Introduction to the 1923 Biographical Sketches
This biographical sketch was published along with many others in the 1923 History of Auglaize County, Volume II, edited by William J. McMurray and published by the Historical Publishing Company of Indianapolis. In most cases the subject of the biography was of the first generation born in this country to German immigrants. In some cases the subject may have been born in Germany and came to this country at a young age. In most cases the story tells of the immigrant parents of the subject and also the children and grandchildren of the subject named at the beginning of the story. In some cases comments have been added after the biography to explain the locations of the farms where the immigrants settled. New Knoxville did not have rural addresses until 1955, and therefore the settlers had rural route addresses of St. Marys, Botkins, etc.
(left to right) John H., Carl G., John Louis, Rosina Schumann Frische
John H. Frische - President of the Washington Township School Board, a member of the board of directors of the Auglaize Fair association and one of the well known and substantial farmers of Washington township, proprietor of a well improved farm on rural mail route No. 2 out of Wapakoneta, was born in this county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Frische was born on farm in Washington township on January 30, 1870, and is a son of William and Mary (Stroh) Frische, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families here. The late William Frische was born in Washington township and after his marriage established his home there and continued farming there until his death in 1874. He and his wife were the parents of four children, all of whom are living save Eliza, who died at the age of eighteen months, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Anna and Ida. The widowed mother of these children married secondly Louis Schneider and in 1880 moved to Pusheta township. John H. Frische was ten years of age when the family moved from Washington township to Pusheta township and in the schools of this latter township he completed his schooling.
From the days of his boyhood he was well trained in the ways of farming and continued to make his home on the home farm until his marriage at the age of twenty-four, when he established his home on his present farm in Washington township, which he had inherited from his grandparents, and has ever since resided there. To the tract of 160 acres which he received there, by inheritance, he has added an adjoining tract and now has a well cultivated place of 186 acres. Upon taking possession of that place, Mr. Frische erected a new dwelling house and a new barn and has since added other buildings until now he has one of the best farm plants in the neighborhood, all modern in appointments and lighted by electric light. In addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of livestock and is doing well in his operations.
Mr. Frische is a Republican and has long taken an active interest in general civic affairs, for some time having served as president of the local school board in his home township. He is a member of the board of directors of the county fair association and has for years taken an interested part in the affairs of that successful organization. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's Evangelical church at Wapakoneta.
Mr. Frische has been twice married. It was on April 11, 1894, that he was united in marriage to Amelia Prieser, who was born in Moulton township, daughter of Fred and Marie (Doering) Prieser, and to this union one child was born, a son, Frederick W., born on July 16, 1895, who died on September 8, 1900. Mrs. Amelia Frische died on January 18, 1901, and on June 15, 1904, Mr. Frische married Rosina Schumann, also of this county. To this union two children have been born, sons both, Carl G., born on April 19, 1907, who is now attending high school at Wapakoneta, a member of the class of 1924, and John Louis, born on September 28, 1910, who is attending school in district No. 6. Mrs. Rosina Frische was born at Wapakoneta on April 26, 1875, and is a daughter of George and Katherine (Roode) Schumann, the latter of whom was born in Jackson township in the neighboring county of Shelby. George Schumann was born in New York city, but was reared in this county, he having been but a child when his parents came here and settled on a farm in Pusheta township. To George Schumann and wife were born seven children, all of whom are living, Mrs. Frische having four sisters, Margaret, Anna, Clara and Edith, and two brothers, Andrew and John Schumann. The Frisches have a pleasant home about four miles southwest of Wapakoneta and have ever taken an interest in the general social activities of that neighborhood. This was the place settled by Mr. Frische's grandfather, Henry Frische, back in the '40s of the past century and has been held in the family since the day of its original entry from the Government.
The Frische farm is located in the extreme northeast corner of the New Knoxville school district, and Carl G. Frische was the music teacher and band director of the New Knoxville high school band for many years.