KROHE, FREDERICK AUGUST, now living retired at Beardstown, was at tone time one of the leading agriculturists of Cass County, where he is so well and favorably known. He was born in Saxony, Germany, December 2, 1832, a son of August and Christina (Jokisch) Krohe. On January 1, 1835, the family came to the United States, landing at New Orleans, having crossed the ocean on a sailing vessel, which consumed several weeks, during which time very rough weather was experienced. From New Orleans the little party started up the Mississippi River and on arriving at St. Louis took another boat for Beardstown. The voyage during the last stage took eight days. During the ensuing winter, the family remained at Beardstown, but in the following spring the father went into the country and bought land in what is called Jokisch settlement, and there Frederick August was reared. The parents both died on their farm at that point.

Frederick August Krohe attended the public and German schools, but had few educational advantages, but was taught to work. When he was twenty years old, he left the farm, and came to Beardstown, remaining with his grandfather for some months, when he went to the Sangamon River bottoms, where he and his wife worked hard and earned $140 with the help of his team of mules, in one year, quite an amount of money in those days. Following this he rented land and worked it until the death of his grandfather, when the land was sold, and he bought 108 acres in the Sangamon River bottoms, and began farming. At that time he had many head of horses and cattle, but practically no money, but he was an excellent manager, and soon was able to add to his holdings until he had 208 acres of land. Later he bought 280 acres along the bluff, with some in the bottoms, and in 1890 he purchased a lot in Beardstown, and on it had a comfortable frame house erected, in which he has since live retired.

In 1853 Mr. Krohe married Mary Korfmacher, born in Prussia, Germany, who died about 1894, having borne him the following children: Theodore, who is deceased; Edward, who is of Cass County, lives on his father's old farm, which he bought; Matilda, who is Mrs. Louis Zimmer of Jacksonville; Albert H., who is of Cass County, lives on a farm he bought of his father; and Augusta, who is Mrs. Adam Shaeffer, of Beardstown. On September 15, 1901, mr. Krohe married Minnie Reller, who was born at Beardstown, Ill., June 6, 1858, a daughter of Frederick and Louisa (Witte) Reller, he born in Hanover, Germany, and she in Prussia, Germany. They came to Beardstown when unmarried, there met and married. He was a carpenter by trade, and owned considerable property. The children of Frederick Reller and wife were: William, who is deceased; Minnie; Henry, who is of Beardstown, and Henry and Anna, both deceased. Mrs. Krohe was educated in the German and public schools of Beardstown. St. John's Lutheran church holds the membership of the family. In politics Mr. Krohe is a Democrat, and has served as school director for many years. He takes much interest in his five living children, and is proud of the fact that he has twenty-two grandchildren, fifteen of whom are boys, and eight great-grandchildren, all the boys bearing the name of Krohe, and may each develop into as fine a man as their great-grandfather.