GEORGE FRIEDEL, a prosperous and well-known farmer of Gilead Precinct, Calhoun County, was born in St. Louis, Mo., January 12, 1857. His father, John Friedel, was a native of Bavaria and there learned the trade of a millwright. Upon emigrating from Bavaria to the United States he settled in St. Louis, Mo., about the year 1847, and continued to follow his trade in that city up to the time of his death. He married Miss Margaret Wunder, who was also a native of Bavaria. Her father, John Wunder, was born in Bavaria and followed the trade of a tailor, besides devoting much attention to farming. He lived and died in his native country. Our subject's mother moved to Calhoun County, where she breathed her last in 1860 leaving two children: Paul, who resides in Richwoods Precinct and George.
The subject of our sketch was left an orphan while an infant and his aunt, Mrs. Mary Wich, of Calhoun County, took charge of him. He commenced working on the farm at an early age, and at the death of his uncle took charge of his aunt's estate. He made that his home until 1885, at which time he moved to Gilead Precinct where he purchased one hundred and seven acres of land on section 29.
Mr. Friedel was married on the 25th of August, 1885, to Miss Alice Church, whose birth occurred in Calhoun County and who had been and is still a teacher in the public schools. Her father, William Church, was born in Point Precinct, September 1, 1828. His father, Thomas Church, was born near Tioga Point, Pennsylvania, and his father, Arthur Daniel Church, was a native of Connecticut. Thus the family history is traced back through several generations. Arthur Church was left an orphan and was bound out, but not liking his master he ran away to Pennsylvania where he joined the army and fought in the Revolutionary War. From Pennsylvania he moved to Ohio and from that State to the Territory of Missouri, probably as early as 1810. He next moved to Calhoun County.
Mrs. Friedel's grandfather came from Ohio to Missouri, thence to Calhoun County, being one of the earliest settlers of Point Precinct. He had a tract of land covered with heavy timber, with only a small clearing. He resided there until 1831, at which time he laid claim to a tract of Government land in Gilead Precinct, section 17, where he continued to make his home up to the closing scenes of his life. Her grandmother was Miss Elizabeth Massey, a native of Kentucky and daughter of Joshua Massey. Mrs. Friedel's father was educated in the pioneer schools where the furniture and general appearance of the schoolhouse was as rude as rude could be. He resided with his parents until his marriage, after which he took possession of one hundred and sixty acres of timber land in Gilead Precinct and built a log house, but at the end of three years he sold that property and bought one hundred and fifty-two acres in the same precinct where he resided six years. Owing to ill health he moved to Kansas for a time, but soon returned and has since resided with his children and his sister. In 1854 he married Miss Susan Adams, who was born in Howard County, Mo. Their union was blessed with seven children, viz: Elizabeth, George, Julia, Alice, Elias, Albrow and Carrie. Mrs. Church died in February, 1870.
Extracted 23 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, page 648
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