My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Gasconade County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Henry Frechmann, a farmer of Richland Township, was born in Prussia, in 1815, and is the son of Ferdinand and Gertrude (Kotthoff) Frechmann. The father died in Germany, and in 1841 the mother came to the United States, settled in Mississippi, but later moved to Little Rock, Ark., where she died. Henry received a good common-school education, and at the age of fifteen began as an apprentice at weaving and dyeing, which he followed until he came to the United States in 1836. After spending one year in Philadelphia he moved to Vicksburg, Miss., and was engineer on the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad until 1843, when he came to Hermann. He was married the same year to Miss Margaret Kotthoff, who came to Mississippi from Germany with her parents about 1840, and afterward moved to Hermann. Five children were born to this union: Frank, who is living in Washington, Mo., engaged in blacksmithing; Tony, at home; Henry F.; Teresa, wife of August Baecker, and Jane wife of Frank Oncken. Henry lived five years on First Creek, and then came to his present property, situated ten miles west of Hermann, which consists of 520 acres in the home place, and 240 acres in another tract, all the result of his own labor and good management. He has filled the position of justice of the peace, and from 1872 until 1878 he served as county judge of the Ninth District with credit. He is a Democrat, politically; his first presidential vote was for Gen. Cass in 1848. Since his residence in Gasconade County, Mr. Frechmann has followed agricultural pursuits, and is one of the prominent German citizens of the county. His eldest son served in the militia during the war. Mrs. Frechmann died in 1877. The father of Mr. Frechmann was sexton and teacher of his town for thirty years. He was a man of intelligence and ability.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 146 biographies included in The History of Gasconade County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Gasconade County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Gasconade County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.