William John Frederick (1863 - 1956)

In 1862 enlisted in Co B, 23rd Wisconsin Volunteers with Grant & Sherman. Came to Adams Co in 1869. From 1882-1883 he was County Treasurer.

John M. Frederick, of the firm of Frederick & Winne, dealers in agricultural implements at Corning, was born in 1830, in Pennsylvania, a son of Abraham and Margaret (Mills) Frederick, natives of East Coventry, Chester county, Pennsylvania, who lived and died in that State. He came to Wisconsin before the war and engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served to the end of the war, taking part in a large number of the great sieges and battles; was with Banks on the Red river expedition, Grant at Vicksburg, and Sherman on his march to the sea. While in the service he was injured by a fall, but returned to be discharged with the rest.

After the war he resided again for a time in Wisconsin. In 1869 he came to Adams county, and settled in Lincoln township, where he improved an estate of 200 acres.

In 1882-3 he was county Treasurer. In 1889 he moved to Corning and engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, in his present partnership relation. Into his business, as in all others, he has brought that care and integrity which have won for him an honored place in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. He is a stalwart Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., R. A. M., and I. O. O. F., and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

He was married in 1857, to Miss Isabella Roberts, and they have had twelve children, eleven of whom are living in Adams county.

John Mills Frederick was born 17 December, 1830 to Abraham and Mary Frederick. Born in East Coventry, Pennsylvania, John spent his early years there before eventually moving to Illinois in the 1850s.

While in Illinois John met and married Isabella Roberts. They were married on 29 March, 1857 in Shelbyville. At some point in either the late 1850s or very early 1860s he and Isabella moved to Wisconsin, settling in the Belmont area. On 14 August, 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army with Company B, 23rd Winsconsin Infantry Regiment.

During the Civil War John served with the 23rd Infantry Regiment as they served under General Sherman's drive to conquer the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg. John saw action leading up to the siege of Vicksburg, but during operations there he suffered an injury to his hip and leg when a heavy timber fell on him that was being used for fortifications. John was in and out of the unit for a period of time until he was permanently transferred to the Reserves due to his injury. He was finally mustered out on 5 July, 1865. He would suffer side effects of his injury for the rest of his life, eventually drawing disability pay.

In the late 1860s he and Isabella moved to Iowa and settled near the small town of Corning. Here he began farming, along with running a store in town for a short while. During the course of their marriage he and Isabella had 12 children, one of which died shortly after birth, and another that was killed in a train accident at age 19.

John Mills Frederick passed away 5 October, 1895 in Corning and was buried in the Lincoln Center Cemetary. Isabella passed away on 13 September, 1901, and is also buried there.