Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 398-399; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
James W. Frederick. This name will be recognized by many
of our readers as that of a resident in Lee Township, who is
extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. His landed estate
consists of four hundred and forty acres of well-improved land, whose
present condition is due to his own good taste and enterprise. The farm
is stocked with all that goes to make up the well-regulated estate and
the family occupies a pleasant dwelling where home comforts and genial
hospitality abound.
The parents of our subject were Daniel and Almira (Ward)
Frederick, both of whom were born in Washington County, Pa., and died
in Canton, Ill., in 1865. They went from their native State to Ohio,
locating in Licking County, where they resided until early in the '50s,
then removed to this county and spent the remainder of their lives in
Canton.
The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Washington
County, Pa., March 26, 1830, but spent his boyhood and youth in Licking
County, Ohio, where he received his schooling. In 1849 he came to this
county, remaining here until early in 1853 when he journeyed to the
Pacific Coast. After spending two years in California he returned to
this county, married and located in Lewistown Township. Five years
later, in 1861, he became a resident of Lee Township, wherein he now
owns so valuable an estate. He has been handling and shipping stock for
the past ten years, doing well in this branch of employment, and having
the reputation of a reliable and discriminating dealer.
February 10, 1855, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between
our subject and Sarah E. Boyer. The bride was born in this county
January 27, 1839, and is the youngest daughter in a family consisting
of five sons and four daughters. Her parents, John and Nancy (Shaw)
Boyer, were natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively. Their first
home was in Ohio, whence they came to this county in 1838, locating in
Lewistown Township. There Mr. Boyer died in 1859, his wife having two
years before crossed the river of death.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have had six sons and five daughters, all
of whom are living except Isaiah, who passed away at the age of eight
months. Rosa A. married Linus P. Taylor and lives in the same township
as her parents; Fremont married Hortense Douglas, their home being in
Young Hickory Township; Kelly F., Duane, Emma, Orpah, J. Logan, Almira,
Sheridan and Cora are still living under the parental roof.
Mr. Frederick is honored by all who know him for his fine
character and business ability, and is well liked by reason of his
pleasing qualities. His good wife and the members of their family have
also many friends. Mr. Frederick is somewhat active in the political
affairs of the vicinity, working with the Republicans. He has served
his fellow-citizens in various capacities, from the position of a
juryman to that of a prominent worker in the church. He sat on the
United States Petit Jury at Springfield sixty-five days and was a grand
Juror for Fulton County four terms. He has been Supervisor of Lee
Township two years, School Trustee six years and has also been a School
Director. He and his wife and three daughters belong to the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. Frederick was Steward eighteen years, has been
Class-Leader and has been six years a Trustee. He has also been
Superintendent of the Sunday-school and was Vice President of the
Sunday-school Association of the township about ten years.
