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Francois Xavier FRIES  Francois Xavier FRIES[1]
Male 1846 - 1907

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  • Birth  5 Apr 1846  Ufholtz, Haut-Rin, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3] 
    • 1880 census states Germany; LDS International film #759584 Birth record
    Gender  Male 
    Burial  Whitley County, Indiana-- Greenhill Cemetary records, Columbia City, Indiana establish dates of birth and death, and location of burial. 
    Emigration  12 Dec 1853  New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Aboard the ship Rockall, originating in Havre de Grace, France
    Immigration  Source: Letter from Mary Lou Fries dated 6Dec2006. “...In a paper that leo had dictaged when he was 89, reads: The Fries’ came from Alsace, Lorane along with 3 other families. They embarked in Nov. 1852 and were 5 weeks on the ocean. After a stormy crossing they landed in Maryland on Dec. 23rd. Their money was all gone except a $1.00 and an axe (sic), so they stopped temporarily with some friends near Pittsburgh. They did any jobs they could find and after they had a little money the men went to Fort Wayne and later walked out to Walnut Corners here in Columbia City. After they had a little money, the women came here to live also.”

    Emmigration from France: Erasmus and family left Havre DeGrace, France and arrived in New York City, New York on 12 December 1853 aboard the ship Rockall. The family include wife Rosa, son Erasmus, daughter Cath, son Joseph, son Xavier, and daughter Rosa. Noted is the fact that Rosa is believed to be a twin; and sister Susan is not with the family. Information has been taken from the ship’s passenger list.

    Family tradition indicates Rosa was a twin, with a sister Susana being born. She must have died prior to their departure from France.

    Erasmus indicataed their nationality as French on the passenger list. 
    Occupation  Farmer, and railroad engineer and railroad fireman. Operated a steam thresher business. 1930--Driver of school hack:  [4] 
    Religion  Catholic 
    Buried  1907  Greenhill Cemetary, Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    • Catholic section, 1-1-3
    Died  19 Jan 1907  Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID  I213  Ronald Allen Snowden Family Tree
    Last Modified  28 Jan 2010 
     
    Father  Erasme "Erasmus Xavier" Fries,   b. 20 Jul 1815, Uhfeltz, Haut-Rin, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Dec 1865, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother  Rose KOEHL,   b. 17 Aug 1814, Uhfeltz, Alsace, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Nov 1888, Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married  France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    _UID  4898E006813148FA91D3F3E3E2B5FADB609B 
    Family ID  F72  Group Sheet
     
    Family  Catherine Ulrich,   b. 8 Oct 1850, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Oct 1930, Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married  7 Feb 1871  Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Marriage performed by R.S. Pence, Justice of the Peace.
      Source: Marriage Book, Whitley County, Indiana
    _UID  709771C931F34A06ABFABC7A4EED7296D384 
    Children 
     1. Anna Fries,   b. 22 Jun 1871, Thorncreek Twp, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Aug 1875, Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Christina Mary Fries,   b. 25 Dec 1873,   d. 20 Sep 1945
     3. Catherine "Kate" Fries,   b. 23 Dec 1875, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Jul 1933
     4. Frank Xavier Fries,   b. 14 Oct 1878, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Feb 1879, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Infant Son Fries Or Friese,   b. 1879, Thorncreek Twp, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1879
     6. Infant Son Fries,   b. Abt 1879, Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1879, Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     7. Rosella Matilda Fries,   b. 19 Nov 1880, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Dec 1958
     8. Henry "Edward" Fries,   b. 28 Jan 1883, Thorncreek Township, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jun 1933, Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     9. Infant Daughter Fries Or Friese,   b. 1884, Thorncreek Twp, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1885, Thorncreek Twp, Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     10. Josephine Fries,   b. Abt 1884,   d. Abt 1885
     11. Cecila Josephine Fries,   b. 7 Dec 1884, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Jul 1964
     12. Clara Fries,   b. 7 Dec 1884, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Mar 1885, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     13. Mary Elizabeth Fries,   b. 5 May 1887, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Sep 1964
     14. Leo Joseph Fries,   b. 10 Jun 1893, , Whitley County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jul 1986, Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana Find all individuals with events at this location
    Photos
    Fries family home in Columbia City, Indiana    		Fries family home in Columbia City, Indiana
    Status: Located.
    The windmill at the Fries homestead-- Whitley County, Indiana    		The windmill at the Fries homestead-- Whitley County, Indiana
    Status: Located.
    The farmhouse at the Fries Homestead Ca. 1880    		The farmhouse at the Fries Homestead Ca. 1880
    Status: Located. This home was originally constructed by Frank Fries in the 1880's, and has continuously served the Fries family ever since.
    Catharine (Ulerich) Fries with her children    		Catharine (Ulerich) Fries with her children
    Status: Located.
    Family of Frank and Catharine Fries    		Family of Frank and Catharine Fries
    Status: Located.
    Catherine (Ulerich) Fries, son Henry Edward Fries, and daughter Rosella Matiilda (Fries) Regan.    		Catherine (Ulerich) Fries, son Henry Edward Fries, and daughter Rosella Matiilda (Fries) Regan.
    Status: Located. Photo appears to have been taken at the Fries home on Oak Street; although current photos of the home do not have the porch that is apparent in this photograph.
    Headstones
    Headstone of Francis X. and Catherine Fries    		Headstone of Francis X. and Catherine Fries
    Status: Located. Located in the Greenhills Cemetery, Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana
    Family ID  F73  Group Sheet
     
  • Photos
    Plaque naming Frank Fries as a Civil War veteran of Whitley County, Indiana.    		Plaque naming Frank Fries as a Civil War veteran of Whitley County, Indiana.
    Status: Located.
    Frank Friese--an early photograph    		Frank Friese--an early photograph
    Status: Located.
     
    Documents
    Obituary of Frank Friese From the Whitley County News    		Obituary of Frank Friese From the Whitley County News
    Status: Located.
    The obituary of Francis Havier Friese.    		The obituary of Francis Havier Friese.
    Status: Located.
    Birth record of Francis Xavier Fries, taken from French Archives.    		Birth record of Francis Xavier Fries, taken from French Archives.
     
    Histories
    The Obituary of Frank Friese From the Columbia City Post    		The Obituary of Frank Friese From the Columbia City Post
    Status: Located. Frank often spelled his name as Friese, while many of the family chose the abbreviated spelling of Fries. Other variations of the family surname also appear in public documents; likely because most name spelling was phonetic, with many persons in this era not fully literate in reading and writing.
    From 'The History of Whitley County'     		From "The History of Whitley County"
    This entry details the military service of Joseph Fries and Franklin Freese; both listed side by side in this document. The name Franklin Freese appears on the Civil War memorial in front of the courthouse; but it does not contain the name of Joseph Fries. Even with differing spellings of the Fries surname, after a thorough examination of many records it is believed that these two were brothers.

    There are conflicting records found in the Civil War records found on Ancestry.com; with one showing Joseph Fries was mustered out at the close of the civil war; and one record indicates he deserted. If he fought with General Sheridan against the indians after the Civil War, as stated in letter by Leo Joseph Fries, then it is unlikely that he was a deserter.

    Joseph also went on to be a constable in Illinois, before settling with his wife to an agrarian lifestyle in Marion, Indiana. A search of military burial records does not turn up an interment for Joseph in the Marion National Cemetery; although George Fries states he is buried there. Further research is warranted.
    Survivors of Company E, 17th Indiana Volunteers    		Survivors of Company E, 17th Indiana Volunteers
    Taken from "The History of Whitley County" the names of Joseph Fries and Franklin Freese are shown as survivors from Company E, 17th Indiana Volunteers. I is unlikely that Joseph would have attended the functions referenced had he been a deserter.
     
  • Notes 
    • Frank was a farmer, that also worked as a fireman and engineer on the Eel River Railroad. Source: Mary Lou Fries. Whitley County, Indiana-- Greenhill Cemetary records, Columbia City, Indiana establish date s of birth and death, and location of burial.
      ===
      Francis was known as “Frank” and while his middle name was Xavier, he chose to spell the name Havier so it would be more easily pronounced by Americans. Many documents spelled his surname as Freese as well.
      ===
      His so, Leo Joseph Fries, provided a letter just prior to his death stating the following: "As a mere boy, Francis started to work on the Ft. Wayne & Chicago RR work train. He got his job (illegible--hostleny?) the engine which was berthed in Columbia City. Here he learned to be an engineer. When the bankrupt Eel River [Railroad] was reorganized he hire don (as an engineer and firema)/ Je finished the grading filled the (illegible), laid the way and pulled trains from utler to Logansport till 1874 when me moved to the Fries Farm, Thorncreek Tp. He ran one of the first steam threshing outfits."

      He married Catherinne Ulrich 1871 (1850-1930). they had 16 children: Anne, Frankie and Clara died in infancy, Christena, Catherine (Kate), Rose, Henry, Edward, Josephine, Mary and Leo J.

      Catherine (Kate) married Frank Shilts (Jr.) Aug 1896. Three children: Herman Bernard (1897) Cecelia (1900) and Rosella (1906). Rosella married Noah Wolf.
      === [2]
     
  • Sources 
    1. [S261] 1900 Federal Census, Thorncreek Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

    2. [S265] Leo Joseph Fries.

    3. [S229] 1900 Federal Census.

    4. [S474] 1930 Federal Census--South Whitley, Whitley County, Indiana, USA.

    5. [S52]

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