Washington Co. Pioneer Dead

Henry Frahm Passes Away At Calhoun

Henry Frahm, a highly respected pioneer settler, adjoining the Fort Calhoun town site, passed peacefully away on last Monday afternoon.

He had lived far beyond the allotted span of life, being 88 years of age when death claimed him for its own.

Henry Frahm was a sterling character, possessed many qualities that distinguished him from ordinary men. In the days when the writer first made his acquaintance, upwards of two score years ago he was, by common consent, accorded the distinction of being the most methodical, successful farmer in Washington County. And, this reputation he maintained during all of his active farm operations. He located, on the place where he died, in 1857, coming direct from Germany. When he and his brother-in-law, H. J. Rohwer, deceased, Mrs. Frahm’s brother, and another of nature’s noblemen located in Washington County, there was little but faith to inspire hope that Nebraska would come, in their day, to be the empire of agriculture that it now is. Their farming operations were carried on for many years under a tacit partnership arrangement and so unselfish and honorable were they that a question was never raised as to the rights or property ownership of either.

A devoted wife, three sons, William F., Otto G. and Fred H. and one daughter, Mrs. Henry Rix, are left to mourn the death of a loving husband and indulgent parent. William F., the eldest son, has always remained at home with his parents on the farm, having charge of the farming operations since his father’s retirement many years ago. Otto G. is a prosperous farmer adjoining the corporate limits of the city and Fred H. is a prosperous, successful merchant in Fort Calhoun. Mrs. Rix is the wife of Henry Rix, Fort Calhoun’s pioneer banker and owner of the big Alfalfa Meal Mill there.

Funeral service was held at the home at 2:30 P.M. on Tuesday and there was a large attendance, many from Blair and other parts of the country, being present to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of their departed friend.

#2 Printed in the Dec. 29, 1915 Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Pioneer Henry Frahm

Henry Frahm, one of the sturdy, active pioneers, who came to Ft. Calhoun, Nebr., in 1857, died Dec. 20, 1915. Only 38 days ago we attended his 88th birthday when he told us he had a letter from a son in Germany, who promised to either come and see him or send a son on his 90th birthday. We also attended his golden wedding to his present wife on November 27, 1910. He had been a soldier in the Schleswie Holstein War and being brought up a farmer in his own land, he was not permitted to do any kind of mechanical work, yet, when he came here and went into partnership with his brother-in-law, the late Hans Rohwer, he built a story and a half-frame house of three rooms complete from native lumber, made the shingles, lath doors and built the chimneys and did all the plastering at a total cost of a little over fourteen dollars for nails and iron work. He lived in this house for many years til he built his large mansion. But it was not always easy sailing for he often laughingly told us when we were working for him how he brought twelve hundred dollars in gold with him and after paying for his farm outfit he never had five dollars at one time again for two years.

With his partner, he did the very first intensive farming in this neighborhood, sowing the first clover and during the “Pikes Peake excitement, growing twenty acres of beans and twenty acres of potatoes and hiring every bit of labor available. He also raised horses, cattle and hogs and planted fruit trees.

Some years ago he retired from the farm with his wife and son William, who still carries on the work of the home farm, to the city where he died. His son, Otto, lives on an adjoining farm, his son, Fred is a merchant in the city and at present time is Mayor, and his daughter is the wife of Henry Rix, so many years president of the Washington County Bank, the Alfalfa Mill Company and other business and a very large fruit grower. Two little children died many years ago and are buried here. He was at one time one of the County Supervisors and for several years school director.

Probably for twenty years we worked for him as a day laborer and sat at his board and he would sometimes amuse us by telling us he could do as much work as any two men in Ft. Calhoun and then show us how easy it was. For forty four years we have been a welcome visitor at his table and are glad we can speak of his sterling qualities from a personal knowledge. Of the great number of the old time pioneers we have known during the past forty years who came here before 1860, we believe Nicholas Rix and Mrs. Henry Frahm are the only ones remaining in this vicinity.

He was buried from the residence Dec. 22. Rev. Werner, Presbyterian minister officiating. The anthems by Mrs. Charles Rathjen, Mrs. Jo Bolin and Miss Edith Neal. The pallbearers were Henry Rohwer, Jacob Sierk, Charles Rathjen, William Kruse of Ft. Calhoun and Lee Smith of DeSoto and Hannis Grimm of Blair.

The bad weather kept many of the old friends away but Nels Truhlsen and Watson Tyson and Wes Cook and others of Blair, Lee Smith, Jim Wild and James Sully of DeSoto, Fritz and Will Jahnel of Kennard, Hans Kruse and Herman Rix of Omaha, Mads Mortensen of Garryown and many others were present to show their last respects for their old friend.

W. H. Woods

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library~~~