thielf
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
FRED THIEL follows the drug business
in Ritzville. He was born in Seradda, Russia, October 19, 1876, the
son of Jacob and Lizzie (Strombecker) Thiel, natives of Russia but of German
descent.
The parents came to America in 1878 and lived
both in Franklin and Hitchcock counties, Nebraska, before coming to southern
Idaho, to Baker City and to Walla Walla in 1882. In the spring of
1883 they drove to Adams county and located a homestead. Later, they
purchased more land, but they are now living in retirement in Ritzville.
They were parents of four children, J. J., now a professor in Winfield
College, Kansas; Mike, Henry and Fred.
Fred Thiel received his first schooling in
Adams county, and later took a course in a Portland business college.
At the age of twenty-two he took a homestead, but after two years he sold
out and removed to Ritzville, where he engaged in the hardware business
as a member of the King Mercantile Company. He subquently sold his
interest in the business and engaged in the drug, stationery and glass
business, which he is now following.
The married life of Mr. Thiel dates from the
year 1903, when he took for his wife Katie Schoesler, daughter of Jacob
and Elizabeth (Betherus) Schoesler, of German descent but natives of Russia.
The grandparents of Mrs. Thiel came to America in 1892, remained six months
then returned to Russia where they live at the present time. Her
parents came to America in 1878 and now reside on their farm north from
Ritzville.
Politically, Mr. Thiel is a Democrat, and
an active party man. He is at this writing a member of the city council
of Ritzville and one of the promising young business men of the town.
He belongs to the M. W. A. fraternity, and both he and Mrs. Thiel are members
of the Congregational church.
Mr. Thiel is a prominent man in the city and
holds various positions. He was delegate to the state convention
held at Olympia in August, 1904; is a stockholder of the German-American
Bank in Ritzville; is president of the Diboya Mining & Milling Company
of Montana; is president and treasurer of the Gilson-Thiel opera house
in Ritzville; and is treasurer of the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce.
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