Herman Frier Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1333-1334 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HERMAN FRIER, a well-known citizen of Irene, now living a retired 
life, is a native of the fatherland, born in Prussia, Germany, January 
2, 1830, and is a son of William and Caroline (Gunter) Frier, who were 
life-long residents of Prussia. They had but two children and the 
younger, William, never came to the United States, but died in Germany. 

	Herman Frier was reared and educated in his native land and 
continued to make his home there until 1854, when he crossed the ocean 
and settled in Wisconsin, making his home in that state until 1870. In 
the meantime he was married, in 1857, to Miss Julia A. Wheeler, a 
daughter of John B. and Minnie (Hittenrod) Wheeler, who were natives of 
Saxony, Germany, and came to the United States in 1851, their remaining 
days being spent in Wisconsin. By occupation Mr. Wheeler was both a 
farmer and shoemaker. His children were John, Frank, Herman, Joseph, 
Sana, Eliza, Mary, Minnie and Julia. Eleven children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Frier, namely: Charles F., who is now quite well-to-do and 
lives in Wisconsin; Mary, deceased; Sarah, wife of William Patrick, of 
Kansas; Emma; Louis W. and Anna R., both deceased; Delia M.; Matilda I.; 
George H., who is running a dray line in Irene; Joseph A.; Arthur E., 
who is operating the home farm for his father; and Florence J., 
deceased. 

	Before leaving Germany Mr. Frier had learned the miller's trade, 
which he followed for many years after coming to this country, and he 
repaired and put in operation a number of mills in South Dakota, having 
removed to Riverside township, Clay county, in 1870. Later he was 
engaged in milling in Lodi for nine years. He secured one hundred and 
sixty acres of government land in Clay county, while he greatly 
improved, setting out trees and erecting a good brick residence and a 
barn at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. He was one of the first 
settlers of that locality, the Indians being still quite numerous when 
he took up his residence there. His family then numbered a wife and five 
children, and his possessions consisted of one team of horses and a cow, 
but he steadily set to work to improve his fortunes and success 
attending his effort he is now able to lay aside all business cares and 
live retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil. 

	When his adopted country became involved in civil war Mr. Frier 
offered his services to the government, enlisting in 1863 in Company D, 
Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This regiment reinforced the 
Red river expedition and took part in the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi. 
It then marched through Arkansas to Little Rock, and on to Missouri in 
pursuit of General Price, taking part in the engagement at Waynesburg. 
From there they went to St. Louis and proceeded thence to Nashville, 
where they were engaged in battle. Later they went to New Orleans and 
assisted in the capture of Spanish Fort, after which they proceeded to 
Montgomery, Alabama. While stationed in that city peace was declared and 
the news came of President Lincoln's assassination. Mr. Frier was 
confined in the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, for some time, and at 
the close of the war received an honorable discharge and returned home. 
He is a staunch supporter of the Republican party and its principles and 
while residing in Clay county, South Dakota, he took quite an active 
part in public affairs, now serving his third term as alderman of Irene, 
as assessor of his township, and as school director for thirty years. He 
belongs to no church, being a freethinker, but his life has been upright 
and honorable in all respects and no man in the community stands in 
higher regard than Herman Frier.