Valdemar Jakob Jørgen Friis, the first child of Jørgen Lonborg and Kristine Peterson Friis, was born in Hjoring August 22, 1863. He went to the University of Copenhagen and completed his study of dentistry in 1907. He practiced in Copenhagen until his father's death in 1913. In 1909 he married Dorothea Sofia Nielson, a daughter of a farmer. After his father's death, Valdemar moved his family to Hjoring, where he took over his father's practice of dentistry. He succeeded in building up the practice and in 1920 purchased a permanent home in Hjoring where the family still resides. Like his father Va1demar became interested in collecting antiques. He now has a valuable collection of si1verware and furniture and is also the curator of the Vendsysse1 Historical Museum in Hjoring.

Their children are as follows: Gerda Louise Dorothea, born on her Uncle Ulrick's birthday, December 19, 1910; Jakob Jørgen Lonborg, born March 12, 1914; Kirsten Elisabet, born October 1, 1915; Inger Lonborg, born March 9, 1917; Erik Valdemar Lonborg, born January 11, 1919; Thorkild Lonborg born December 3, 1921; Berthe Lonborg, born August 13, 1926. The children were all born in Hjoring.

Holger Severin Olsen Friis, (seventh child of Jørgen Lonborg and Kristine Peterson Friis. 1891-19?? )

Mathias Wilhjelm Friis, the second child of pastor J.J.S. Friis and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Nakskov January 18, 1854. When he was fifteen years old, he completed common schools and then studied blacksmithing for two years. He served as an apprentice for four years in Aarhus in the Government railroad shops and received his certificate and letter of recommendation as a machinist. He continued working in the railroad shops one year longer and then in 1877 he went to Germany and then to Russia, where he lived for thirteen years. He worked as a machinist in various factories in different parts of the country and finally located in Otkovatka, near the mouth of the Volga River. He worked as a machinist for a nobleman who owned a sugar factory and five hundred thousand acres of immensely fertile land. While in Otkovatka he married Pelagia Dimitrijevna Pavlof. Their first child, Vladimir, died in infancy. Their second child, John Theodor, was born September 26, 1887. Due to the prevalent unsanitary conditions in Russia, Mathias suffered three serious attacks of typhoid. Ill health resulted in virtual poverty for the family. His mother financed the family's return to Denmark for a short visit. They sailed to the United States of America, travelling across the continent to the town of Brewster, Washinston, where his two brothers, Thorvald and Ulrick, lived. His third child, Sophie, was born in Ulrick's log cabin. Through the brothers' assistance he secured a position in the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in Sprague, Washington. He worked in Sprague for several years. He bought a home during this time and also repaid his mother for financing him and his family from Russia to this country. Mathias and Pelagia divorced, and the railroad shops burned. He went to Roslyn, Canada, where he opened a lock and gunsmith shop. In 1898 he bought his brother Thorvald's farm near Brewster, Washington, where he lived until his death in 1929.

John Theodor Fries, the second child of Mathias and Pelagia Fries was born September 26,1887, in Otcavatka, Russia. He completed public school at Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. He worked for two years on a steam boat plying on the Kootenay Lakes. With the money earned he attended the Columbia University at Portland, Oregon, for one term. When his funds were exhausted, he went to Trail, British Columbia, Canada, and found employment in the Canadian Consolidated Refinery for one year. During the summer he pitched for the Trail baseball club. The following year he returned to Oregon and played professional baseball for Wasco Baseball Club. At the close of the season he came to Portland and secured employment with the Pacific Telephone Company in the commercial department. In six months' time he was transferred to Kelso, Washington, as a manager of the telephone office. From there he was transferred to Corvallis, Oregon, in the same capacity. While there he was actively engaged in civic affairs by serving as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and later as president. His company encouraged him to affiliate with different lodges. Hence he became a member of the Masonic, Odd Follow, Knights of Pythias, Dokies, Rebekah, Elks, Moose, and Kiwanis Clubs. He was temporarily transferred to Klamath Falls, Oregon, as manager and later to the Dalles, Oregon, in the same capacity.

During his work in the Dalles, Oregon, at the end of ten years' employment with the Pacific Telephone Company, J.T. resigned to enter private business in the restaurant field. After six years he disposed of his business and became field secretary for the automobile association club at Vancouver, Washington, with jurisdiction over southwest Washington.

He resigned his position and became factory representative for various food canners. In 1934 he became affiliated with the Fenwick Brokerage Company of Portland, Oregon. He is now its vice president.

In l923 he married Violet Genevieve Ducich. She was the daughter of Peter and Nicoletta Ducich of Astoria, Oregon. J.T. and Violet Fries have one son, Robert Johnson. He is a high school student and plans to be a professional baseball player.

Sofie Fries, the third child of Mathias and Pelagia Fries was born at Green Valley Farm August 4, 1901. She attended school in Nelson, B.C., Canada. She found employment in the local telephone office and remained in this work until she married Dave Wade, a cobbler, on September 12, 1912. He was born in England and served in France with the Canadian Army. They have two children, Pauline E., born February 7, 1915. She married Thomas Birrell, November 16, 1938. Thomas Birrell was born January 13, 1911. He was the son of Andrew and Vine Birrell of Scottish descent. Jonathan W. Wade was born May 5, 1922. He helped his father in the shoe shop. After his graduation from high school, he joined the Canadian Navy August 1, 1941.

Emilie Friis, the third child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born March 3, 1855, and died in infancy.

Emilie Georgine Friis, the fourth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Nakskov March 2, 1856. She became a teacher and gained her first experience as private teacher in a home. In 1877 she went to Copenhagen, where she taught school for her two aunts, Anna and Wilholmine Sehussen, in their private school for girls. In 1881 they retired and Emilie took over the school. It had an enrollment of 35 girls which Emilie increased to 150. Her sister, Benedicte, who was also a teacher, became her equal partner in the school. The school was known as Freken Friis' School for Girls. In 1925 Emilie was 75 years old, the age in Denmark when all teachers must retire. Private teachers are not eligible for the teacher's pension, but in recognition of her long service in education the Government provided her with a free home for the rest of her life. Her sister and partner lived with her in the free apartment in Copenhagen. She died Feb. 26, 1943. (The Danish version has a more extensive discussion of her life. )

Karoline Wilhelmine Friis, the fifth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Nakskov April 4, 1857. When she finished the common schools, she became her father's private secretary, did his correspondence and wrote most of his books. Her chief ambition ass to please her brothers and sisters. She was the chief cook, nurse, and advisor. They still speak of her as the perfect cook, their best friend and most loved sister. She continued her interest in children by playing a leading part in teaching Sunday School. Her home was the happy and common meeting place for her brothers and sisters until her death.

When her father died, she became the housekeeper and later private secretary for a banker. He had charge of a collection agency for a Government lottery. The banker recommended to the Government that she should carry on the business of the agency after his death. This she did until her death on June 24, 1901.

Anna Katrine Friis, the sixth child of J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Nakskov May 10, 1858. She finished the common school and then served her apprenticeship in dressmaking for three years and then worked for five years as a tailoress in a large department store in Aalborg. Then she moved to Copenhagen, where she operated a dressmaking shop where she employed three helpers. Her business was profitable. In 1896 her mother came to live with her. The mother lived with Anna until her death in 1918. Anna's health began to fail and by 1912 she had to give up her business because of rheumatism. At that time she went to live with her two sisters, Emilie and Benedikte, until her death February 22, 1922.

Benedikte Theodore Friis, the seventh child of pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne May 23, 1856. When she had completed common school, she studied to be a teacher and received practical training at home by teaching her younger brothers and sisters. In 1881 she began teaching in her sister Emilie's private school in Copenhagen. The two sisters spent their summers on the beach and shortly after the World War they spent two summers travelling in Europe, visiting Germany and all the War-torn countries, including Switzerland. The three sisters were still living in Copenhagen in 1941.

Christian Sehussen Friis, the eighth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S Friis was born in Horne July 11, 1660. He finished the common schools and then served his apprenticeship in blacksmithing and as a mechanist in the Government railroad shops in Aarhus. He became a master mechanic and then joined the Danish Navy, where he served for nine months. In 1883 he came to the United States. He worked as a machinist successfully in Altoona, Pennsylvania. When he had accumulated a little money, he entered the medical school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he studied for two years. As a graduation present his mother sent him money to finance a visit to Denmark. When he returned to the United States, he began practicing in Michigan. Later he moved to New Mexico, where he lived until his death December 5, 1919. He was survived by two children, Walter, born December 25, 1907, and Ellinor, born November 29, 1895. All trace of them has been lost.

Signe Sehussen Friis, the ninth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne in 1861. Died March 22, 1862. Buried in Horne Cemetery.

Hans Peter Desimus Friis, the tenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne October 20, 1862, and died June 20, 1871.

The eleventh child was stillborn.

Signe Friis, the twelfth child of J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne October 16, 1864, and died November 25, 1664.

Thorvald Justus Friis, the thirteenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne October 16, 1864, and died March 32, 1870.

Signe Matilda Friis, the fourteenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born December 9, 1865. When she graduated from the common school, she went to a home to learn housekeeping. This was the same farm home where her brother Ulrick was learning to be a farmer. She remained on this farm for a year and then went to Aalborg to prepare for the teacher's examination. When she had completed this training, she served as a private teacher in a well-to-do home for several years. In October of 1890 she accepted a position in one of the public schools of Aalborg and remained in this position until her retirement in October, 1934. In 1925 she bought a beach home on the west coast in Horne Sogn. This was her home during the summer vacation and this came to be the popular meeting place for family reunions. It was a popular place, too, because this district was the birthplace of Signe and most of her brothers and sisters. The house is known as Brembarhuset, in English, "the blackberry house." During the summer vacations, Signe played an active role in the local social welfare organization.

At the time of her retirement in 1934 she was highly honored by the school board and many of her former students at a special reception which they had planned for her. Since then she has lived in Copenhagen and spends her summers in Brembarhuset.

Ulrick Engelhart Fries, (probably mostly written by Ulrick himself.)
The fifteenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne Parsonage December 19, 1866. He attended the public school in Aalborg and was confirmed at the age of fourteen. Thence he went to work on a farm where he earned his board and room for one year. This was in preparation for becoming a farmer. The name of this farm was Hydal. It is of interest that his sister, Signe, worked on this farm at the same time, but their mother had to clothe them.

Life on this farm is a contrast to our way of living. Ulrick did light work but worked the same hours as the hired men. During summer months Ulrick got out of bed at four o'clock, would take care of his team, have breakfast, and be ready to be at work in the field at six. At nine o'clock the men would stop working for refreshments and a half-hour rest. Even the horse received the same treat. Work then continued until twelve o'clock and the men would return to work at one thirty. At four in the afternoon they would enjoy refreshments and a half-hour rest. Refreshments consisted of sandwiches and home-brewed beer. When beer was not provided, a mixture of milk and water was the drink.

Duo to the fact that Ulrick was the son of a minister, he enjoyed the privilege of eating with the farmer's family and sharing the home life. The hired men slept in a dingy room prepared for them in the horse stable. Their mea1s were served in a room near the kitchen, and their food was inferior in comparison with that the family enjoyed. Work on the farm continued until seven o'clock in the evening. However, after supper the men were expected to prepare special food for the cattle and horses.

At the end of the year the farmer wanted Ulrick to work for wages. The lad refused because he did not want to live the life of the men on the place. He became interested in dairying, and his mother arranged for him to work on a farm in Vekkerby Sogn (district). Here he enjoyed the same privileges as before. This was a large dairy where Ulrick learned the care and feeding of cows as well as the handling of the milk, cream, and butter. He also learned the care and feeding of hogs. Dairy farms were not fenced, and the cows were picketed out. In winter months the cows were fed on the average of eight times a day.

When Ulrick had worked for about two years on this dairy, his mother, (by now a widow) became more and more concerned about his future. Her friend and legal advisor suggested that she send Ulrick to America, the land of opportunity, where he could acquire a farm of his own. The lad consented and in a few weeks, at the age of seventeen, Ulrick with twenty dollars, besides his ticket, set out without friends on his three-week trip to this country. Ulrick's mother had an acquaintance who owned a farm near Joliet, Illinois. From 1884 to February 1886, Ulrick worked on two different farms near Joliet, Illinois, and had saved up enough money to come west. On this first farm he earned ten dollars a month until winter and then worked for five dollars a month until February 1. Then he hired out for one year for one hundred and fifty dollars plus board, room, and laundry. With a year's pay of one hundred fifty dollars Ulrick left for Walla Walla, in Washington Territory. He planned to go to Seattle, but the ticket agent in Chicago, Illinois, a Dane, advised him to go to Walla Walla because it was located in the timber area where work was plentiful, and Seattle did not offer any opportunity for men looking for work. He finally found work on a farm near Pendelton, Oregon, where he worked a few months. His employer was a Dane and happened to be acquainted with Urick's father.

Farm work was not remunerative, and Ulrick made his way to Walla Walla, then up the Yakima Valley to Ellensburg, which was then the end of the railroad. He had carried his blankets all this distance. After leaving Ellensburg he met the construction contractor, who put Ulrick to work for two dollars per day on the railroad grade. The work in the Stampede Tunnel paid two dollars and a half per day. Ulrick soon found work there. It was in this rough frontier work that the young Dane met the men who changed his whole future life. They were young Germans who wanted to become independent and own a farm of their own and raise cattle. One of them, Andrew Zeller by name, had been in the Okanogan Country the previous year. He was impressed by the mild climate, good land, and abundant bunch grass which covered the hills and valleys. On April 1, 1887, Ulrick settled on his farm, known as Green Valley Farm (link to photo). His nearest towns were Ellensburg and Spokane. One hundred and seventy-five miles to be traveled on foot, horseback, or wagon. The only reading matter which the poor homesteader possessed was a pocket edition of the Chinook language which Ulrick purchased in Ellensburg before setting out for the Okanogan Country. Not only was he the interpreter for his party, but he became fluent in the use of the Chinook language and used it frequently in his dealing with Indians. His children greatly enjoyed listening to his conversations with them.

In 1891 Ulrick married Anna Cathrine Friis of Denmark. They reared a family of seven children on Green Valley Farm. He became active and influential in the development of his community, was a leader in the pioneer community activities, a leader in the Grange, farm cooperatives, and county polities. He and his courageous wife never forsake the religious beliefs and morals which they had learned in Denmark, and that was not easy in a frontier community. They stood for honesty and refinement and promoted education.

At the ago of seventy-five Ulrick Fries still lives on the same land and is in active partnership with his son, Jacob. He is a respected citizen, Dad to everyone who knows him, and is known as the grand old man of Okanogan County. (For more information about Ulrick, see his book From Copenhagen to Okanogan, Caxton Printers (Caldwell, ID) 1949. link to Amazon?

Louise Augusta Friis, the sixteenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne January 23, 1868. She attended public school in Aalborg, was confirmed, and then went to work in a country home to learn housekeeping. After a year she returned to Aalborg to live with her mother and took up tailoring. This did not interest her, and she went to Hjoring to work at her brother's dental office. She remained in this work for seven years and then accompanied her brother Mathias and his family to the United States. She kept house for her brothers Ulrick and Thorvald until her marriage to Charles S. McFarland April 27, 1892. Charles McFarland was the son of John Walter and Lydia Lucinda McFarlane. He was a blacksmith and a farmer.

Louise and Charles McFarland lived for a time near Green Valley Farm and then moved to Wauconda. In 1909 they moved to Spokane. They separated, and their five children ramained with their mother who died in February 3, 1920.

The children of Louise and Charles McFarland are as follows.

Frank Walter, born at Olema, Washington, February 12, 1895. He completed the eighth grade, worked as blacksmith in Hillyard Railroad shops. He served with the A.E.F. in France for eighteen months. July 1, 1921, he married Edna Lightfoot of Spokane. He is employed as a janitor in the Spokane Public School. Walter and Edna McFarland have two children, Laverna Louise, born February 9, 1925, in Spokane, and John Walter, born October 10, 1927.

Frederick Mathias, was born September 13, 1897, at Olona, Washington. Fred attended school in Spokane and worked in the Hillyard Railroad shops. Later he moved to Gold Hill, Oregon. He mines and also works in sawmills. He is unmarried.

Toroda Mabel, was born at Toroda, Washington, July 26, 1899. She attended school in Spokane and worked as a telephone operator in Spokane and Chicago, Illinois. She married Gottlieb Harry Meyers April 4, 1925. He is the son of Henry and Catherine Palmas Meyers of Pistakee Lake, McHenry County, Illinois. He was a pugilist and served in the amy for eight years. He served on the Mexican Border Patrol and was a sergeant in the army during the War. They live at Spokane, Washington, and have three children, Thais, Charles, and Kathleen.

Edgar Allan, was born at Anglin, Washington, August 20, 1903. He attended school in Spokane, Washington, and married Edith May Grosso April 1, 1928. They reside in Spokane, Washington.

Edith Lydia, was born at Anglin, Washington, July 21, 1908. She was graduated from the Brewster, Washington, High School and the University of Washington. She majored in art and fol1ows this work as her hobby. While in the University, she was elected to Lambda Rho, art honorary, in her senior year. Who's Who in Northwest Art contains the fol1owing paragraph of information about her: "Printmaker; Painter (oil); Craftsman (metal work, pottery, weaving) —Born Anglin, Washington, July 21 1908. Pupil of Cooper School, Spokane; University of Washington, Seattle; Chicago Art Institute; Member, Lambda Rho. Awards: Five first prizes (crafts), Okanogan County Fair, September 1938. Work "Dr. McKinley of Brewster," Dr. McKinley's office, Brewster, Washington; "Barbara," Mrs. D. Moses, Chicago. Illustration for Bierce's The Bottomless Grave reproduced in Design Magazine, 1938, and Columbia University Teacher's College Yearbook, 1938 (Art instruction today). Exhibitor at Seattle Art Museum, 1934; with Northwest Printmakers, 1938. Occasional cartooning in lino-cut, Brewster Herald."
In 1934 she married Glen Widel of Brewster, Washington. He is the printer in the Brewster Herald Office. (Daughter Marty is also an artist.)

Thorvald Holger Friis (Thorvald and his wife Marie compiled this family history. The information about him is a summary of the Danish version, which appears to be lengthier, and includes many more family members who now live in Denmark. For more information about Thorvald, see also his privately published booklet, Memories and Stories from 1889 to 1897.)

The seventeenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Horne, August 25, 1870. He completed public school in Aalborg and was confirmed and worked as an apprentice for two years with a city gardener. He spent two years in the same work at Hjoring. In 1887 he went to work on a large estate to learn farming. It was on this farm that he met Marie Jakobsen. In the spring of 1899 he joined his brother, Ulrick, in Okanogan County, Washington. In the autumn of 1892 he returned to Denmark to wed Marie Jakobsen, daughter of Kristen and Katrine Jakobsen. He was a blacksmith and owned a farm. Thorvald and Marie returned to Okanogan County, Washington in the winter of 1893. In 1897 they returned to Denmark to take over a farm, given to them by Marie's parents. They lived on this farm until 1923, when they rented it to their eldest son. Thorvald became the postmaster at Toftvang, Fabjorg Sogn. He is retired and lives on a small acreage and tends his bees and chickens, also a small orchard.

The children of Marie and Thorvald Friis are Jakob Jorgen Frederik, born at Brewster, Washington March 28, 1894; Anna Katrine, born on a farm near Brewster, Washington, January 29, 1896, died of tuberculosis, 1909; Christian Holger, born May 8, 1898, in Vintergaard, Lemvig, Denmark; Jens Ejnar, born March 17, 1900; Karoline Vilhelmine, born December 25, 1901; Emil Sehussen, born April 4, 1903; Sigvald Vintersgaard, born November 12, 1904; Signe Cecilie, born July 18, 1906; Ulrick Mathias, born December 8, 1907; Anna Katrine, born April 23, 1914.

Sofie Magdalene Friis, the eighteenth child of Pastor J.J.F. and H.S.C.S. Friis was born in Kirketerp Parsonage, Vekkerby Sogn, December 7, 1873. Studied to be a teacher, took special training in music and fancy handwork. When she had completed her training, she did private teaching on large estates until she married Elias Andreas Friis on December 23, 1897. Elias's history has been fully covered previously. Sofie lives in Copenhagen with her four children.

 

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