HENRY FRICKE is an old and highly respected resident of Galena, where for nearly thirty years he was one of the leading jewelers. He acquired a fortune, and since 1875, when he sold out his establishment, has lived in retirement, building his present ample and well-appointed residence, near the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1878. He was born in Schorndorf Province, of Hanover, Germany.

Our subject attended school in his native land from the time he was five years old, until he was fourteen, receiving an excellent education. At that age he was confirmed, and after leaving school he was apprenticed to learn the trade of gold and silversmith, serving an apprenticeship of seven years. After thoroughly mastering his trade, at the expiration of that time he traveled, as was the custom of apprentices in those days, and worked a short time in different places. In 1846, times were hard, and in the following year they were little, if any, better, so that it was difficult to obtain work at remunerative wages, and our subject decided to try and better his condition by emigrating to America, and in accordance with that resolution, in the month of December, 1847, he set sail from Bremen, and eight weeks later landed in New Orleans. He immediately started from there to Galena by the way of the Mississippi River. At Montrose, Iowa, the river was frozen, and Mr. Fricke was obliged to wait at that point a few days before he could proceed any further, as there were no railways in this part of the country at the time, and traveling facilities were very poor. From that place he finally took passage on the stage to Dubuque [IA]. The ice on the river was breaking up, and he found it a difficult matter to get any one to take him across, and finally paid a man $8 to take him across the river, and he then took the stage for Galena. All transportation across the open country in that day was done with team, and goods were taken across the open prairie to Chicago, stages running regularly between Galena and that place. On his arrival in this city, Mr. Fricke opened a jewelry store, and commenced to work at his trade, having brought his tools with him from the old country. He continued in the business until 1875, and having been very prosperous, he disposed of it, and then revisited his native land. He staid among his old friends two years, and once more turned his back on the fatherland, and returning to his adopted country, built his present residence, and has ever since made his home in Galena. Of the marriage of our subject, four children have been born, as follows: Anna is the wife of H. F. C. Schneider, of Dubuque, and they have four children; Lena is at home; Henry died at the age of thirteen years; Gustave died at the age of sixteen.

Mr. Fricke has a well-balanced, sound mind, and possesses excellent business talents, he is straight-forward in his dealings, and stands high in the opinion of his fellow-men. His daily intercourse marks him as possessing an agreeable, courteous temper, and a kind disposition.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - From Portraits and Biographical Pg 527