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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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Frederick William Koch is a son of Frederick W. and Anna M. Koch, both natives of Borgholzhausen, Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia. The father was a farmer, and died when our subject was but seven years of age. The mother then married Frank Gerdes, with whom she came to this country in 1850. To her first marriage was born a son, and to the second marriage two daughters. The mother lived to be fifty-five years of age. Frederick W. was born in Bokhorst, Westphalia, Prussia, in 1825, and received a common education while growing up. He farmed until twenty-one, when he was taken in the regular army, sent against Denmark in 1849, where he served three and a half years. His term of enlistment having expired in 1851, he sailed across the North Sea to England, across that country to Liverpool, and from there to America, landing at New Orleans. He then came to Missouri and settled in Franklin County. In 1854 he married Miss Charlotta Strothmann, who was born in Versmold, Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia, in 1830, and to them were born ten children, seven of whom are now living: Lena, Henry, William, Frederick, Ida, Louis and Anna. All are members of the Lutheran Church. For fourteen years Mr. Koch has held the office of president of the Cedar Fork Fire Mutual Association. He is a Republican in politics, and during the war served in the militia. By his own efforts he obtained 540 acres, of which he still owns 365. From 1868 to 1873 he kept store on his farm. He has been a resident of this county for thirty-six years, and is well respected.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Franklin County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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