Fryslie, Fryslie, Orpha Jane (10 Apr 1869-9 Jul 1963), Clark County, Wisconsin History

----Sources: Benton Advocate 20 Dec 1907, 1905 Granton News (Granton, Clark Co., Wis.), Federal Census Records, 1905, Sept. 1 Granton News; Jesse E. Middleton, The Province of Ontario: a History: 1615-1927, published 1927

Orpha J Fryslie, a 36 year old (b. 1869) white female, was living in Neillsville, Wisconsin when the 1905 State Census (Household Identifier 63253502, Line # 31, Pg # 359) was recorded. She was born in Illinois and was the head of the household which included two daughters, thirteen year old Kjersty, who was named for her father's mother, and nine year old Selma. Both of them were born in Wisconsin. Twenty-four year old Maggie Turner also lived with the family doing domestic work for them. She too was born in the Badger state. Orpha worked in a restaurant as did her next door neighbor, Solomon Johnson (56 yrs. old) who had a sixteen year old daughter named Hollie. On the other side of their residence was the home of a local dentist, James Brooks, who was born in Michigan and was 34yrs. old

By the early 1900's Neillsville, Wisconsin had become an inviting place to live and do business. Orpha Fryslie was not yet forty years old. Pete and their son , "Andy" were hoping to "strike it rich" mining gold in Teller county, Colorado. The women were

was a hard-working mother who had the primary responsibility of seeing to the needs of the boarders who lodged in her Neillsville hotel. Keep

In December, 1907, Christmas lights had been strung along Hewett Street and trees were decorated inside homes with colorfully wrapped gifts placed beneath them. The church choirs were delivering the memories of our savior and no one was expecting a storm to hit. But one struck the Fryslie rooming house. It was not caused by wind or snow but resulted from a harsh blast of fear and anger. Fifteen year old Kjersty Fryslie felt the unwelcome aggression of a 28 yr. old mmigrate from Aalborg, Denmark--Fritz Thedesen. Only by the grace of God was she freed from his possessive grasp when a local boy was able to stop this 5 1/2 ft. tall, blue-eyed, blonde haired, heavy set pedophile in the midst of his attack. A group of enraged citizens were ready to lynch the wretched grinch, but Orpha's heart would not have it. She convinced the mob to let the law take its course and they reluctantly backed off in honor of her pleas. When the incident was reported in the newspaper, Kjersty's mother was credited with actually saving the life of her daughter's attacker. Instead of being hung in the Neillsville town square, a jury found him guilty and he became an inmate in the State Prison in Waupun, Wisconsin where he was put to work in the Knitting Mill. He would not be forcing himself on yet another innocent victim. After serving his term, he, he did not return to Clark County.

It took some time for Pete to hear what had happened to his precious daughter. He was no longer farming in Hewett Township, Clark Co., Wisconsin. Instead, he and their son Andy were working deep in the gold mine at Coney's Gultch in Teller Co., Colorado when everything went down. It was only his girls that had stayed behind to run the rooming house in Neillsville. In a likely effort to kill the past, they moved on to a new home in Aurora, Wisconsin and began a renewed life in a rather remote area and some anonymity.

It was there, in Taylor county, close to both the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Canadian border, that Alexander Cameron first met Kjersty . He had come to the United states with his parents when he was five years old and was working in the saw mill and staying at the Fryslie's new boarding house. They were married in Eau Claire, Wisconsin 29 Dec 1910 and became the parents of two sons born two years apart, Roscoe Alexander Cameron, (14 May 1911 in Benton Co., MN–21 Mar 1965 in Alameda, CA) and Mathias Perry Cameron (20 May 1913 in Wisconsin–25 Sep 1981 in Alameda, CA). Sadly 3 Oct 1927 their marriage ended in divorce.

When the 1950 Census was taken, he was renting a room in the home of Walter and Fanny Cater in Washington D.C. He'd apparently married somewhere along the line as he was listed as a 70 yr. old widower. That same year, when Orpha was eighty-one, she was living with her son, Andy, in Richmond, California. July 9th, 1963, Orpha's life work ended. She would not live through yet another season tainted with the memories of that past Christmas. She had out-lived her husband and all three of her children. It was time for her too to go stage left and await the resurrection and celebration of life.

Andrew Fryslie Male 62 1808 Norway White Head
Christie (Kjersty) Fryslie Female 47 1823 Norway White
Ole Fryslie Male 17 1853 Wisconsin White
Hans Fryslie Male 13 1857 Wisconsin White
Inger Fryslie Female 14 1856 Wisconsin White
Antone Fryslie Male 11 1859 Wisconsin White
Peter Fryslie Male 8 1862 Wisconsin White
Caroline Fryslie Female 7 1863 Wisconsin White
Barnt Fryslie Male 5 1865 Wisconsin White
Isabel Fryslie Female 80 1790 Norway White

Andrew Fryslie Male 61 1819 Norway Married Farmer White Self Head Norway Norway
Kjersty Fryslie Female 57 1823 Norway Married Keeping House White Wife Wife Norway Norway
Ole Fryslie (Bio Available) Male 26 1854 Wisconsin, United States Single Farmer White Son Son Norway Norway
Inger Fryslie Female 24 1856 Wisconsin, United States Single White Daughter Daughter Norway Norway
Hans Fryslie Male 23 1857 Wisconsin, United States Widowed Farmer White Son Son Norway Norway
Anton Fryslie Male 20 1860 Wisconsin, United States Single Farmer White Son Son Norway Norway
Peter Fryslie Male 18 1862 Wisconsin, United States Single Works On Farm White Son Son Norway Norway
Carolina Fryslie Female 17 1863 Wisconsin, United States Single White Daughter Daughter Norway Norway
Bernt Fryslie Male 15 1865 Wisconsin, United States Single Works On Farm White Son Son Norway Norway

Peter Fryslie--Birthplace United States
Number of White Females 2
Number of White Males 2

Peter A. Fryslie, a white American male of Jordan, Green, Wis, son of Andreas Fryslie & Kjersti Gjerdal
Spouse's Name Sophia Jane Rhoades of Monroe, Green, Wis. (white American female), daughter of Perry M. Rhoodes and Julia Trickle

1895 Wisconsin State Census Hewett Twp., Clark Co.--Peter Fryslie, 2 White males & 2 white females

Orpha Fryslie Female 31 Married White 3 Head Head 3 A 7 11 Apr 1869 Wisconsin 1889 Iowa Wisconsin, Boarding House Keeper
Selma Fryslie Female 4 Single White Daughter Daughter A 7 Apr 1896 Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin
Oliver Rhodes Male 22 Single White Brother Brother A 7 Aug 1878 Wisconsin Iowa Wisconsin, Farm Labor
Christina Sieg Female 28 Single White Servant A 7 Apr 1872 Wisconsin Germany Germany, Servant
David Cohen Male 27 Single White Boarder A 7 Feb 1873 Russia 1890 Russia Russia, Saloon Keeper
Joseph Kousella Male 23 Single White Boarder A 7 Mar 1877 Germany 1881 Germany Germany
Thomas Smith Male 24 Single White Boarder A 7 Feb 1876 Mississippi South Carolina Mississippi, Telegraph Operator
Dr. Frank Gunn Male 30 Single White Boarder A 7 Sep 1870 Wisconsin Ireland Canada Eng, physician

1900 Federal Census, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., Wisconsin, 224 Oak St., June 8

Daniel (Duncan) Cameron Male 38 Married White Head Head B 10 16 Oct 1862 (Glengarry, Iverness-shire) Scotland 1884 1891 Scotland Scotland, watchman
Martha Cameron Female 35 Married White 8 Wife Wife 8 B 10 16 Jul 1865 (Ontario) Canada 1884 1891 England England
John Cameron Male 15 Single White Son Son B 10 May 1885 Canada Scotland Canada, employee of the furniture factory
Maggie Cameron Female 13 Single White Daughter Daughter B 10 May 1887 Canada Scotland Canada, at school
Samuel Cameron Male 11 Single White Son Son B 10 Apr 1889 Canada Scotland Canada, at school
Frederick Cameron Male 9 Single White Son Son B 10 Apr 1891 Canada Scotland Canada, at school
William Cameron Male 7 Single White Son Son B 10 Jan 1893 Wisconsin Scotland Canada, at school
Albert Cameron Male 6 Single White Son Son B 10 Nov 1894 Wisconsin Scotland Canada, at home
Herbert Cameron Male 4 Single White Son Son B 10 Jan 1896 Wisconsin Scotland Canada
Minnie Cameron Female 0 Single White Daughter Daughter B 10 May 1900 Wisconsin

1891 Canada Census, Province Ontario, District Number 56, District Cornwall and Stormont, Sub-District Finch

Opened in 1823. The first actual settler was a squatter, Angus McLaren, who came to the township about 1820. A large landholder was Hon. Duncan Cameron. (1808-1888) Fenelon Falls was at first called Cameron’s Falls. In 1841 James Wallis and Robert Jamieson built a grist mill, and in 1850 Mr. Wallis opened the first store.
Jesse E. Middleton, The Province of Ontario, published 1927

Alexander Cameron, Age 2 (1889), male, Son
Birthplace Ontario
Marital Status Single
Religion Free Church

Orpha J Fryslie Female 36 (Abt 1869) Wisconsin Married White Head Head Illinois Wisconsin, Restaurant
Maggie Turner Female 24 (1881) Wisconsin Single White Employee
Chestra (Kjersty) Fryslie 13y (b. 1892), Single White born in Wisconsin
Selma Fryslie 9y (1896)

1904 That lunch counters are on the increase in the city is shown by the fact that we now have two such establishments, Solomen Jaseph’s and Mrs. Fryslie’s, both are doing good business.

1905 Mrs. Barney Rhoades of Merrillan accompanied by Mr. Rhodes and his daughter Miss Myrtle, spent Sunday with Mrs. Fryslie. Friday, Sept. 1 Granton News

1905 Granton News (Granton, Clark Co., Wis.), 8 Sep 1905
Mrs. O. J. Fryslie attended the Street Fair in Fairchild a couple of days the rear of last week.

1906 Mrs. Fryslie has sold out her restaurant to Sherman Gress, who is now in possession. He expects to make several improvements and his mother will soon come here and help him, so that it will be a good restaurant. Mrs. Fryslie has gone to Phillips, Wisconsin where she also has a restaurant.

Orpha J Fryslie Female 41 1869 Wisconsin Divorced White Head Head Illinois Wisconsin, Hotel Keeper / owned by her
Chresty J Fryslie Female 17 1893 Wisconsin Single White Daughter Daughter Wisconsin Wisconsin
Selma J Fryslie Female 14 1896 Wisconsin Single White Daughter Daughter Wisconsin Wisconsin
Wiliam Polley Male 23 1887 Wisconsin Divorced White Roomer Canada Wisconsin, does odd jobs
Alexander Cameron Male 21 1889 Canada Single White Roomer Canada Canada, works in the saw mill, naturalized 1894.

Mattie Hill Female 39 1871 Kentucky Widowed Black Head Head Kentucky Kentucky
Raymond Hill Male 7 1903 Colorado Single Mulatto Son Son Missouri Kentucky
Henery M Bobb Male 36 1874 Ohio Single White Head Head Ohio Ohio
Hugh Scott Male 75 1835 Ohio Widowed White Head Head Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
Peter A Fryslie Male 38 1872 Wisconsin Married White Head Head Norway Norway
Andrew P Fryslie Male 19 1891 Wisconsin Single White Son Son Wisconsin California
Jacob C Miller Male 50 1860 Indiana Married White Head Head Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
Mary E Miller Female 45 1865 Indiana Married White Wife Wife Maryland Pennsylvania
Reinhold Brandt Male 68 1842 Germany Married White Head Head Germany Germany
Eliazebeth Brandt Female 67 1843 Germany Married White Wife Wife Germany Germany
Samuel Roberson Male 37 1873 Indiana Married Black Head Head Tennessee Tennessee
Hellen Roberson Female 38 1872 Iowa Married Mulatto Wife Wife Iowa Wisconsin
Peter Fraser Male 54 1856 Canada Married White Head Head Scotland Scotland
Annie Fraser Female 47 1863 Austria Married White Wife Wife Austria Austria
Josphine D Fraser Female 11 1899 Colorado Single White Daughter Daughter Canada Austria
Joseph Grenahauser Male 74 1836 Germany Widowed White Head Head Germany Germany
Joseph G Long Male 34 1876 Utah Married White Head Head Pennsylvania Illinois
Alice M Long Female 30 1880 Colorado Married White Wife Wife England England
Ernest C Long Male 5 1905 Colorado Single White Son Son Utah Colorado
Joseph G Long Jr. Male 3 1907 Colorado Single White Son Son Utah Colorado

Mrs Orpha J Fryslie; Occupation: Restaurant
Residence Year: 1914
Residence Place: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

Mrs Orpha J Fryslie; Occupation: Restaurant
Residence Year: 1916
Residence Place: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

1928 Chesty Cameron (Clara)
Street Address: 11 Fox
Residence Place: Denver, Colorado, USA

Chesty J Cameron--Spouse: Alex Cameron
Residence Year: 1934
Street Address: 11 Fox

1937 Orpha J Fryslie--Widow of Peter Fryslie
Street Address: 305 San Pablo av El Cer
Occupation: Restaurant, Richmond, California, USA

Household: Peter A Fryslie 58 (1862) Head (Prospector with mining Co., Carpenter); Orpha Fryslie 51 Wife (merchant-retail grocery store); Selma Fryslie 23 Daughter; Roscoe Cameron 8 Grandchild; Matthias Cameron 6 Grandson.

1920 Selma J Fryslie & Orpha were Living in Duluth, Minnesota, City Directory

Publication Title: Denver, Colorado, City Directory
1921 Both Selma J Fryslie & Orpha were Living in Denver, Colorado, USA at 11 Fox
Selma was employed as a Waitress

1940 Federal Census, Denver, Denver, Colorado, Fox Street, House #11, Sheet 8A, 157th Household Visited
Mathias P Cameron [Mathias P Cameson]
26 Year old male, white, married b. WI

Lived in the same rented home in 1935
Occupation: Route Foreman
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: $25
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 42; Duration of Unemployment: 0
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work; Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 1800- no other income sources
Wife: Corine H Cameron 24

1950 Federal Census, San Pablo, Contra Costa, California, 10 Apr 1950, Enumeration District 7-121, Pg. # 4, Line Number 18

Head: Orpha J Fryslie, 81 yr. old (1869) widowed female born in WI
Son: Andrew P Fryslie, 59 yr. old divorced white male (1891), born in WI

Married: 01 Sep 1889 in Jordan, Green, Wisconsin, United States
Wife: Orpha Jane Rhoades: (10 Apr 1869 in Monroe, Green Co., WI-9 Jul 1963 in Contra Costa, CA)
Children: Andrew Perry Fryslie (26 January 1891-10 March 1953 in San Bernardino, CA) in San Bernardino, Calif.; Kjersty J. Fryslie (1 September 1892-? in Wisc.); Selma J. Fryslie (24 April 1896) in Wisc.

Kjersty Fryslie (1892-?) married Alexander Cameron (1889-?) who served during WWII with . Their two sons were: Roscoe Alexander Cameron, (14 May 1911 in Benton Co., MN–21 Mar 1965 in Alameda, CA) and Mathias Perry Cameron (20 May 1913 in WI–25 Sep 1981 in Alameda, CA)

Alexander Cameron, 28 yrs. old, living at 308 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire, Wis. who was born in

Foxmead, Severn, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, 3 Apr 1889. He was of medium height with dark brown hair

and blue/green eyes with no obvious physical deformities. He was a naturalized citizen through his parent.

(Born a French Canadian, he came to America in 1894 when he was five years old.)

He was employed by the Minn. Steel Co., Morgan Park, Duluth, MN and was a fireman as well. His

dependents included a wife and two children under the age of twelve. Recorded 5 Jun 1917.

----Source: Vital California Death Index 1940-1997

Orpha J Fryslie was born 10 Apr 1869 and died 9 Jul 1963 in Contra Costa, CA.

William Dillon Male 39 1871 Wisconsin Married White Prisoner Ireland Ireland B 2
Fritz (Frets) Thedsen Male 31 1879 Denmark Single White Prisoner Denmark Denmark B 2, wage earner in the "Knitting Mill".
Martha Timmerman Female 39 1871 Wisconsin Divorced White Prisoner Germany Germany B 2
George Egan Male 21 1889 Texas Single White Prisoner Ireland Mexico B 2
Fred Hart Male 24 1886 Wisconsin Single White Prisoner England United States B 2
Frank Mayer Male 38 1872 Germany Divorced White Prisoner Germany Germany B 2
William Winlock Male 33 1877 Mississippi Divorced Black Prisoner Kentucky Georgia B 2
John S Johnson Male 37 1873 Tennessee Divorced White Prisoner Tennessee Tennessee B 2

Frets / Fritz Laurist Thedsen was born in Aalborg Denmark 7 July 1879 and was living at 819 5th St. NW. in Washington D. C.

He stood 5 ft., 6 inches tall and weighed 185 lbs. He had a "Ruddy" complexion, blue eyes and black hair without any apparent deformities.

1950 Federal Census, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA, G St. N. W., Dwelling # 3

Name: Frits Thedsen, white male, Age: 70, citizen rooming in the Walter L. Cater Home
Birth Place: Denmark, Widowed
Household: Walter L Cater and his 40 yr. old wife, Fanny Pauline Cater, their ten yr. old son Leroy Mack Cater; three yr. old, Kenneth

Clyde Cater, 2 yr. old daughter, Fanny Pauline Cater and thier youngest, a thirteen year old step daughter, Lillie Lulu Cook. Other

roomers at the time were: John H. Devers (69 yrs. old); William Lindsey Lemley (59 yrs. old); and Joseph Shepleng (61 yrs. old), Ida Spicer (38 yrs. old)

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