisconsin
   Household Members:  Name  Age
            William Fricke   60  Hanover-Hanover-Hanover      Farmer
           
Asshar Fricke    50  Saxony-Saxony-Saxony        Keeping House
            Minnie Fricke     22  WI-Hanover-Saxony              At Home
            Oscar Fricke     17  "                                              "
            Emma Fricke     15  "                                             "
            William Fricke   13  "                                         At School
            Matilda Fricke    11  "                                             "
            Louisa Fricke       9  "
            Bertha Fricke       6  "

1880 Federal Census--Eaton, Clark, WI
 Name Relation S/M/D/W Sex Race Age Nativity Occupation F-Nativity M-Nativity
 William Fricke  Self  M  Male  W  60  Hanover  Farmer  Hanover  Hanover
 Asshar Fricke  Wife  M  Female  W  50  Saxony  Keeping House  Saxony  Saxony
 Minnie Fricke  Daughter    Female  W  22  Wisconsin  At Home  Hanover  Saxony
 Oscar Fricke  Son    Male  W  17  Wisconsin  At Home  Hanover  Saxony
 Emma Fricke  Daughter    Female  W  15  Wisconsin  At Home  Hanover  Saxony
 William Fricke  Son  S  Male  W  13  Wisconsin  At School  Hanover  Saxony
 Matilda Fricke  Daughter  S  Female  W  11  Wisconsin  At School  Hanover  Saxony
 Louisa Fricke  Daughter  S  Female  W  9  Wisconsin    Hanover  Saxony
 Bertha Fricke  Daughter  S  Female  W  6  Wisconsin    Hanover  Saxony

 

             

1855 Wisconsin Census
Name:  William Freick    State:  WI    County:  Washington County    Township:  Trenton

1895
Wisconsin State Census
Name:  Wm Fricke    Residence County:  Clark    Locality:  Eaton
Line:  14    Roll:  v226_10
Household Members: 1 male, 4 female; 3 US born, 2 German

 

1895 Wisconsin State Census
Name:  Wm Fricke Junior    Residence County:  Clark    Locality:  Eaton
Line:  24    Roll:  v226_10
Household Members: 1 male 1 female; 2 US born

 

1895 Wisconsin State Census
Name:  Oscar Fricke       Residence County:  Clark    Locality:  Greenwood
Line:  21    Roll:  v226_10
Household Members: 1 male, 1 female; 2 US born

 

 

Military Service

 

(Click on the document to enlarge it)

 

Furlough Record of William Fricke

24 yrs. old, 5', 7" tall, dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. 20 Aug 1864 for 3 yrs.

Fricke, William--Union Infantry, Co. B, 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry.  Muster Roll [1] [2] [3]

American Civil War Soldiers
Name: William Fricke    Enlistment Date: 20 Aug 1864
Side Served: Union        State Served: Wisconsin
Service Record: Promoted to Full Corporal.
Enlisted as a Private on 20 August 1864.
Enlisted in Company B, 3rd Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 20 Aug 1864.
Mustered Out Company B, 3rd Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 18 Jul 1865 at Madison, WI.


U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: William Fricke    Side: Union    Regiment State/Origin: Wisconsin
Regiment Name: 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry        COMPANY: B
Rank In: Private    Rank Out: Corporal    Film Number: M559 roll 10

 

 

Research Notes

 

OneWorldTree

Name: William Christopher FRICKE
Sex: M
Birth: 27 FEB 1820 in Hanover, Germany
Death: 17 FEB 1897 in Greenwood, Wisconsin

 

Marriage 1 Eva FRITZSCHE b: 15 MAR 1830 in Rheichstadt, Germany

    * Married:

 Name: Eva FRITZSCHE
Sex: F
Birth: 15 MAR 1830 in Rheichstadt, Germany
Death: JUL 1901 in Greenwood, Wisconsin

            Father: Godfried FRITZSCHE b: 1798
            Mother: Justina DOBIG b:

 

Children

   1. Ida FRICKE            b: 1853
   2. Minnie FRICKE       b: 1854
   3. Robert FRICKE       b: 1856
   4. Minna FRICKE        b: 1858
   5. Otto FRICKE          b: 1859
   6. Emma FRICKE       b: 1861
   7. Oscar FRICKE        b: 1863
   8. Emma FRICKE       b: 1865

 

Death Record Details
Last Name:  Fricke    First Name:  Wm    Day:  16    Month:  February    Year:  1897
County:  Clark    Reel:  010    Volume:  01    Page:  0097    Image:  2147

 

Death Record Details
Last Name:  Friehe    First Name:  Eva    Day:  09    Month:  July    Year:  1901
County:  Clark    Reel:  010    Volume:  01    Page:  0221    Image:  2825
Index Vol:       Sequence #:  113917

 

 

William C. Fricke is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

 

Contributors

 

Clark Co., WI History Buffs, Lani Bartelt, Paul Forster, Marsha Hosfeld, Janet Schwarze & Ken Wood.

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE