Bio of Fred Sprick (b.1848 d.1920)Wabasha Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Martha J. Berryman Note: This Biography is taken from the book "History of Wabasha County" copyrighted 1920. Sprick - Fred Sprick, who died June 24, 1920, on his farm in section 30, Mt. Pleasant Township, was a good example of the value of industry and self-reliance, as through the possession of those qualities, together with patience, he rose from a condition of poverty to one of comparative affluence. He was born in Hanover, Germany, September 10, 1848, son of Gustav and Sophia Sprick. His early life up to the age of about 28 years was spent in his native land, where he attended school and subsequently became a farm hand. When he was 14 his mother died, and twelve years later the father, who was a brickmaker, followed his wife to the grave. In the meanwhile, in 1870, the subject of this sketch had assumed the responsibilities of domestic life, marrying Adeline Ehlers. In 1876, with the view of bettering his condition, he came with his wife and three children to the United States, landing in New York City, July 4, just 100 years after this country became a nation. Four days later he and his family arrived in Red Wing, Minnesota, whence they proceeded to Belvidere Township, Goodhue County. There Mr. Sprick found employment for a while at grubbing and general farm work, turning his hand to anything he could find to do, as he was very poor, the expenses of the journey having used up all of his funds. He and his family at first lived in a little shack, and when he had contrived to get a cow he had to cut a hole in the side of the bluff to shelter it, covering the entrance with hay and straw. He often walked five or six miles to and from his work and split rails and chopped wood for fifty cents a day. Two more children were born to him, and with the advent of the youngest child, Lydia, the mother took her flight to the spirit land. Mr. Sprick drowned his sorrow as well as he could in hard work, and made gradual progress to a more prosperous condition of life. In the fall of 1881 he went back to Germany where he found another wife, being married May 21, 1882, to Margaret Klein. With her and her parents he returned to the United States soon after his marriage, and continued to reside in Belvidere Township, Goodhue County until the fall of 1887. He then rented the Follett farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, Wabasha County, and was engaged in its operation until 1891. By that time he was becoming prosperous and attracting attention as a man bound to make his way in the world. His next move was to buy the farm on which he died, an improved farm of 160 acres in section 30, Mt. Pleasant Township. There was a fairly good house, but after he had lived in it a while it burned down, and he then erected the present residence, a good, two-story frame structure, substantial and commodious. Other improvements, which he added from time to time, and which now stand on the place, were a frame barn, 30 by 40 by 18 feet in dimensions; a horse barn, 30 by 76 by 16; a granary, 24 by 30 by 12, with a lean-to for tools, 16 by 30; a stave silo, garage, and ice- house, and another residence, 18 by 26, in which his wife's mother now lives, the father, Mr. Klein, having died about 1905. As a general farmer, stock raiser and dairyman, Mr. Sprick made good record, and continued at work until 1911, when he rented the farm to his son, John, and until his death he and his wife enjoyed a well-earned leisure. Though not a strong party man, he usually voted the Republican ticket, and he and his family were members of the Zumbro Falls M. E. Church, and widely known as useful and respected members of the community. Mr. Sprick was no advocate of race suicide, but, on the contrary, obeyed the scriptures command to "increase and multiply", having been the father of eighteen children, five by his first wife and thirteen by his second. All those by his first wife, except one, are now living. They were: Fred, a resident of Lake City; Metta, wife of Henry Luckow of Red Wing; Claus of Lake City; Minnie, now deceased, who was the wife of Albert Smith of Minneapolis; and Lydia, now Mrs. John Weick of Mt. Pleasant Township. The children by the second Mrs. Sprick have been as follows: Christopher, born June 9, 1883, who died January 13, 1895; Sophia, born October 10, 1884, who is the wife of John Heitman of Mt. Pleasant Township; Margaret, born April 2, 1886, who married Fred Holst of the State of Washington, and died January 31, 1913; John, born April 22, 1887, who is operating the home farm; Henry, born February 8, 1889, now a carpenter residing at home, who was in the World War, serving in France, and in Germany in the army of occupation, and who returned home June 22, 1919; Anna, now Mrs. John Fick of Zumbro Falls; Lillian, born August 15, 1892, who is the wife of Arthur Belmont, of Lake City; Raymond, born July 12, 1894, a farmer and engineer living in Mt. Pleasant Township, and who is married; Amanda, born May 14, 1896, now Mrs. Clarence Klenwood of Dumont, Minn.; Emma, born November 19, 1898, now Mrs. Harold O'Brien of Mt. Pleasant Township; Alfred, born January 6, 1901, who died April 10, 1903; Harry, born April 6, 1903, and Elda, born April 25, 1905, the last two mentioned residing at home. The fact that so few have died out of so large a family gives evidence of good stock on both sides, and it may be added that all the children were well brought up, the survivors reflecting credit on their parents. Note: This biography was taken from the book "History of Wabasha County" copyrighted 1920. -----