Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Freese, Edo R ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 5, 2008, 11:32 pm Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 EDO R. FREESE. The name of Edo R. Freese is an honored one in commercial circles in Monee, where he is engaged in general merchandising. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1845. Among those who left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front and are a credit alike to the land of their birth and of their adoption is Edo R. Freese. His father, R. E. Freese, also a native of Oldenburg, was a farmer by occupation. He came to the United States in 1854, settling near Manhattan, Illinois, upon a farm, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Monee and embarked in business, remaining here until his death, which occurred on the 28th of October, 1866, when he was forty-six years of age. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and was a democrat in his political views. He came to the new world empty-handed and at the time of his demise had acquired a comfortable competence. His wife, Helena Freese, was born in Germany and died February 23, 1883, in her seventy-ninth year. She was also a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. They were married at the place of their nativity and had two children, the younger being Frederika, the wife of Herman E. Harms, of Green Garden township, this county. By her former marriage to Christ Clausen, the mother had four children, of whom two are living: Catherine, the widow of Claus Hayen, who is living with Mrs. C. H. Harms in Green Garden township; and Mary, the wife of Charles Plagge, of Harvey, Illinois. Edo R. Freese spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farm until he accompanied his parents on their removal to Monee. He was a youth of nine years when the family crossed the Atlantic to the new world. After taking up his abode in the village he engaged in clerking in the store of F. H. Leuhr for two years, subsequent to which time he spent two years in a Chicago commission house. He was afterward baggage man for the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Monee for eleven years, and in 1877 he formed a partnership with George Sonneborn, opening a small store. This firm had a continuous existence of thirteen years, and in 1890 Mr. Freese sold out to his partner and began business alone as a general merchant. He has continued the enterprise with success, enlarging his stock to meet the growing demands of his trade, and he now has a well equipped store in which he is accorded a liberal patronage. He has been agent for the American Express Company since 1877 and his identification with the company dates from 1869. Mr. Freese is accorded a place of honor and trust in the regard of his fellowmen. At all times he has been a loyal and progressive citizen and in many ways has contributed to general progress and improvement. For many years he has been notary public and his advice is often sought by his neighbors on legal questions. He is frequently called upon to draw up legal papers and administer estates. He was appointed administrator of a large estate in Chicago, in which he gave a bond of eighty thousand dollars, and on another occasion he was made executor and gave a bond of fifty thousand dollars. Many estates in Will county have been settled by him and always without the loss of a single dollar. He owns a tract of land in Monee township in addition to his business in the village and is regarded as one of the most reliable and enterprising citizens of this part of the county. On the 18th of December, 1870, Mr. Freese was united in marriage to Miss Helena Fechtmann, who was born in Germany in 1847, and was brought to the United States by her parents, John and Magdalena Fechtmann, in 1850, the family home being established in Green Garden township, this county, whence they removed to Monee. Her father was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit in Monee. In his family were four children: Elmina; Christiana, deceased; Mrs. Freese; and Henrietta, the widow of Frank Kerskey, of Chicago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Freese have been born four children, as follows: John H., who is with his parents; Rheinhart M., a carrier on the rural mail route; and Anna and Frederika, both deceased. The parents are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and for many years Mr. Freese has been president of its board of trustees and in its work takes a most active and helpful part. He belongs to Peotone lodge, No. 636, A. F. & A. M.; to Monee lodge, No. 60, I. O. O. F.; and to Coon Grove camp, No. 1556, M. W. A. In politics he is a democrat, recognized as one of the stalwart champions of the party in his locality. He has served as school director for many years, has been town clerk seventeen years, village clerk for twenty-six years, justice of the peace for eight years, and was postmaster of Monee during President Cleveland's second administration. He was first elected supervisor of Monee township in the spring of 1902 and is now serving for the third term in that office. His public duties have ever been discharged in a most capable, prompt and efficient manner, and his value as a citizen is widely acknowledged, while in business circles he has made a most creditable and enviable record, winning an honorable name and a large measure of success. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/freese2487nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb