William was born 17 Feb 1820, in Diepholz, Ger., the son of Christopher and Christina (Nolte) Fricke, both natives of Germany. William was a soldier in the German Revolution (1848-49), having fought against the king in favor of a republic. When that effort failed, he with others, took passage on a ship to the USA. Stopping first in Milwaukee, in the fall of 1849, Mr. Fricke worked at the shoemaker's trade until the summer of 1850, and then moving to Newburg, WI to work at his trade until 1855. His marriage to Eva took place 9 Aug 1852. She was born 15 Mar 1830, the daughter of Gotfried and Justine (Dobig) Fretsche. Three years later they moved to Waco, TX , but returned to Newburg 2 yrs. later. During the Civil War, he served as a Corp. with Co. B, 3rd Wis., Inf., having enlisted 20 Aug 1864 for 3 yrs. of service as a substitute. At that time, he was 24 yrs. old, 5', 7" tall, had a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Because of the close of the war, he was mustered out, 18 Jul 1865 at Madison, WI. In 1876, he settled his family on 80 acres in sec. 26, Eaton Twp., Clark Co., WI. The Frickes had 12 children, but only 10 lived to adulthood: Ida, Minnie, Oscar, Emma, William, Matilda, Louise, Bertha, Robert who died at the age of 24 in Milwaukee, and Otto who died 15 Apr 1880 when he was 20 yrs. old. Politically, William was a Democrat and twice he was a member of the Town Board and also served on the School Board for several years. The village of Greenwood was incorporated as a city 2 Apr 1891 and when the first election was held, William and another Civil War Veteran, Robert McCalvy, were the Ballot Clerks. Eva died 9 Jul 1901and William died 17 Feb 1897. Both of them are buried in the Greenwood City Cemetery.

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 347

WILLIAM C. FRICKE, of section 26, Eaton Township, Clark County, was born in Hanover, Germany, in the town of Diepholz, February 17, 1820, the son of Christopher (deceased) and Christina (Nolte) Fricke, both natives of Diepholz. They were the parents of five children: William, Henry, Frederick (the tow latter reside in Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa), and Elizabeth, deceased. One son also died in childhood.

William C., our subject, was a soldier in the German revolution in 1848- 49, having fought against the king. He was in favor of a republic, and when he saw they had failed, he, with others, took passage on a ship for the United States. Stopping first in Milwaukee, in the fall of 1849, Mr. Fricke worked at the shoemaker's trade until the summer of 1850, when he removed to Newburg, Washington County, Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade until 1855. In that year he went to Waco, Texas, remaining until 1857, and then returned to Newburg, where he worked at his trade until 1876. He then came to this county, and settled on his present farm of eighty acres, sixty of which is cleared.

Mr. Fricke was married August 9. 1852, to Eva Fretsche, daughter of Gotfried (deceased) and Justine (Dobig) Fretsche, both natives of Saxony, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Fricke have had twelve children, eight of whom still survive: Ida, Minnie, Oscar, Emma, William, Matilda, Louise and Bertha. One son, Robert, died in Milwaukee May 1, 1880, at the age of twenty-four years. He was one of the best telegraph operators in that city. Another son, Otto, died April 15, 1880, at the age of twenty years. Mr. Fricke was brought up in the Lutheran Church, but is not now identified with any church. He has been a member of the Town Board twice, and also of the School Board several years. Politically he is a Democrat.

William died February 17, 1897 and Eva died July 9, 1901. Both of them are buried in the Greenwood City Cemetery.

A BIT OF PIONEER HISTORY

Clark County, Wisconsin

Oscar Fricke Remembers Things

The reporter found Oscar Fricke and his good wife sorting over old relics and packing some for removal to the new home on Court St. Evidently Oscar was in just the right mood to think of other days after the momentum was gained. “Gosh, I don’t know when a fellow is interviewed he cant think of anything.” Oscar leaned back in the rocker and covered his eyes with his hand in his characteristic way. But he went on “Our folks settled on the 26 road in the fall of “76. I was a youngster of thirteen then. You know I always believed in a Xmas tree and my folks had one every year without exception and we keep it up even to now. I believe thoroughly in Xmas trees for children and looked forward with great joy to each coming festival. My father was a shoemaker and the best present I ever got was a pair of red -topped boots and a pair of skates to go with them. It is very fresh in my mind today” At this moment Oscar paused for a moment and a lady on the other side of the room interrupted “Yes, and the happiest Xmas present you ever had was the year before we were married when you made me a present of a beautiful white fascinator which was all the go then.” Fearful that other things might leak out our friend rambled on “I had some Christmases that were not so happy. One Xmas I worked all day in Miller Bros. camp. This was back of Harry Mead’s old farm. We did not have any fat goose for dinner either. One time we went into camp on New Year’s day. There was a whole crew of us. We went up for Jake Huntzicker and started from his farm. We had our dinner at Withee and started on. We got within four miles of camp and to a place where the road left off and the swamp began. It was a big tamarack swamp and we took a couple of yokes of oxen and ten or twelve men for leaders and broke the road. We finally reached a set of old logging shanties which had been abandoned. They were without doors and windows and this is where we camped for the night. I remember the New Year’s supper which consisted of boiled frozen potatoes and some fried pork. The next morning it was reported to us that it had been 46 degrees below zero. You might well imagine that we did not have a very comfortable night of it. George! We were cold that night” and Oscar leaned back and twisted the stray locks and sighed.

Census Records

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: William Fricke    Age in 1860:40     Birth Year: abt 1820     Birthplace: Hanover
Home in 1860: Trenton, Washington, Wisconsin    Post Office: Newburg
   Household Members: Name Age
            William Fricke   40
            Eva Fricke         29
            Ida Fricke          7
            Robert Fricke     3
            Minna Fricke     2
            Otto Fricke        1

1860 U. S. Federal Census - Trenton, Washington County, Wisconsin
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Marital	Nativity	F-Nativity	M-Nativity	Occupation
Fricke, William	head	m	w	40	m	Hanover			shoemaker of boots
Fricke, Eva	wife	f	w	29	m	Oldenburg
Fricke, Tela	daughter	f	w	7	s	Wisconsin
Fricke, Robert	son	m	w	3	s	Texas
Fricke, Minna	daughter	f	w	2	s	Wisconsin
Fricke, Otto	son	m	w	1	s	Wisconsin

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: William Kreke    Estimated Birth Year: abt 1820    Age in 1870: 50
Birthplace: Hannover / Hanover
Home in 1870: Trenton, Washington, Wisconsin    Post Office: Kewaskum
   Household Members:  Name Age
            William Kreke    50 Hanover       Shoemaker        1500   300
            Eva Kreke         42 Saxonia      Keeping House
            Ida Kreke          17 WI
            Robert Kreke     15
            Mina Kreke        13
            Otto Kreke        11
            Oscar Kreke      8
            Emma Kreke     5
            William Kreke    3
            Mathilda Kreke 1

next family

Gottfried Fretsche 72 Saxonia Farmer 800 125

Augusta Fretsche 63 Saxonia Keeping House

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: William Fricke    Age: 60    Estimated Birth Year: abt 1820
Birthplace: Hanover    Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Asshar

Father's birthplace: Hanover    Mother's birthplace: Hanover    Occupation: Farmer
Home in 1880: Eaton, Clark, Wisconsin
   Household Members:  Name Age
            William Fricke 60 Hanover-Hanover-Hanover      Farmer
            Asshar Fricke    50 Saxony-Saxony-Saxony        Keeping House
            Minnie Fricke     22 WI-Hanover-Saxony              At Home
            Oscar Fricke     17 "                                              "
            Emma Fricke     15 "                                             "
            William Fricke 13 "                                         At School
            Matilda Fricke    11 "                                            "
            Louisa Fricke     9 "
            Bertha Fricke     6 "

1880 Federal Census--Eaton, Clark, WI
Name	Relation	S/M/D/W	Sex	Race	Age	Nativity	Occupation	F-Nativity	M-Nativity
William Fricke	Self	M	Male	W	60	Hanover	Farmer	Hanover	Hanover
Asshar Fricke	Wife	M	Female	W	50	Saxony	Keeping House	Saxony	Saxony
Minnie Fricke	Daughter		Female	W	22	Wisconsin	At Home	Hanover	Saxony
Oscar Fricke	Son		Male	W	17	Wisconsin	At Home	Hanover	Saxony
Emma Fricke	Daughter		Female	W	15	Wisconsin	At Home	Hanover	Saxony
William Fricke	Son	S	Male	W	13	Wisconsin	At School	Hanover	Saxony
Matilda Fricke	Daughter	S	Female	W	11	Wisconsin	At School	Hanover	Saxony
Louisa Fricke	Daughter	S	Female	W	9	Wisconsin		Hanover	Saxony
Bertha Fricke	Daughter	S	Female	W	6	Wisconsin		Hanover	Saxony

1855 Wisconsin Census
Name: William Freick    State: WI    County: Washington County    Township: Trenton

1895 Wisconsin State Census
Name: Wm Fricke    Residence County: Clark    Locality: Eaton
Line: 14    Roll: v226_10
Household Members: 1 male, 4 female; 3 US born, 2 German

1895 Wisconsin State Census
Name: Wm Fricke Junior Residence County: Clark Locality: Eaton
Line: 24 Roll: v226_10
Household Members: 1 male 1 female; 2 US born

1895 Wisconsin State Census
Name: Oscar Fricke Residence County: Clark Locality: Greenwood
Line: 21 Roll: v226_10
Household Members: 1 male, 1 female; 2 US born

24 yrs. old, 5', 7" tall, dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. 20 Aug 1864 for 3 yrs.

Fricke, William--Union Infantry, Co. B, 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry. Muster Roll [1] [2] [3]

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: William Fricke    Side: Union    Regiment State/Origin: Wisconsin
Regiment Name: 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry        COMPANY: B
Rank In: Private    Rank Out: Corporal    Film Number: M559 roll 10

William C. Fricke is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."