SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Charles Bernard Freyberg, Page 700

CHARLES BERNARD FREYBERG has been a resident of Sheboygan County for over forty years.  His father, Louis Freyberg, was born in Pomerania, Germany, where he grew to manhood and married Caroline Weinschlager, a native of the same province.  Mr. Freyberg, Sr., was a blacksmith by trade, following that calling exclusively until his emigration to the United States.  In 1852, with his wife and five children, he sailed from Hamburg to New York.  So slow were the means of transportation, that nine weeks were consumed in making the voyage.  The family lived in Milwaukee for six months, then came to Sheboygan, which was a town of but little importance.  having established a smithy, he received a liberal patronage from the vicinity of Howard's Grove.  Increase of trade from that quarter induced him to open a shop at that place, he continuing business there for seven years.  For a time he also operated a shingle mill.  About 1854 he removed to Meeme, Manitowoc County, where he was engaged in the sawmill business.  Six years later he sold his interests thee, moved to Sheboygan, and built the first flouring-mill erected in this place.  In connection therewith he ran a shingle-mill.  After an active business career of many years, he retired, his sons taking up the business.  His death occurred at the age of sixty-five years.  His widow survives at the age of seventy-four years, and is a resident of Sheboygan.

    Of their children, four are living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest.  Albert and Herman are also members of the firm of C. B. Freyberg & Bros., the former living in Sheboygan, and the latter at Washington Island, Wis.  Matilda, the youngest of the family, married John Raiser, and resides in Ft. Worth, Tex.

    C. B. Freyberg was born near Stettin, Pomerania, Germany, August 16, 1844.  He was therefore but eight years of age when the family came to the United States.  He was educated in the common schools of this county, receiving instruction both in English and German.  After reaching his twelfth year he worked, during vacation, in his father's blacksmith shop, and blacksmithing was his chief business until he reached his majority.  The first enterprise in which he embarked on his own account was that of keeping store in Howard's Grove.  After merchandising there a year, he purchased the old sawmill his father had owned in Manitowoc County.  Having operated that six years, he sold out, and with his brothers, Albert and Herman, purchased from his father the flouring-mill at Sheboygan.  This they operated for some four or five years, and in the mean time opened a lumber-yard in this city.  Some two years later they purchased a sawmill from A. L. Weeks in Manitowoc County.  After operating it for about two years it was destroyed by fire.  Subsequently, they built a mill on Washington Island, where they also opened a store and had charge of the dock.  Since they first opened a lumber-yard in Sheboygan, they have carried on that line of business continuously.  In 1888 they removed to their present quarters, at the foot of Pennsylvania Avenue.  Their yard covers one and a-half blocks, and has three hundred and thirty feet of dock frontage.  Two large four-story buildings are located thereon--one 72 x 72 feet, and the other 56 x 100 feet.  These buildings are occupied by a planing-mill and the plant of the Sheboygan Novelty Company.  The Freyberg Bros. give employment to from fifteen to twenty hands in operating their lumber-yard and planing-mill.  The Novelty Company, spoken of above, was incorporated in 1890, with a capital stock of $30,000.  It occupies the larger building and three floors of the smaller one, giving employment to from eighty to ninety hands.  This company is engaged, exclusively, in the manufacture of book-cases.  The present officers are:  C. B. Freyberg, President; R. Preussler, Vice-President and manager; A. Preussler, Treasurer; and A. F. Freyberg, Secretary.

    Mr. Freyberg whose name heads this article was married in Howard's Grove, in 1865, to Miss Caroline, a daughter of William Kestner, a pioneer of Sheboygan County.  Their family consists of four daughters:  Lisetta; Clara, wife of William Waterman, of this county; Norma and Alma.  All save the second are at home.

    Mr. Freyberg affiliates with the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and, politically, is an uncompromising Republican.  He has long been identified with the business interests of his adopted county, his course having ever been characterized by honesty and fair dealing.