Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Retire W. FREES

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Submitted by Kathy Grace, <gendiva@charter.net> August 2005

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Daily Northwestern January 8, 1895 p.4

Death of R.W. Frees

An Old Resident of the County Carried Off by Softening of the Brain

Retire W. Frees, an old resident of the county, died at the Northern
hospital this morning after an extended illness.  About a year ago the
deceased was taken with softening of the brain which gradually developed
until four months ago, when he was removed to the hospital.  His death has
been expected for several days.

Retire W. Frees was born in La Grange Penobscot county, Maine, Feb. 18,
1818.  He attended the common schools of La Grange and also the High school
and academy of Orono, and at the age of nineteen, commenced teaching
school.  In 1850 he was married to Miss Clara J. Chapman of Old Town,
Maine, who still survives him.  Nine children were the result of this
union, seven of whom are still living.  In 1877, Mr. Frees, with his family
moved to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Utica, where deceased was one
of the early school teachers.  At the breaking out of the war he enlisted
in the Thirty-second Wisconsin regiment and experienced nearly four years
of active service.  He was orderly sergeant of Co. D.  He organized the
Tical Fire Insurance company, the first company of its kind in the state,
and was one of its officers for a number of years.  In 1874, upon the
election of Governor Taylor, deceased was appointed state timber agent,
which position he held during Mr. Taylor's administration.  After leaving
the employ of the state he became connected with the wholesale school book
house of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., of Cincinnati, traveling for them a
number of years.  He afterwards settled down to farm life in the town of
Utica, where he lived until 1888, when with his family he moved to Oshkosh.
Mr. Frees was nominated by the Democrats of the county at different times
for prominent offices, having run for county superintendent of schools and
county clerk, but at times when the county was strongly Republican and was
defeated with the remainder of the ticket.

The funeral will be held from the family residence, 193 Jefferson avenue,
Thursday A.M. at ten o'clock.  The interment will take place at Pickett's
cemetery.  John W. Scott Post No. 241, of which the deceased was a member
will attend in a body.