By Craig Calhoun
The Harris Centennial
Harris --The past 100 Years
"F" Biographies
Forbes, Fousek, Frerichs & Fry
Forbes, George Family
By Craig Calhoun
The parents of George,
Wilson and John Forbes came from Scotland to Ontario,
Canada, to Rockford, Illinois, to Marcus, Iowa and then
to Harris.
George Forbes was married to Elizabeth Eason and came to
Harris in 1894, from Marcus, Iowa. They purchased a farm
one mile west and one and one fourth miles south of
Harris.
Ten children were born to this union, Mary (Gibson),
Burl, Delight, Annetta (Calhoun), Romayne, Algenon, Fawn,
Hester, Glee and Georgia.
George Forbes died in 1929, and Elizabeth in 1934. Both
are buried in Ocheyedan Cemetery.
Algenon, who owned and farmed the Forbes farm, was the
last living member of the family and passed away in 1987.
Forbes, John Family
John (J.D.) and Ankie
Forbes moved to Harris, Iowa in the early 1900’s
with their family. John worked as a cabinet maker and
carpenter. They had six children: DeWitt Stanton born in
Rockford, Illinois, in 1890; Owen born in Rockford,
Illinois in 1891; Patrinia AddaBelle born in Coggin,
Iowa, in 1893; Lois Ruth born in Wabeck, Iowa, in 1895;
Clayton Dewey born in Central City, Iowa, in 1898; Lola
Violet born in Central City, Iowa, in 1900; and Merton
Gwynn born in Harris, Iowa, in 1907. They moved back to
Rockford, Illinois, in 1924. DeWitt stayed in Harris.
Owen passed away in 1949. Merton passed away in 1966.
DeWitt passed away in 1976. AddaBelle passed away in
1988. Ruth passed away in 1988. Clayton is also deceased.
Forbes, DeWitt and Florence Family
DeWitt Forbes and
Florence Fuller were married December 1, 1915, at
Florence’s home in Sibley. Florence Fuller was born
January 14, 1895, in Illinois, to Edwin and Cora Fuller.
They lived in Illinois before moving to Humbolt, Iowa,
moving from Humbolt to Harrris, Iowa, in 1908. The
Fuller’s farmed two miles north of Harris. Their
family consisted of four girls.
Florence went to school in Harris graduating in 1913.
After graduating Florence became a teacher for two years.
She taught in two schools, one school was at Business
Corner and the other one was northwest of Harris.
DeWitt and Florence lived on four different farms before
moving to town in 1951. Their home in town was made from
an old school house. DeWitt did odd jobs and loved his
garden. Florence worked in café work for ten years.
DeWitt and Florence had one child, Maxine.
Florence lived to be 90 and died at the Lake Park Care
Center July 29, 1985. DeWitt died nine years before in
1976.
Forbes, Algenon W.
In 1894, George and
Elizabeth Forbes brought their family to a piece of
prairie land that they had purchased in Allison Township.
Until a house was completed they resided in a straw shed.
Another part of that shed housed the livestock.
When they passed away, their son Algenon W. Forbes,
purchased the farm and he resided there until his death
in June, 1987.
A.W. served his country with honor in war time; was
wounded in action and was given an Accolade of Chivalry
from President Woodrow Wilson and was awarded the Purple
Heart.
Fousek Family
Thomas W. Fousek was
born November 17, 1872, and Anna B. Merek was born
October 17, 1887, both at Anamosa, Iowa. They were
married there and farmed a few years.
Charles T. was born there on August 22, 1905. In 1909,
they moved to a farm one mile west of Ocheyedan, where
another son, Lewis J., was born on October 8, 1912. The
boys attended country school west of Ocheyedan.
On March 1, 1926, the family moved to the farm west of
Harris. Lewis was inducted into the army June 14, 1941,
and was killed in action October 24, 1944.
Thomas, Anna and Charles moved to Harris in January,
1947. Thomas passed away on November 17, 1949, and Anna
on April 1, 1978. Charles still resides at his home at
the west edge of Harris.
Frerichs, Wallace
Wallace was the son of
John and Ida (Klemme) Frerichs and married Alma Rehborg,
the daughter of Herman and Mathilda (Noerenberg) Rehborg
on December 25, 1924. They moved to the Ocheyedan area
and later to the Worthington, Minnesota, area where they
were engaged in dairy farming. Wallace later drove an Old
Home Bread truck delivering bread to area towns. They are
both deceased.
They had five children: Wendell, St. Paul, Minnesota;
Beatrice (Thompson) living in Texas; Donald, Rochester,
Minnesota; Phyllis Scribner, St. Paul, Minnesota; and
Janet Hughes, Worthington, Minnesota.
Fry, John and family
John Fry Sr. was born
in 1846, and died January 18, 1924, at Harris. His wife,
Alice Graham, was born in 1849, and died in 1919. He
worked for the Rock Island Railroad at Waverly and Cedar
Falls. They moved to Harris in 1903, and operated a farm
one mile south and one and one half west of Harris.
They were the parents of John C. Fry.
Fry, John C. Family
John C. Fry, son of
John Fry Sr. and Alice Graham Fry, married Mathilda
(Tillie) M. Hass on June 26, 1915. He managed a pool hall
in Harris, was a mechanic in Harvey James Garage and a
farmer.
John C. Fry’s home was located where the Golden
Years Apartments were built. The yard was large enough
that when the carnival came to town they always put the
merry-go-round in their yard.
One of the memories of the Fry children and friends is
going down to the railroad tracks to see the train and
wave at the engineers.
When dances were held at the Odd Fellows Hall, John C.
Fry was the caller of the square dances.
John and Tillie lived in the Harris community until 1954,
when they moved to Spencer, Iowa. In 1956, they moved to
El Monte, California.
John C. Fry was born October 23, 1884, and died September
11, 1957. Tillie Fry was born October 4, 1893, and lives
with her daughter Blanche Geronsin in El Monte,
California. Another daughter, Mae, and Dick Hasbrouck
live in Guthrie Center, Iowa, and son Chick and Patten
(Pat) Fry live in Lompoc, California.
The three Fry children, Mae, Blanche and Chick, graduated
from Harris High School.