Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-05
Ben FREDERICK DEAD
Former Rrominent Resident Of
Marshalltown Dies at San
Diego From Accident
FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN
Elected From This District Twice and
Defeated for Third Term-Ex-Mem
Der of the City council-owned at
One Time the Present shorthiII Foun.
dry-sketch of His Career.


| man from the Fifth district, died at. his
home in San Diego, Cal, Wednesday
afternoon from injuries received last
week by falling from ladder. The
news was conveyed in the press dis
patches from San Diego. Mr.. Freder-
ick was engaged in painting his resi-
lin his death occurred. He fell from the
ladder on which he was standing, and
alighted on fence. So severe were his
| injuries, which were of an internal ma :
ture, that he did not regain conscious
T. ness.
The news of Mr.. Frederick's death
will be learned with general regret by
his many friends in this city, where
he was so we'll known in former years
He was one of the leading business
men OF the city for many years, and
owned the old Frederick foundry. now
the Institution known as the foundry
and machine shops of the A. E. Short
hill Company. Mr.. Frederick was at one
time director OF the First National
Bank, of this city and was mem
Der of the city council for two terms,
serving on that body from the Fourth
ward. when Marshalltown built its
water works plant. in 1876.
Mr.. Frederick was born in Freder-
icktown, Columbiana county, Ohio. Oc-
tober 5, 1894, and lived in his native
state and Pennsylvania eighteen years
He came to Marshalltown first In 1850.
and engaged in the dry goods business
In 1883 he went to California, return
ing two years later and locating at Os-
kafoosa. where. for four years. he was
employed as clerk by Benjamin Room.
then the leading merchant of Oskaloosa
In 1864 Mr.. Frederick returned to Mar
shalltown. and purchased a half inter-
est in the machine shops with f. w
Lockwood, later sheriff of Marshall
county, who afterwards moved to Ne
vada. as his partner. The firm was
known as b. T. Frederick & Co. Mr.,
Frederick later purchased the interest
of his partner. and took another in the
person of the late j. NJ. Gilchrist. A.
r ShorthiH later entered the firm. and
after several years Mr.. Frederick sold
his interest to Mr.. Shorthill, who later
f>-'A - tiiS SriiSIIISl
His Political Career.
In 1882 Mr. Frederick aspired to go to
congress and on the democratic ticket
entered the Fifth district contest
against "Tama Jim" Wilson, now sec
rotary of agriculture. He was counted
out by twenty-three votes, but con-
tested the election and was seated. He
ran for reelection in 1884 and defeat
ed Milo Smith, of Cedar Rapids. by
ESQ votes. In 1886 he tried for IA third
term, but was defeated by Robert G.
Cousins the present republican con-
gresham.
Before his congressional career Mr..
Frederick was interested In local pol
1tics to quite an extent, and in 1873
was elected to the council from the
Fourth ward. He served two terms
being succeeded by B. w. Cunningham
in 1877.
After his defeat by Mr. Cousins, Mr.
Frederick decided to go to California,
which was then in the midst of the
memorable land boom, in which many
Marshalltown men lost heavily thru
investments. Mr.. Frederick was worth
probably 100000 when he left Marshall
town In 1887. and in few years he saw
nus fortune swept away. He was APP
pointed by President Cleveland as dep
uty Internal revenue collector. ana
served turnout Mr.. Cleveland's second
term. Aside from an attempt to be
elected sheriff of San Diego county.
few years ago, he has not been in
politics since leaving the revenue serv-
Ice. In his contest for the shrievalty
he was defeated by a small majority.
Mr.. Frederick WAS married to Miss
Putnam. of Ohio. April ?, 1860, Seven
daughters were born to them. five Of
whom are living, Addie f. and Gem
died in this city many years ago, and
are buried in Riverside. The remains
ing children are Mrs. Bertha Barnes
of Des Moines; Mrs. Mayme Wells, of
Boone; Mrs. Lucy Dye, who lives near
San Diego, and Misses Maggie and
Bonnie. who are at home. Mrs. Fred
erick has been an invalid for years.
never having recovered from an acci-
dent, sustained while living in Wash
tngton, when Mr.. Frederick was in
congress.
MIR. Frederick. was a prominent Ma
son, and will be buried with the hon
ors of the fraternity. The interment
will be in the Masonic cemetery in
San Diego.