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- William "Bill" Friedrichs was born November 4, 1897, in Vorhob (perhaps Vorhop), Germany, to Henry C. and Minnie (Wunder) Friedrichs. He was baptized there also. In 1898, at four months of age, he traveled by boat with his parents, two brothers, and a sister to America. They settled in Hanson County, South Dakota, near Alexandria. His growing up years were spent on farms in this area. As a young man, Bill attended business college in Grand Island, Nebraska. He went to Sioux City for employment, working first in a garage and then in the office at the Armour Meat Packing Company. Bill boarded at the home of Bertha Greene and it was there that he met Bertha's niece, Erna Kutschinski of Charter Oak, who was also working in Sioux City, doing housework, during the winter of 1920 and 1921. She was needed at home on her parent's farm during the summer months. World War I had left many poor, hungry people in Germany. In the spring of 1922, a boat filled with cattle, mostly milk cows, donated by farmers from South Dakota and Iowa, was sent over to help feed the hungry. Bill was one of the young men who volunteered to care for the cattle on the trip. Erna was born November 10, 1901, to Carl and Louise (Jahn) Kutschinski. (See history in this book.) She was baptized Erna Bertha Frederika Kutschinski at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hanover Township. She attended school in Charter Oak and later, the Fiene Sisters' Sewing Class. She became a fine seamstress and sews not only for her family, but has done sewing, alterations, mending, and quilting for many in the community. Erna and Bill were married December 6, 1922, and spent the first ten years of their married life on farms in South Dakota. Three children were born there: Lavaughn, (Mrs. Irvin Schultz), Dolores (Mrs. Ray Suhr), and Donald. The farm crops in South Dakota dried out several years in a row, so they had a farm sale. In 1932, they moved to Crawford County, into a vacant farmstead owned by Erna's parents. During the 1930's, Bill worked at whatever job was available; as a farm laborer, wood sawing, in a garage, with the W.P.A., and finally, for a carpenter, Herman Baak, from Ricketts. By the 1940's, he was in business for himself, Later, the business was called "W. E. Friedrichs & Son, Carpenters and Builders". In 1945, a fourth child was born, Rita, (Mrs. Delbert Lafrentz). The family lived on the farmstead one and one half miles north and west of Charter Oak until 1969 when they moved to 25 Birch Avenue in Charter Oak. Erna has always loved to bake, and the aroma of fresh baked bread, coffee cake, or cookies often greets guests at the door. In past years she has planted large gardens and has done much canning and preserving. A sewing or tatting project is always close at hand, so she is never idle. The church and doing church work was always an important part of their lives. Erna was in charge of the Stamps for Missions program for many years and is in her 30th year with the Nursery Roll program, as well as continuing to be active in making quilts for World Relief. Bill passed away April 10, 1982. At this writing Erna is well and active, and always busy with church work, sewing, gardening, and keeping up her home. She has 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. (Taken from "The History of Charter Oak, Iowa").
Mr and Mrs W. E. Friedrichs returned Sunday evening after spending ten days visiting relatives and friends in Seattle, Washington, Bremerton and Vashon Island, Washington. They were in attendance of a fiftieth wedding anniversary of the former's brother Henry Friedrichs of Vashon. Relatives from Pasco, Washington, and Loma, Montana were there which they had not seen for thirty years. Quite cold weather with snow and rain out there too. (taken from a newspaper clipping and saved by Erna Friedrichs)
Photo of Erna KUTSCHINSKI-FRIEDRICHS.
Photo of Erna KUTSCHINSKI-FRIEDRICHS.
Photo of Erna KUTSCHINSKI-FRIEDRICHS.
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1901 - 1998 (96 years)
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
