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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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H. FREDERICK DREVES. The career of this gentleman has been marked by enterprise, industry and well directed efforts, and he has been rewarded by the accumulation of a large amount of land and the machinery and stock necessary for carrying on a first-class farm. Mr. Dreves is one of those German-American citizens of whom we have reason to be proud on account of the example they present of industry, morality and good citizenship. He is at present residing in township 7, range 6, Randolph County, where he owns a good estate which he has placed under the best methods of improvement.

Our subject was born in Prussia in March, 1841, and is the eldest of four children born to Henry and Wilhelmina (Hamote) Dreves. In 1849 the family emigrated to America, and on the journey across the Atlantic Mrs. Dreves and one daughter died. The father landed in the New World with three of his children, and on going to St. Louis, Mo., there found the cholera raging, and the remaining brother and sister of our subject were taken away by that dread disease.

The father of our subject was again married in St. Louis, and in 1850 came to Illinois and located a tract of land near Chester, which is the present home of Mr. Dreves of this sketch. The latter attended school in his native country and also attended a short time in St. Louis and in Chester, this state. He has always made farming his life pursuit, and has brought to bear upon it a high degree of intelligence, and is looked upon as one of the best agriculturists in this part of the county. A new post-office has been created near his home which bears his name.

The subject of this sketch established a home of his own in 1865, at which time he was married to Miss Catherine Trede. Her parents were also natives of Germany and died in the Mother Country. To Mr. and Mrs. Dreves have been born seven children. Henry married Annie Shemory and resides near the old homestead, and the others are Dietlof, George, Hermann, William, Anna and Mena.

Mr. Dreves believes in the principles laid down in the Republican platform, and therefore votes the straight ticket. His entire family are members of the Lutheran Church and conduct themselves so as to win the respect of all with whom they come in contact. Although he never seeks office, our subject always manifests a great interest in the public welfare, and may be counted upon to bear his part in every worthy enterprise which is being promulgated in the neighborhood.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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