The present post-master at Breese, Henry FREUND, was born at Relbehausen, Kreis Homburg, Kurhessen, Germany, on the 23d of August, 1838. His father was named William Freund, and his mother’s name before marriage was Margareta DURST. Henry was the third of seven children. He was raised at Relbehausen; went to school from the time he was six to fourteen years old, and secured the elements of a good education in German. After he came to America he learned English by his own efforts. After leaving school he began learning the trade of a blacksmith with his father, who carried on that business at Relbehausen. At seventeen, after he had learned his trade, he left home and worked at various places in Germany, with the view of perfecting himself as much as possible in his trade. Three of his sisters had previously emigrated to America, and in the fall of 1858 the rest of the family followed to this country. Mr. Freund was then twenty years old. They landed at New Orleans in November, 1858, and at once started up the Mississippi for St. Louis, where the family remained during the succeeding winter.

In the spring of 1859 they came to Clinton county. His father purchased a farm two miles north of Breese, where Mr. Freund lived till his marriage. This event took place on the 25th of Dec., 1860. His wife was Anna Martha AUBEL, who was born at Welferode, Kreis Homburg, Kurhessen. In the spring of 1861 he went to St. Louis and obtained work at his trade. From 1862 to November, 1864, the war of the rebellion then being in progress, he was a member of Company C of the National Guard of St. Louis, and saw service in the city of St. Louis and surrounding counties. In November, 1864, he returned to Illinois and began the blacksmith business at Breese, which he has since carried on. From 1869 to 1874 his brother, Conrad Freund, was his partner.

His first wife died in February, 1865, and in September of the same year he married Carolina BEKER, daughter of Henry Beker. She was born at Amelungren, Prussia. His children are—Louise, the wife of Abraham ZIMMERMANN, Emil C., Anna, Henry, Louis William, and George. The oldest is by his first, the others by his second marriage.

He is a republican in politics. From 1872 to 1876 he filled the office of police magistrate, and was appointed notary public by Gov. CULLOM in 1878; he was commissioned as post-master at Breese August, 1881; he is also in the insurance business.

Source: History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, 1881, Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia

Submitted by: Pamela Safriet

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