THEODORE FRANKENFIELD�The subject of this sketch was born December 28, 1850, in Prussia, and was the son of Adolph and Johannes (Fielden) Frankenfield, who were natives of the same place. The father was a soldier for thirty years. Our subject came to America when twenty-five years of age and was seventy-five days on the trip, and landed in the city of New York. He was a blacksmith by trade and worked at this business until he came to Illinois. His first change in this new county was from New York to Pennsylvania, and from there he went to various places until in 1861 he settled near where he now lives. He worked by the month and at this trade, and in June 1863, he was married to Miss Catherine C. Morris, who was born on the farm where our subject now lives. She was born April 28, 1846, and was a daughter of Joshua and Nancy (Hickey) Morris. Her father came from Kentucky and settled here about 1830, locating in this township with his father and mother, Henry and Mary Morris, and lived and died here, aged about seventy years. The father of Mrs. Frankenfield was born in the year 1801 and lived until 1881. He was of Irish ancestry, and was proprietor of a frontier grocery store. He was one of the first of the pioneers of this section and lived in a primitive log house, but at his death he owned 700 aces of land to bequeath to his family. He built the present home about eighteen years ago. He was a kind hearted man, was very active in politics and was an ardent Republican.

The gentleman of whom we write was one of five children, of whom he is probably the only survivor. He served four years in the German army, and soon after his discharge came to America, where he has been a very successful man. He and his good wife have four living children, as follows: Joshua T. was born April 16, 1864, and is now married and the father of one boy; William E. was born September 28, 1866, and a girl is now the comfort of his home; Matilda C. was born May 1, 1869, and now in her home has a boy and girl of her own; Henry P. was born September 27, 1876; and Frank, a lad of eleven years is dead. All the children received an education in the district school.

Mr. Frankenfield believes in the principles of the Democracy and cast his first vote in this country for James Buchannan. He and all of his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he has been very active in work in the church and Sunday school. He has carried on a system of mixed farming and has 300 acres of land. He is a man who commands the respect of the whole neighborhood, and the family is one which has been very prominent among the pioneers of this grand old county.