John Fridrich Biography


	This biography appears on pages 337-338 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN FRIDRICH. 

	John Fridrich, a well known and successful farmer of Cleveland 
precinct, Bon Homme county, was born in the village of Zamnel, Cech, a 
son of John and Anna (Novotne) Fridrich, the latter of whom died in 
Cech. The former came to America in his old age and filed on a 
homestead west of Tabor, which, however, he was not permitted to enjoy 
long, as he died a few years after coming to the United States. 

	John Fridrich of this review remained in his native village 
attending school and learning the blacksmith trade until he was 
nineteen years of age and then embarked at Bremen for the new world, 
taking passage in a full rigged sailing vessel. After a stormy voyage 
of seven weeks he landed at New York, but almost immediately made his 
way across the country to Iowa, where for two years he was employed at 
blacksmithing in a German colony at Homestead, Iowa county. He then 
came to Dakota territory and secured a quarter section of land three 
miles west of Tabor, this state. He bought additional land from time to 
time and after residing upon that farm for eighteen years sold and 
purchased his present home on section 11, Cleveland precinct, Bon Homme 
county, to which he has added until his holdings aggregate almost 
eleven hundred acres. His land is naturally fertile and is kept in a 
high state of cultivation so that it is but natural that his crops are 
excellent. In 1893 he erected a large brick house and the other 
buildings on the farm are also substantial and commodious. He has one 
of the largest and best basement barns in his Dart of the state and 
numerous cribs, granaries and other outbuildings. On each quarter 
section he has planted lines of trees which now furnish fuel for the 
household and make a grateful shade in summer. 

	Mr. Fridrich was married in Bon Homme county to Miss Annie 
Dvoracek, and they have eight sons and four daughters, August, John, 
Clarence, Edward, Henry, Joseph, Leo, Arthur, Bessie, Mollie, Hettie 
and Emma. Mr. Fridrich was reared in the Catholic church, is a member 
of the C. S. P. S. and in politics supports the democratic party. He 
will never forget his experience in the blizzard on the 12th of 
January, 1888. He had witnessed a similar, but less severe, storm early 
in March, 1870, and when in 1888 the cloud of frozen mist moved down 
upon the country he knew what to expect. Hurrying out, accompanied by a 
faithful dog, he drove his cattle and horses to the barnyard, leaving 
them there to find shelter for themselves. He then went with the wind 
to the southeast corner of his farm where the district school was 
situated and warned the teacher to keep the children in the schoolhouse 
through the night, promising to return if possible with food. On the 
way back to the house he became bewildered and wandered around for 
quite a while before he heard the wind whipping the trees of the grove 
and followed the sound, finding to his joy that it was his own grove. 
He then felt his way along fences to the barnyard, saw that his stock 
was housed and fed and then went to the house and waited for his wife 
to prepare an abundant luncheon for the teacher and school children. 
Without telling her of having been lost, knowing that if he did so that 
she would object to his going out again, he started for the 
schoolhouse. Again he drifted with the wind and reached the schoolhouse 
in safety. However, feeding the children was not the only problem, as 
they must be kept awake, which was something of a task, as the cold was 
intense and benumbing. All during the night he kept a roaring fire, 
while the teacher kept the children interested in games and all passed 
through the night safely and reached their homes in the morning. There 
were many experiences in pioneer days that tried the mettle of men and 
women, but the courage and determination of the early settlers were 
equal to all emergencies and as a result of those early years of 
struggle foundations for a great state were laid and the present 
development of South Dakota made possible.