Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN N. FREY
JOHN N. FREY.--A young man, who, by industry and good management, has made a success of ranching and is rapidly forging ahead in his chosen line of agriculture, is John N. Frey, a native son of California, born at Franklin, Sacramento County, July 25, 1886. His father, Henry Frey, was an early settler of Franklin, devoting his life work to farming.
John N. Frey was reared on the home farm and attended the local school. After completing the grammar school he entered Elk Grove high school, from which he was duty graduated in 1906, after which for some time he was employed in San Francisco and then on the steamer "Columbia" for a period of six months. He left this position just ten days before the vessel went down, having quit the steamer to follow lumbering with the Hammond Lumber Company of Eureka, continuing until his father importuned him to return home and assist on the farm. This John N. did, putting his shoulder to the wheel, and continuing steadily and energetically. In 1910 he came into possession of 102 acres of the old home ranch and he improved the place with the residence and other buildings, until now it is a model ranch with its herd of Holstein milk cows, pumping plant and fields of alfalfa, as well as orchards of cherries and peaches. It is generally conceded that he has one of the finest dairy farms in the county. In 1921 Mr. Frey bought fifty-two acres near Thornton devoted to raising pears, plums, peaches, and beans. The whole acreage is irrigated with an electric pumping plant. His farms are well improved and he operates them with the latest improved machinery.
The marriage of Mr. Frey occurred in Sacramento February 19, 1915, when he united in marriage with Miss Ethel Albright, who was born in Auburn, Placer County, a daughter of Jacob and Emma (Rollins) Albright, natives of New York State and Nevada County, Cal. Respectively. Emma Rollins was said to be the first white girl baby born in Nevada County, Cal. Grandfather Dana Rollins was born in Maine but crossed the plains in pioneer days, and followed mining in Nevada County until his death. Jacob Albright followed farming and fruit raising in Auburn until his death in 1921, while his widow still makes her home on the old place. Thirteen children were born of the above union, of whom Mrs. Frey in the tenth in order of birth. She spent her childhood in Placer County until twelve years of age, when she came to Sacramento County to live with her sister, Mrs. E. B. Owen, at Franklin, remaining until her marriage to Mr. Frey. Mr. and Mrs. Frey's union has been blessed with four children: Irma, John N., Jr., Clifford and Dolly Jane. Fraternally, Mr. Frey is a member of Franklin Camp, Modern Woodman of America, having served efficiently as clerk of the camp for ten years. He is also a popular member of Elk Grove Parlor No. 41, N. S. G. W.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 826. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.