J.H.H. Fretheim
aka
John H. Hermanson
John H. Hermanson Fretheim, or as he was better known in
Allamakee county, John H. Hermanson, proved his loyalty in
citizenship by active and able service in the Union army during
the Civil war, his reliability in business by his many years of
close connection with farming interests of Allamakee county, and
his faithfulness to all ties and obligations by his upright and
honorable life. He passed away on his farm in Waterloo township,
July 6, 1904, and his death was widely and deeply regretted, for
in his passing Allamakee county lost a pioneer citizen and a man
who during the half century of his residence here made tangible
and substantial contributions to the agricultural development and
general upbuilding of this part of the state.
Mr. Hermanson was born in Norway, in which country the family
name was Fretheim. He came to America with his parents in 1854
and the family remained for a short time in New York where the
father and one brother of the subject of this review passed away.
Afterwards the mother and the remainder of the family came west
and after spending one year in Wisconsin, settled in Allamakee
county, Iowa, where they took up government land and also added
to their holdings by purchase. Assisted by her sons the mother
operated this tract for many years thereafter and under her able
management it became a productive and valuable farm. Eventually
she retired from active life, selling the land to her sons, and a
few years later passed away. She and her husband became the
parents of nine children, three of whom survive: John, of
Decorah; Mrs. Christina Ellingson, of Austin, Texas; and Mrs.
Ellen Peterson, of Allamakee county.
John H. Hermanson began farming in Waterloo township at an early
age, cultivating first an eighty acre tract of land which he
purchased from his mother's homestead. He suspended his
agricultural labors in 1861, when he enlisted in Company B,
Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Regiment, for service in the Civil
war. He went to the front as private and served for three years,
taking part in many of the important engagements of the war and
also the battle with the Indians at Lake Mills, Minnesota. With a
creditable military record he returned to Iowa and resumed the
operation of his farm, remaining active and prominent in this
line of work for forty years thereafter. During this period he
won success, prominence and substantial fortune and his landed
holdings increased steadily until he owned a one hundred and
eighty acre farm in Allamakee county with one hundred and thirty
acres in a high state of cultivation and an eighty acre tract in
Wharton county, Texas. He gave practically all of his time to the
cultivation of his Iowa farm and upon it steadily carried forward
the work of improvement and development, erecting upon it
substantial buildings and installing modern equipment. In the
course of years it became a valuable and productive property and
stands today as a worthy memorial to his life of industry and
thrift.
Shortly after his discharge from service in the Civil war Mr.
Hermanson married and to him and his wife were born eleven
children: Albert, who is engaged in farming in Ross, North
Dakota; Anna, who married Albert Langen of Allamakee county; Mrs.
Nettie Loe, of Pekin, North Dakota; Iver, a farmer of Ross, North
Dakota; Henry, engaged in farming in the same locality; Emil, a
farmer of Elsworth, North Dakota; Mrs. Andrew Klefstad, of Pekin,
in the same state; John, who is assisting his brother and mother
in the operation of the homestead; Ida, who lives at home;
Sanders, aiding in the conduct of the home farm; and Mayme, at
home. All these children received excellent educations in the
public schools of Allamakee county and Mrs. Loe engaged in
teaching previous to her marriage. The family are devout members
of the Lutheran church.
John H. Hermanson gave his political allegiance to the republican
party and was eminently progressive and public-spirited in
matters of citizenship, cooperating heartily in all measures and
projects to advance the general interests of the community. On
several occasions he rendered the township excellent service as
trustee and was found always prompt, capable and reliable in the
discharge of his official duties. His death on the 6th of July,
1904, took from Allamakee county one whom she could ill afford to
lose - a man of high principles, progressive standards and
upright life, who during almost a half century of earnest and
capable work along agricultural lines made many substantial
contributions to the upbuilding and development of the state.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Jan Miller
Return to 1913 biographies index