I have slowly made progress on my family tree book in the last few months. I’ll admit, it’s harder to work on hobbies when you have a little person to take care of, but I make time here and there when Emmett is sleeping. I know one day he will appreciate having this history about his family. My biggest breakthrough as of late was acquiring photocopies, with help from my cousin, of the Frederick homestead.
This was the original, eighty-acre farm that Great Great Grandpa Johann FrƤdrich settled on when he and the family arrived in Sugar Island, Wisconsin. This farm was passed down to my Great Grandpa Arthur Frederick, then my Grand Uncle Melvin Frederick, and finally to my first cousin once removed Virgil Frederick. Unfortunately, Virgil was never able to maintain the farm like those before him. The barn has since collapsed, and the house is not far behind. If only my grandpa (Kenneth) would have inherited the place…maybe it would still be standing.
I am still trying to find out what brought the Fredericks to this farm. They arrived in America in 1869, and by 1870 they were recorded at this property. It was either another family member or word of mouth that led them to settle where they did. I have collected some of the stories and memories of the old family farm. My Grandpa Ken and Grand Aunt Lorraine both talked about growing up there. They shared some painful memories of the loss of their youngest brother, Harold, and the death of their mother, Ella, when they were kids. My aunts both talked about how the farm was well-kept, and that when they went to visit kids sat out on the steps. A cousin that I recently connected with talked about a memory of running the tractor and baler while her dad, Melvin, stacked bales one summer. All of a sudden a severe storm hit and they were taking cover from a tornado.
A house is just a building, but the stories we remember or collect make it a home. Do you have a home that has been in your family for a long time? Can you trace it back to the first family member to live there? What are your memories of your family home?
The Weekend Historian 
im not sure who this is that wrote this article. my great grand father was Ernest Frederick , LeRoy Frederick’s father. I had read another article concerning the Frederick in Sugar Island also. It was a little different. I do know there were 8 brothers I have or had been to Vigil n Pats house and I know Vigils father and mother lived in the brick house at the beginning of the driveway at that time. I know the house had been replaced though habitat for humanity.the original farm house. I do know if the Ken you are referring to is or was a cousin of LeRoy my grandfather and had spelled his name differently from Frederick he spelled it Fredrick. He had been married to Millard and had three children the youngest being Mitch who is closer to what my mother’s age would have been now. I had never heard of Frederick being spelled with and a with the two periods above the a however the translation with coming over from Germany ??? Have a great day. This is Lola L Baars (Lola L Greppi)etc.
Lola,
Yes, Ken Frederick was my Grandpaāmy Dad is Mitch. We spell Frederick with a second E. Seems like all the Frederick chose a different way to spell it. I was hoping to hear from you someday as you are remaining descendent of Ernst. Do you have any old documents photos anything relating to him? I have a handful and Iād be more than happy to share copies. Email at AustinMFred@gmail.com! Looking forward to talking to you!
i also do know that the Vigil Frederick farm did go down hill but Vigil had cancer and died at a younger age. Kenneth and Mildard had a farm up by Juneau,wi which they sold and moved into Juneau wi into a black n white mobile home prior to that he also took trailers tolo pop up trailers with my grandfather or with both wife’s along I believe the men drove. My grandparents names were LeRoy and Evelyn Frederick she was my step grand mother. The four of them did alot of things together. I went with at times myself. I never met either of their daughters but after they moved to Juneau I met Sonya once at the mobile home. My parents Marlys( step father ) and mother Sandy ( Sandra) Baars owned the white top restaurant in Hustisford,wi which my grandfather had owned the farm right next to it. Right on the edge of rock River. He had sold it to a gas company or gas station and had moved up to Fifield and got a mobile and it had been put right next to my parents home. 1993. I know one of his daughters had moved to Arizona I can’t remember both of their names as I mentioned they were both older like my mom and Sonya is about 10 years older then me. Last I had known Kenneth has been in Clearview nursing home and Mildard had passed away prior to that. My mom use to speak with him on the phone after he was there. I remember on there farm they had a unique table step up with seats like benches. Have a great day!