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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 385-386
FREDERICK LIBERT. Sound judgment, combined with fine ability in mechanical lines, has enabled the subject of this biography, a well-known blacksmith of Platteville, Grant county, to attain a substantial success in life, and his history is of especial interest. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1840, and when only five years old crossed the Atlantic with his parents, Kausman and Margaret (MARTINS) LIBERT, also natives of Bavaria, who located first in Jo Daviess county, Ill., but in 1856 moved to Grant county, Wis. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died at Hazel Green in 1861, and the mother departed this life in 1858. In their family were ten children, of whom the following are still living: Nicholos, Andrew, Frederick, Barbara and Eva.
Frederick LIBERT was reared and educated in Jo Daviess county, Ill., and Grant county, Wis., and during his youth learned the blacksmith's trade at Platteville. That occupation he has made his life work, and in its prosecution has met with good success. His labors were interrupted by his service in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. On Aug. 8, 1862, at Platteville, Mr. LIBERT enlisted in Company E, 25th Wis. V.I., for three years or during the war. The company was organized at La Crosse, and mustered in at Madison. As a part of the Army of the West it took part in the Sauk war in Minnesota, was sent south in January, 1863, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg; the engagement at Jackson, Miss.; the battle of Kennesaw Mountain; and was with Sherman on the march to the sea. At Atlanta Mr. LIBERT was taken prisoner, and for two months was confined in Andersonville prison. He rejoined his regiment at Atlanta, in time to take part in the Carolina campaign, including the last battle Carolina campaign, including the last battle of the war - that of Bentonville. He participated in the grand review at Washington, D.C., and when honorably discharged, at Madison, Wis., in June 1865, returned to his home in Platteville. He has been a resident of Grant county since 1856, for two years lived in Hazel Green, and since then has made his home in Platteville.
At Hazel Green, in 1866, Mr. LIBERT was united in marriage with Miss Catherine GARNER, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Daniel GARNER; her mother's maiden name was OPPENLEY. Mr. and Mrs. GARNER were early settlers of Grant county, and are now deceased. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. LIBERT, four are still living, namely: Maggie, now Mrs. DOLLEY, of Sioux county, Iowa; Nellie, now Mrs. SPINK, of Platteville, Wis.; Elsie; and Sadie. Socially Mr. LIBERT affiliates with W. T. Sherman Post, No. 66, G.A.R., and politically is identified with the Republican party. His fellow citizens have for him the highest esteem, and he has been called upon to represent his ward in the city council five terms, filling the office with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck