THE FRECKERS IN CANADA AND CHICAGO
WHO OPENED AND OWNED THE CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE IN TAMPA?
MAYOR WING vs. COUNCILMAN FRECKER
THE POLITICAL CAREER OF BILL FRECKER
JUDGE JOSEPH BAISDEN WALL--The Knot He Tied and the Knot He Untied
JUDGE FRANCIS MARION ROBLES
THE EMBEZZLEMENT TRIAL OF CHARLIE FRECKER & NICK BISHOFF
MAYOR JAMES McKAY, JR.
MAYOR FRED SALOMONSON
"HOTSTUFF" MAYOR FRECKER
THE DISMISSAL OF POPULAR FIRE CHIEF A. J. HARRIS
THE GREAT YBOR CITY FIRE OF 1908 (Breakout feature)
THE WING FAMILY IN TAMPA

THE DEATH OF W. H. FRECKER
MEET THE FRECKERS
WILLIAM FRECKER'S CANADIAN FAMILY


WILLIAM HERBERT FRECKER


Mayoral term: June 8, 1906 - June 4, 1908
Born
: May 1851, Chatham, Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Canada
Died: Apr. 22, 1914 (age 62) Tampa

 

William was one of five children of tanner/shoemaker Thomas Nicholas Frecker by his first wife, Emma Card.  Thomas had six more children by his second wife, Martha McDermott.

 

Although William's birth year appears as May, 1852 in later U.S. sources, his presence on the 1851 Census in Chatham at age 1/2 year guarantees he was born in 1851.

 

 

 

 

These charts are a summary of William's family in Canada.

Details and sources appear near the bottom of this page.  NB is New Brunswick.

  Emma Frecker, William's mother, died July 3, 1854 at age 32 and is buried at St. Luke's Methodist Cemetery in Chatham.
Thomas Nicholas Frecker (b1822, Quebec - d1901, Richibucto, NB.) and first wife Emma Card (b1822 NB - d. 1854 Chatham, NB) had five children in Chatham, Northumberland Co, NB. Thomas N. Frecker then married Martha Eleanor McDermott on Jun 3, 1861.  They had six children in Richibucto, Kent. Co, NB.  These were William's half-sisters and half-brothers.
1.  Matilda Sophia (Boysen)
2.  Maria Jane R. (White)
3.  John Edward
4.  William Herbert
5.  Emma
b. c1845  d.1888 Chatham, NB
b.   1846  d.1930 Richibucto, NB
b. c1849  d.1888 Chelsea, Mass.
b    1851  d.1914 Tampa, Fla.
b. c1853  d. ??
1. Ella R. (Harris)
2. Thomas R.
3. Emily Florence (Ramsay, Copp)
4. Charles A.
5. Nina L. (Seavey)
6. Thomas George

b. c1863  d.    1894 Richibucto NB
b. c1865  d.  c1874 age 9
b. c1868  d.    1944 St. John, NB
b. c1870  d.    1926 Tampa
b. c1875  d.    1956 Chicago
b.  1878   d.    1952 Surrey, BC

       

 

WILLIAM H. FRECKER MARRIES IN CANADA

On Dec. 23, 1874, William married Canadian Barbara Tait, daughter of Capt. William James Tait (Irish) & Maria Lewis (Canadian), in Escuminac, New Brunswick.    Barbara appears as "Barbary" on the 1871 census of Hardwick, Northumberland Co., NB, age 19.  Based on this age, she would have been born in 1851 or 1852.

According to their 1880 Census in Chicago, William and Barbara had three sons in Canada before they immigrated to the U.S. in 1879.

1. George J.
2. William
3. Charles Tupper

b. 1875
b. 1876-77
b. 1878, Oct.

 

 

 

Mouseover the map to zoom in on Chatham, Richibucto, and Escuminac.

 


 
FRECKERS MOVE TO CHICAGO

It's a long way from New Brunswick to Chicago, anywhere between 1,200 to 1,700 miles.  It's not known what route they took, this map is only to measure distances by some arbitrary routes.  In the 1870s and 1880s the only choices were railroad or ship and any combination of them for various legs of the journey.  It's doubtful the sailed all around Michigan. However they got to Detroit or Toledo they probably would have gone by rail from there to Chicago.


Over 1,600 miles if all on the St. Lawrence Seaway, but the last leg around Michigan is highly improbable,
as taking a train from Detroit or Toledo would cut off more than 500 miles.  Minimum travel would have been around 1,200 miles.

 

THE FRECKERS IN CHICAGO - 1880 CENSUS

In 1879 the Freckers came to Chicago where on the 1880 Census William worked in a store, probably a furniture store.  This census erroneously names him as "James Freckerd."  The first three lines of their listing clearly show corrections where erasures, rub outs and over-writing have been made, especially for the first line where James has been rewritten.

Barbara is listed as "Barbery" (again, as she was in 1871) and young Charles Frecker by his middle name "Tupper."  All show born in New Brunswick.  William shows his father was born in England, but he was actually born n Quebec.  Barbara shows her father born in Ireland.

Three tragedies befell the Frecker family while in Chicago.  According to an index of Chicago births, on Oct. 7, 1881 their only daughter was born but died two days later.  George, their oldest son, died at age 16 in 1891 and it is assumed that William also died before they left Chicago because the Freckers' only child on their 1900 census in Tampa is Charlie and it shows Barbara was mother of four children, one living.

      

 

 

This Oct. 9, 1888 naturalization record is probably William Herbert Frecker's, but the certificate numbers shows "Minor" which might mean this is his son's record.  The absence of a birth date or age makes it uncertain as to which Wm. H. Frecker this was for.

 

THE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAM FRECKER'S LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS

By January 1892, Bill Frecker was a member of Chicago's National Union Society  A Jan. 3, 1892 article on various lodge activities gives a report of the Lodge, and the activities of its various groups:  Music Council No. 325, Ogden Council #473, General Sherman Council No. 477, General Shields Council No. 509, and Union Park Council No. 308.  Frecker was a member of the Ogden Council, which met at the corner of Ogden and Western Avenues and was one of the three delegates to the cabinet.
 


FRECKER PRESIDENT OF THE FURNITURE AND CARPET SALESMEN'S ASSOCIATION
 

William was engaged in the furniture business in Chicago and was the president of a fairly new organization, being founded on May 1, 1892 (which he probably had a part in starting) called the Furniture and Carpet Salesmen's Association.   On Aug. 28, 1891, they had a member picnic attended by over 1,200 members including their families.  Frecker addressed the attendees in a brief welcoming speech, expressing his pleasure at seeing so large a number present and detailing the aims of the association.  Formed on May 1, 1892, its main purpose was to bring about the "6 o'clock closing movement."  It was a campaign to get all the furniture stores in the business district along Wabash Ave. and State St, which comprised about four-fifths of all the furniture sold at retail,  to close at 6 p.m. like the other businesses did.  At the time, the furniture dealers were staying open until 9 p.m. which caused problems with families of employees who worked all day at the stores.  It was an "all or none" proposition because any store remaining open would stand to gain most of the business.
 

The "6 o'clock closing movement" is explained in the article below.

Nothing more could be found about this movement.

 

 

CHAS. SHAW OPENS THE CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE IN TAMPA, FRECKERS ARRIVE
 

The Freckers are said to have come to Tampa around 1894 to 1895.  This period coincides with the establishment of a large furniture dealership in Tampa by Chicago furniture dealer Charles B. Shaw.  A son of British chair manufacturer Joseph Shaw, Charles Shaw came to Tampa in 1895 determined to relocate his business here permanently; he called it "Chicago Furniture House." His first location was  leased space at the southeast corner of Franklin and Jackson streets.

 

   

Notice the ad shows "And in fact All Necessary Household Goods."  The map shows a furniture and crockery business on the corner.  The crockery would be the household goods.

 

 

 

When his business was up and running, the Shaw family relocated to Tampa.

 

 

 

FIRST MENTION OF WM. H. FRECKER IN THE NEWS

 

 

 

 

The first mention of William Frecker in Tampa is found in the Tribune in May 1896 on a list of registered voters in the 2nd Ward. (Tampa Heights)  It certainly is possible that Frecker came to Tampa as an employee of C. B. Shaw or a soon-to-be-hired employee.   But contrary to what's indicated in some sources, Frecker did not own it at this time nor did he start the company.

 

 

 

This is the Tampa the Frecker's would have seen when they arrived here.

*This photo has been dated by TampaPix after analyzing the buildings seen here.  At far left is the St. Louis church which became Sacred Heart church, the shadow of the cross can be seen on the rooftop. By 1899 it had been moved closer to the house on the corner and construction had started in its place on the new Sacred Heart church.   The large building in the distance is the Convent and Academy of the Holy Names which was built in 1891 and demolished in 1925.  There is the appearance of snow in the streets, yards and on some rooftops.
 
Mouse-over the photo to see buildings identified. 1. St. Louis Church (In 1899 it was moved closer to the house on the corner and  the Sacred Heart Church was built on the former  site of the wood frame church.
2.  Original location of wood frame Y.M.C.A (became site of Young Men's Catholic Club in 1899.)
3.  Original wood frame 45' tower of St. Andrews Episcopal Church
4.  Academy of the Holy Names Convent built 1891 demolished 1925
5.  Tampa Livery Sale & Transfer Co. stables & carriage houses
 
 



 

See more photos and history about the Academy of the Holy Names and Convent here at TampaPix.

 

See the TampaPix feature about the DeSoto Hotel for the identification of buildings seen in this photo and a comparison to an 1895 Sanborn map.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At left is a crop of the full size version of the 1895 photo which gives a rare view of the 45 ft. tower of the original wood frame St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Marion St. between Madison & Twiggs streets.  Behind it is the old 1891 Academy of the Holy Names Convent which took up the whole block between Zack, Twiggs, Morgan & Pierce streets.

 

 

 

BIG BUSINESS FOR SHAW,  MOVES CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE TO LARGER SPACE

Click the ad to see it larger, then again to see it full size.

    

 


In 1913, this is where Citizens Bank built their- "skyscraper."

Business boomed for Shaw and on Jan 17, 1897, Shaw announced his store was moving to the new Davis block at 702 N. Franklin St. which was the northwest corner of Franklin and Zack, where he would have more room.   By Feb. 2, Shaw was open for business in the new Davis Building.  Shaw also planned to open a store in Manatee Co.

 

Today this whole block is occupied by the TECO Plaza and building


 

FRECKER SUPERVISES THE OPENING OF A CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE IN BRADENTON
 

In mid-1897, Shaw expanded his operations to Bradenton in Manatee. The Jul. 3, 1897 Tribune published that "Mr. W. H. Frecker returned last night from Braden Town where he has been superintending the opening up of a mammoth furniture store for the Chicago Furniture House.


By end of the month, management was established at Bradenton with E. P. Paschall, "an old resident of Manatee and young Oliver E. Shaw, son of the proprietor."  (The 1900 Census in Tampa shows Oliver Shaw would have been just 15 to 16 years old in 1897.)  The store was located in "Dr. Ballard's elegant and spacious two-story metal building."

 

 

 


 

CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE MOVES TO KRAUSE BUILDING

In mid-August 1898, Shaw moved his business into the new Krause building at the southeast corner of Zack & Franklin St.  This was just the next block south of the previous location and though it looks smaller, there was more space because the building was three stories.

Maas Brothers also moved into the new Krause building the same year and remained there for 23 years.  It was previously located at its original site as the "Dry Goods Palace" on the southeast corner of Twiggs and Franklin at 515 Franklin St. 

 


Maas Brothers in the Krause building with the American National Bank Across the street, circa 1905-1910
Image from the University of South Florida Digital Collections, Hampton Dunn Postcards.


Mouse over the photo to see where Chicago Furniture House was located.

 

 

THE EXPLOSION AND SINKING OF THE U.S.S. MAINE IN HAVANA HARBOR, FEB. 15, 1898


The battleship USS Maine entering Havana Harbor, Jan 25, 1898.  Photo from Wikipedia.

On the evening of February 15, 1898, the American battleship Maine exploded while anchored in Havana harbor, killing two officers and 250 enlisted men. Fourteen of the injured later died, bringing the death toll to 266. Sent to protect U.S. interests and as a show of strength during the Cuban revolt against Spain, she exploded suddenly, without warning, and sank quickly. 

In March 1898, an investigation of the explosion was carried out by a naval board appointed under the McKinley Administration. The consensus of the board was that the Maine was destroyed by an external explosion from a mine. However, the validity of this investigation has been challenged in modern times.  Release of the board’s report led many to accuse Spain of sabotage, helping to build public support for war.


Henry B. Plant
From Cigar City Reflections
The King of Florida

HOW TAMPA WAS CHOSEN AS THE NAVY'S PORT OF OPERATIONS

     After the explosion on the Maine, Tampa's mayor and congressman promptly petitioned Secretary of War Russell Alger for protection against the Spanish Navy. Leading citizens and the Board of Trade demanded a military presence and the funding of coastal defense sites. But from the armchair generals in Washington, there was no response.
     Then on March 22nd, Henry Plant wrote Secretary Alger personally, calling attention to his multi-million dollar investment in Port Tampa. On March 25th, Alger sent his Chief of Engineers to begin fortifications on Egmont and Mullet Keys. With that, Florida, Tampa and H.B. Plant were in the still-undeclared war. The Olivette had already made one run for Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, delivering ammunition to Key West. Local papers began boosting Tampa as the obvious supply point for operations in the Caribbean.
    
At the end of March, a real-life seagoing admiral checked into the Port Tampa Inn. On behalf of the Plant System, Henry Plant's second in command, Franklin Q. Brown, gave "Fighting Bob" Evans a tour of the harbor. The admiral passed the word to the press corps. In the event of war, make way for the Navy! Fifty thousand troops would be mobilized from Port Tampa. From Henry Plant - Pioneer Empire Builder


Tampa Mayor Myron E. Gillett
Term: June 5, 1896- June 5, 1898
Photo from "Men of the South" (where his and his son's photos are displayed in reverse order to the caption)


Read more about the Spanish-American War and the activity it brought to Tampa, including Clara Barton and the American Red Cross, in the summer of 1898 at:  Clara Barton and the American Red Cross in Cuba and Tampa during the Spanish American War

     

 

 

FRECKER IN POLITICS - THE RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL

 

While working for Shaw at Chicago Furniture House,  Bill Frecker was getting involved in civic and political affairs of Tampa.  On May 7, 1898 the results of the individual voter precincts balloting were published.  In the 27th Precinct, 26 delegates were in the running.  With 70 voters, Frecker was one of the 13 men chosen to run for City Council.  This was no list of rookies, there were some big-hitters:  Thomas Palmer, C. E. Worth, Frank Wing, A. J. Knight, C. L. Knight, N. P. Bishoff, Thomas E. Jackson, and a few others.

 

 

POLITICAL RALLY AT COURT HOUSE SQUARE (Article below)
 

A week later, a political campaign rally took place  at Court House Square for the Citizen's League, of which Frecker was a member and had put him in the running for City Council. 

 

The  League  endorsed W. J. Dombrowsky for Mayor.

 

Various city officials were seen in the crowd, including current Mayor Myron E. Gillett, "all of whom took their medicine with the best grace possible when the speakers scored the city government for not making a better showing in the way of municipal improvements.  Various delegates made their speeches for Dombrowsky, and took shots and the current administration.

 

 

 

THE SEED OF THE TRIBUNE'S "HOTSTUFF FRECKER" NICKNAME
 

After mayor-candidate Dombrowsky spoke to the crowd it was Frecker's turn.  He was introduced as “a hot member of the Citizen's league, and was currently 'red hot' in his remarks and scored the present administration (Myron Gillette) and the party that is opposed to the candidates of the Citizen's League.  He denounced the members of the Board of Public Works for not furnishing an itemized statement of the moneys under their control, and then waded into corporations that have been shown favors by the city." William Stovall, owner and editor of the Tribune, would not ever let go of the "Red Hot" fervor of Frecker, he would continue calling him "Hotstuff Willie" or "Hotstuff Mayor" throughout his political career.

 


FRANK BOWYER ELECTED MAYOR
, FRECKER EKES OUT A CITY COUNCIL SEAT


On June 7,
1898, Francis C. Bowyer was elected mayor.  Wm. Frecker was initially defeated by Harry Levick in the City Council race in the 2nd ward,
but a vote recount was conducted.

Photo of Frank Bowyer from 1904.
Tampa, Florida : its industries and
advantages and a series of
comprehensive sketches of
representative business
enterprises
at Internet Archive.  

 

The news of the newly-elected mayor shared the front page with news of war, inhumanity & child abuse, murder, suicide, and robbery.

 

 

VOTE RECOUNT FOR 2nd WARD CITY COUNCIL
 

 

At the first meeting of the City Council, attorney for the Citizen's League M. B. Macfarlane  contested the count of the ballots for Ward 2 City Council, which favored Levick (by two votes) and not the League's candidate, Frecker. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Council granted the request for a recount, and Councilmen Webb, Holmes and Kruse were appointed to the recount.  It was found that three votes had been counted for Levick which should not have been, because they were marked to the right of the name instead of the left.  With those ballots disqualified, Frecker won by one vote, 117 to 116.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the next City Council Meeting, it was announced that Frecker would be assigned to the committees that Levick had been previously appointed to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAW EXPANDS CHICAGO FURNITURE TO CUBA AT WAR'S END

 

 

 

 


 

 

Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the U.S. to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million.  Cuba technically gained its independence, but United States soldiers remained in the country for years, commonly intervening in the new nation's politics.

 

With the war over and the U.S. maintaining order and Red Cross humanitarian aid in Cuba, Shaw wasted no time in sending a young Charlie T. Frecker, William's son, to Cuba with a shipload of furniture, hoping to establish a branch store in Havana.

 

 

 

FIRST MAYOR OF WEST TAMPA, FERNANDO FIGUEREDO, APPOINTED POSITION IN CUBAN GOVERNMENT

At noon on May 20th, 1902, the U.S. Military Governor of Cuba, Gen. Leonard Wood, personally read President Theodore Roosevelt's letter declaring that the U.S. occupation of Cuba was over. At the same time, M.C. Fosnes, Dir. General of Posts for the U.S. administration, turned over all the postal affairs to Col. Fernando Figueredo, first Postmaster General of Cuba. The U.S. flag was lowered in Havana and the Cuban flag was raised.

In 1904, Estrada Palma appointed Fernando Figueredo as Comptroller-General of the Republic of Cuba, and in 1906, during the second intervention of the U.S. Government in Cuba, the American governor-general, Charles A. Magoon, named Fernando Treasurer-General of Cuba following the death of Carlos Roloff. He remained Treasurer-General until the 24th of June, 1924, when he retired.

After his retirement, he wrote historical articles for newspapers and for the Academy of History in Havana, until he died in Havana on April 13, 1929.  On March 17, 1951, the Cuban government issued three postage stamps bearing his portrait.

In 1919, at age 73, Fernando Figueredo posed with Blas Clemente Fernandez O'Halloran, the current mayor of West Tampa.  Mayor O'Halloran was a son of Blas Fernandez O'Halloran who rolled the "cigar that sparked a revolution."  This photo was likely taken in Cuba.  On Feb. 4, 1919, Blas obtained a passport to travel to Cuba.  See images of his application.
 

 

CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE'S ADVERTISING
 

Shaw ran a relentless advertising blitz in the papers--very large ads and every day.  In July 1899 Shaw announced he was offering storage in warehouses he had on Zack Street.  "For furniture, store fixtures, carriages, or merchandise of any kind."  The warehouses were situated along a railroad line so trainloads could transfer cargo directly to his facility.  He also bought a second delivery wagon, and told the Tribune that if business continued  as it has for the past two months, he would need a third wagon.

 

The 1903 map below shows the locations of Shaw's Zack Street warehouses.  Notice the ACL Railroad track (blue) terminating directly behind the warehouse on the north side of Zack.  The warehouses were wood frame construction.

 

THE FRECKERS ON THE 1900 CENSUS IN TAMPA

By the time of the 1900 Census in Tampa, William & Barbara Frecker, their son Charles T. (Tupper) Frecker and a Canadian niece named Mary McCallum were living at 106 Frances Ave. between Tampa St. and Florida Avenue.  William's wife, Barbara,  indicated she was the mother of four children, with only one living at the time.  This can be relied upon because Charles T. Frecker was the enumerator for this area in 1900.  His occupation was "stenographer."

This census asked, if foreign born, what year the person immigrated.  The record shows 1879.  The "21" represents how many years were spent here after immigrating.  This seems redundant knowing the immigration year but the answer considers any number of years since immigrating that the person was outside of the US.  Careful inspection of the record shows that Charles had first written "1884."  This could be when William became a naturalized citizen; the requirement was at least 5 years in the U.S. to be naturalized. His address, 106 Frances, is the neighborhood of Highland Park in Tampa Heights.

 

 

FRECKER STARTS HIS OWN BUSINESS - UNION FURNITURE CO.

 


 

Sometime in November 1899 Wm. Frecker left Shaw's Chicago Furniture House and started his own furniture business called "The Union Furniture Co." in in Ybor City. 

 

 

 

FRECKER JOINED BY FELLOW COUNCILMAN FRANK WING

Frecker soon opened another Union Furniture in the Jackson Building.  This was across Franklin St. from the Chicago Furniture House in the space formerly occupied by B. A. Brown, a former jeweler who in early Oct. that year sold all his stock to Southern Loan & Jewelry to pay off some of his debts.

It is at this time that Frank Wing entered the furniture business when he joined Frecker as a partner in the Union Furniture Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITIZEN'S LEAGUE CANDIDATES RUN UNOPPOSED IN 1900 ELECTION EXCEPT FOR ONE POSITION

 

In 1900, the race for Mayor and City Council, as well as all other positions except Tax Collector, would be without opposition in the June election.  Frank Wing was sure to become Mayor, and Frecker one of the City Council members for "at large" (not representing any specific ward,) but Nicholas Bishoff's bid for Tax Collector would be opposed by Herman Glogowski, a former Tampa Mayor.  Nicholas Bishoff was also in the business with Frecker & Wing's Union Furniture Company, and the Tribune took every opportunity it could to point this out, as evidenced by the May 6 article below.

 

But on May 5, 1900, the Citizen's League "slate-makers" pulled Bishoff from the running for tax collector; the Tribune speculated it was because the League had concerns of three members of City government being associated in one business, the Union Furniture Co.  By pulling Bishoff , it would leave the race uncontested for the opposition (Glogowski) because the League's first choice, Charles E. Worth, pulled out to run for County Tax Collector.

 

 

 

 

BISHOFF BACK IN THE RUNNING


On May 12, 1900, the Tribune published an article stating that the Citizen's League was going to keep Bishoff on the ticket for Tax Collector.  The Tribune again stated that Wing, Frecker and Bishoff were all in business together and that if Bishoff defeated Glogowski, the only contested race, "one concern will have much to say about the conduct of the next City administration."  That "one concern" was the Tribune, under editor Stovall, who would unceasingly ridicule, criticize, demean and disrespect the City Council, especially Frecker.

 

The Tribune concluded by stating that Glogowski was making a strong fight, and it thought Bishoff would lose, stating that the "trio above enumerated will be reduced to a duet when the votes are counted."

 

 

FRANCIS LYMAN WING ELECTED MAYOR UNOPPOSED, BUT CAN'T TAKE OFFICE

 

The election result was no surprise, except that Nicholas Bischoff defeated Herman Glogowski for City Tax Collector.  But when it came time to transfer the City Government to the new administration, six of the City Councilmen from the old administration did not show up.  Without a quorum, new Mayor Wing and the new City Council could not take office.

 

At right is an excerpt of this Jun. 9, 1900 article.  Click it to read the whole article.  When it opens, click it again to see it full size.

 

The excerpt at right is Councilman Webb's (of the "Big Six" who didn't show up) explanation as to why he and the other five councilmen didn't show up.

 

PROTECTING THE RESERVE FUND

The issue at hand was a reserve fund of $28,000 for which the outgoing City Council had passed an ordinance for the funds to be used by the Board of Public Works.  They didn't want the new administration to use it for payroll or current expenses, or even current emergencies.  They felt it was the duty of the new Council to come up with funds for those needs, as the old administration did.  But when the City Treasurer refused to turn over the funds to the Board, they knew it was an attempt to "thwart the purpose of the ordinance and retain the money for its own miscellaneous uses.  The "Big Six" councilmen were determined that they would not allow such a scheme.

 

They awaited the return of Wm. B. Henderson of the Board of Public Works in order that the Board could begin legal proceedings to obtain the fund.

 

 

 

 

MAYOR WING TAKES OFFICE, TRANSFER OF CITY GOVERNMENT, FIRST MEETING OF NEW CITY COUNCIL

 

 

At left is the beginning of a long article that covers several topics.

 

The standoff caused by the "Big Six's" absence at the last meeting was met by a Writ of Mandamus by Judge Joseph B. Wall, compelling those members to attend this meeting.

 

Their failure to previously appear and the issue of the $28k reserve fund they had earmarked for the Board of Public Works made this meeting one of high interest for the public, so the spectator's gallery  in the chamber, the hallway outside, and the street below was crowded with curious onlookers, waiting for any new surprises.

 

Outgoing Council President Bruen and members Webb, Phillips & Brown arrived, and there was no further avoidance of the issues at hand.  Holmes and DeArmas did not attend.

 

The following are the topics of the entire article, click the links to see each topic in full:

 

P.1 - THE LAST SESSION & THE "LITTLE FOUR'S" FIRST VICTORY
The meeting was called to order by Pres. Bruen, minutes of the previous meeting were read by Chief A.J. Harris and approved.  A note from Auditor Weller indicated that May 31 ended the fiscal year and a report would be forthcoming. 

 

Weller also submitted a claim from the Tampa Harness & Wagon Co for $124 amount due on a contract for sprinkling Fla. Ave. for the past 4 months. (The sandy streets were sprinkled to keep the dust clouds at a minimum.) Weller also noted it had been submitted too late for the previous meeting.

 

 

Webb moved that the bill be paid.  Frecker objected, stating he was a member of the Finance Committee and he had not heard of this claim before.  Webb said it was a verbal contract made by Mr. Holmes of Tampa Harness.  Frecker insisted the bill should be investigated.  Webb insisted on his own motion.  Webb's motion was put forth and was defeated by the "Little Four" which now consisted of Frecker, Wing, Kruse and Morey, outvoting Webb, Brown & Phillips due to the absence of Holmes & DeArmas.

 

The vote brought forth a burst of applause from the Citizen's Leaguers who occupied almost all of the spectator's benches.  On a motion by Frecker, the bill was ordered filed.

 

P2.  THE OBSEQUIES (funeral rites, burial)

The regular business was suspended and the results of the election were formally declared.  The motion carried unanimously and another outbreak of applause ensued from the spectators.  Clerk Henderson prepared his minutes for this last session of the old Council and were signed by Bruen, and thus the record of the outgoing administration was completed. After signing off on the election results, there was nothing left for the old council to do but adjourn.  As the old council left, the spectators again applauded, "manifesting considerable jollification of a political nature."  The only persons left were Frecker, Clerk Henderson, and three newspaper reporters.  The other newly elected members then came forward.

 

P3.  THE NEW MAYOR

Chosen in advance for the task, former Mayor F. A. Salomonson administered the oath of office to the new administration, which was met by applause by the gallery and cordially by the outgoing members.  In administering the oath, Mr. Salomon said: "Mr. Wing, the people of Tampa fondly hoped, when they arose this morning, that they would find you mayor of the city.  The delay, however, has happened for the best, as you will now be able to begin your administration on the Lord's Day.  I congratulate you heartily."  Clerk Henderson and Tax Collector/Assessor Bishoff were sworn in.  Treasurer-elect Keller and Councilman Dekle of the 4th Ward were absent, being out of the city.  The others were sworn in one by one, each resulting in more applause as they came forward.

 

P.4  MOORE MADE PRESIDENT

Frecker made the first motion of the new administration, nominating A. C. Moore as the council president.  This was seconded and Moore was elected.  Moore wasn't new to this, he was the President of the previous City Council.  He made some comments and was seated in the President's chair.  Frecker was elected as President Pro Tem (serving in the absence of the President.)  Attorney Shackleford, the new City Attorney (replacing Whittaker) presented a "bundle" of resolutions for the new council to begin with,  The first was passed, adopting the rules used for the previous administration.

 

P.5  HOLDING TO THE CASH

Frecker introduced the next resolution, which was greeted by cheers from the audience.  It repealed the previous administration's resolution which was to turn over the City's reserve funds to the Board of Public Works.  This was the subject of the controversy in the previous administration's standoff.  The new resolution was unanimously passed, keeping the $28k in possession by the City Council to use as they saw fit.  As the funds were already with the City Treasurer, no problem was anticipated in keeping it there.  The Council then adjourned until the next Friday night.

 

P.6  KEYS TO THE CITY

Previous Mayor Bowyer, who was waiting outside, then invited new Mayor Wing to to his office, and in a few well-chosen and kindly words, formally turned over the keys of the city to his successor, wishing the best success with his duties.  This was followed by more great applause, for the old and new mayor.

 

This concluded the reporting of the events of the meeting.

 

P.7  APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE NEXT WEEK; POSSIBILITY OF A RIFT

The Tribune reported that by the time of the next meeting, it was believed that Mayor Wing will have decided on some of the most important appointments to City positions, and speculation was running rampant around town.  It was reported that a considerable split had developed with the new administration over the position of Police Chief, and there would be a strong conflict that will threaten the solidarity of the Mayor and City Council.  "This, however, is but a street rumor, and may not amount to anything."

 

 

 

P8.  ABOUT TAMPA'S NEW MAYOR, FRANK L. WING

 

This is the only source that reveals that after marrying (in 1892) he and Mrs. Wing moved back to his New England home with the intent on staying there.

 

(Mayor Wing's administration and his personal life and death are covered in more detail on Page 1 of this feature.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


P.9  ABOUT THE NEW CITY COUNCIL

 

This next section of the Jun. 10, 1900 article introduced each new Councilman with a short paragraph about them.  The beginning of this topic, as well as the paragraph about Frecker, which appears near the end, are shown at right.

 

Already, his reputation precedes him, having served in the previous administration.

 

Click the link above to read the whole article about the rest of the members.

 

 

 

 

 

MAYOR WING MAKES CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT TO POLICE CHIEF

 

The removal of Police Chief S. T. Woodward, "a man who has made the city the best chief it has ever had," and replacement by a transient citizen, a cigar-maker who was "almost a total stranger" to the business element of the city" caused a firestorm of controversy and dissention in in the City Council as well as the entire city.  It was evident to everyone that the appointment was a reward for the backing of Wing by the cigar makers of Ybor City and West Tampa.
 


Police Chief S. T. Woodward
From an Aug. 28, 1915 Tribune article.

 

Even the Tampa Tribune was against the dismissal.  This article specifies Councilman Valdez' emphatic disapproval, but Wm. Frecker was out of town so was not in attendance.

 

 


 

 FRECKER THREATENS TO RESIGN FROM CITY COUNCIL DUE TO WING'S APPOINTMENTS

 

About the public uproar over his choice of police chief, Mayor Wing said, "It is not necessary for anybody to bother me with their kicks.  There are lots of policemen around here, let them tell their troubles to them...I can't make appointments to suit everybody."
 

 

 

The appointment of Roberts as Police Chief and others in that dept. was unpopular with most everyone, but reappointment of A. J. Harris as Fire Chief was unpopular mostly with the Citizen's League.  Harris was a well-like Fire Chief, being the first Chief of Tampa's professional fire dept. who came to Tampa with plenty of experience in the mid-1890s. to this point.

 

Frecker was quoted by the President of the Citizen's League as saying, "I hope God Almighty will strike me dead if I ever darken the doors of the council chamber as a councilman again."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frecker changed his mind about resigning from City Council. 
However, several days later, he did resign, but not from the City Council.  Read on.

 

 

 

TRIBUNE CALLS WING'S POLICE CHIEF APPOINTMENT A "GREAT, GLARING MISTAKE"
 

As was common when a new mayor took office, supporters clamored for jobs as reward for their campaigning efforts.   The Tribune found a way to attack Frecker, even though they agreed with Frecker on the Police Dept. appointments.  "It was to be expected that a man like Mr. Frecker...should feel that he should be consulted first, last, and all the time...now there is a howl from the Freckerites." 

 

The Tribune complimented Mayor Wing for not submitting to every "little ambitious politician who thinks he is entitled to the sole management of the affairs of this growing City.  And the more positively and emphatically the mayor gives the public to understand, that there is to be no 'BOSS FRECKER' or 'BOSS ANYBODY ELSE' in his administration, the better it will be for him and for the people."

 


See this entire article, there is more on the reaction and efforts of the Citizen's League. and the Tribune's view of the situation.

 

 

CHARLES SHAW CONTINUES ADVERTISING HIS CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE COMPANY

    

 

FRECKER RESIGNS FROM UNION FURNITURE CO.

In late July 1900, Frecker ended his partnership with Frank Wing and the Union Furniture Co.  The dissolution of the partnership was no surprise to anyone given the clash of political authority between Mayor Wing and Councilman Frecker.  Wing would continue with Union Furniture Co. and keep the name, Frecker and Bishoff were out entirely.  Frecker told a Tribune reporter that he anticipated establishing his own businesses in Tampa and Ybor City.


 

SHAW SELLS CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE TO FRECKER & BISHOFF

In mid-August, 1900, Charles Shaw sold his Chicago Furniture House business to Frecker and Bishoff, with them taking charge on Aug. 14th, 1900.  Frecker had left CFH about six months earlier and joined Nicholas Bishoff and Frank Wing to start Union Furniture Co, but "differences between himself and Mr. Wing caused his retirement from this partnership, and after several days of rest, Mr. Frecker became the proprietor of the older establishment."

 


"Everybody knows that Mr. Frecker is councilman-at-large while his partner, Mr. Bishoff, is city tax assessor and collector."

Charles Shaw continued in the business at his Ybor City store but as a wholesaler only.
 

Shaw also continued to advertise his storage business through the end of August, but Frecker placed no ads in the Tribune for the rest of the year for his newly acquired Chicago Furniture House of which Nicholas Bishoff was a partner.

WHY NO MORE CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE ADS?

The upcoming issues in city government may have kept Frecker too busy to devote much time to his business.  But a more probable reason was the Tribune's incessant criticism may have caused Frecker to advertise only in the Tampa Times.  (Pretty soon, Frecker would do this with the City's legal advertising--give it only to the Times.)   There are no surviving issues of the Times online from 1898 to 1912.  The early issues of 1912 indicate severe damage rendering many of these practically useless.

   

This article has been shortened, click it to see all of it.

 

NEW LICENSE TAX CAUSES UPROAR
Frecker "blows in from Chicago" just in time to weigh in.

In early Sept. 1900 the City Council took up the issue of raising municipal revenue.  The Citizen's League had campaigned on denouncing the "hateful Occupation Tax" and doing away with it by October 1, 1900.  So a resolution was put forth to do just that, but instead to change the costs of occupational licenses.  The Tribune, of course had a field day with this, stating "In other words, the name of the revenue-raising machine is to be changed, while the machine itself remains practically the same."

Ballard thought it was too early to pass such a resolution to end occupational taxes.  Greeson began to explain what the Citizen's League meant by no occupation tax when "his lucid explanation was interrupted by an unexpected incident.  Mr. Frecker, just at the moment, blew in from Chicago and landed in his seat."

Frecker explained that the Citizen's League never meant that there should not be taxes on saloons or corporations, or any other concern needing police protection, instead, it intended to take the tax [burden] off of labor and working class.
 

Fernandez still didn't seem to get it when he said he was surprised to hear Frecker say this, because he, like the Tribune, thinks it's just a name change, so he says he had heard Frecker make "at least twenty speeches in the Citizen's League and elsewhere, in entire opposition of any sort of occupation tax."  So Frecker added that he never opposed a license tax on saloons and corporations. In the end, the resolution was tabled until next Wednesday night to consider what sort of tax would be imposed.
 
LICENSE ORDINANCE PRESENTED AND PASSED WITH DRASTIC INCREASES TO LARGE COMPANIES

With only one dissenting vote, a new license ordinance which the Tribune says not only placed "substantially the same old tax upon every occupation in the city, it adds a most outrageous assessment upon all of the larger concerns which can savor nothing less than deliberate robbery."

Apparently, the Tribune was under the impression that the Citizen's League campaigned on eliminating taxes altogether, but the League's platform was lessen the tax burden on the small business and no more sweet, preferential deals or special treatment for big business just because of their contribution to Tampa's progress.

In just one article, the Tribune calls Frecker a Hotstuff, big-footed, dictatorial, Chicago boss politician, who alone and solely is the ruler of the city, who "pawed the earth, snorted and sniffed, reared and charged, attacked all the interests of the city, and placed himself as the mighty monarch of the whole community, who was put into the City Council by ill-advised voters, and that the other members of the council are mere mummies, obeying his every whim.

The attorneys for the big corporations were in attendance to try and "urge" the Council for "mere justice," quoting "liberal statistics to show that the tax imposed in the ordinance was unprecedented in the whole country."

Peter O. Knight, President of TECO and the street car line, was especially miffed, and would later express his opinions on Councilman Frecker.

A small portion of this article which was irrelevant has been cut out.  Click here to see the whole article.

 

CORPORATE ATTORNEYS FIND A LOOPHOLE, BUT TAX COLLECTOR WAS BRIEFED IN ADVANCE HOW TO HANDLE IT

A year earlier, in 1899, when the city occupational license tax was increased, attorneys for the big companies went before the Circuit Court to kill the tax, attacking its constitutionality.  Judge J. B. Wall sustained the right of the City to levy and collect the taxes.

This time, the lawyers planned a different strategy.  Under the City Charter, an ordinance has to be published five days before it can go into effect.  The first ad appeared on Oct. 1, a Monday.  So the new tax could not go into effect until Oct. 5, Friday afternoon.

But also under the City Charter, all licenses expire on Oct. 1, so as of Monday (yesterday), this left every business in the city without a license until Friday.

So on Oct. 1, the attorneys for TECO, Tampa Gas, Tampa Waterworks, Western Union, Southern Bell, and South Fla. Telegraph, all went to the Tax Collector's office to insist on paying their license tax according to the old assessments, the very ones they fought against the year before, claiming by default the old rate was still in effect.

Bishoff had been prepared to handle this, by accepting the payment, issuing a receipt, but not issuing a new license.

Then the attorneys planned to take the matter to Circuit Court with a petition for mandamus, compelling the tax collector to issue them the license for the amount paid.


MINOR TWEAKS TO THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE ORDINANCE

As a result of the scene in the Tax Collector's office, the City Council met on the evening of Oct. 1 to amend the controversial ordinance No. 245 to address the situation of some businesses paying the old tax before the new tax ordinance took effect.  Basically, a new ordinance No. 246 said anyone who paid last year's rate whose rate went up this year must pay the difference to get a license.  Those who paid last year's rate and their tax went down this year would get a refund. Ordinance No. 245 was amended by passing No. 247 excepting the license tax on steamboats and steamship companies, the exception that Ballard had made a "modest plea" for which Frecker "brushed Mr. Ballard aside with on sweep of his mighty paw."

See the list of all the occupational licenses and their cost.    See tax ord. No. 245
After they open, click again to see full size.

Meanwhile, Stovall's tantrums continued in the Tribune...

 

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE ISSUE GOES TO COURT

On Oct. 15, Circuit Court Judge Joseph B. Wall heard arguments from corporate attorneys asking for a mandamus compelling the city tax collector to receive payments for licenses under the occupation tax law of the previous year, and to issue the ones that were already paid at last year's price. The plaintiffs were TECO, Tampa Gas, Tampa Waterworks, Southern Bell, Seaboard Railway, all represented by Peter O. Knight, and Western Union and the Plant System of railways represented by Sparkman & Carter.

Knight started at 9 a.m. and did not conclude until 1 p.m.  In the afternoon, Macfarlane and Shackleford, representing the city, addressed the court for the rest of the afternoon.  On the 16th, attorney for Western Union and Seaboard, Judge W. A. Carter, presented his argument before the court.

See the whole article.


JUDGE WALL STRIKES DOWN LICENSE ORDINANCE NO. 245

The Tribune gloats and considers itself victorious, stating that "Judge Wall sustains the position taken by the Tribune."  The city attorneys were ready to appeal to the Florida supreme court.



 

Judge Perry G. Wall
Photo from The Sunland Tribune

 

JUDGE JOSEPH B. WALL

 

Joseph Baisden Wall was a half-brother of former Tampa Mayor & former Tribune editor Dr. John P. Wall.  Their father was Civil War Reconstruction era Judge Perry Green Wall, patriarch of the large Wall family in Tampa, their mothers were the first and second wives of Perry G. Wall.
 

Portrait from the 10th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida  

 

 


When Perry G. Wall's first wife Nancy Hunter Wall died in Feb. 1845, she left Perry with seven children (four daughters and three sons which included John P. Wall and William "Billy" Washington Wall), all under the age of 11.   Perry and his children moved from Hamilton Co. to Spring Hill, Benton County (later renamed Hernando Co.)  where on December 11, 1845, Perry married 35-year old Barbara R. Baisden.  She was a daughter of Josiah Baisden. 
Perry G. Wall and Barbara Baisden had three children: Joseph Baisden Wall (b.1847), Charles F. Wall** (b.1849), and Ella Wall, who died young.

 

Through the marriages of Perry G. Wall's children, the Walls were related to the families of Clarke, Knight, Lykes, Friebele, Parkhill, McKay, Frazier, Linebaugh, Dupree, and Hendry.

 

Joseph Baisden Wall (fourth son of Perry G. Wall) was born Jan 23, 1847 and served in the 2nd Florida Reserves during the latter part of the Civil war. He attended the University of Virginia and was admitted to the bar in Brooksville in 1869. He became one of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists that Florida had yet produced.

 

J.B. Wall married first in 1869 to Precious Ederington of Brooksville, with whom he had one daughter Helen (she married Judge Charles B. Parkhill). J. B. Wall then moved to Tampa in 1872.  For several years in Tampa, J. B. Wall was a partner of Hon. Henry L. Mitchell and afterwards, partner of Peter O. Knight.  In 1874 he was appointed State Attorney by Republican governor Ossian B. Hart.  J. B.  Wall prospered as a lawyer, entered politics and by 1886 was President of the State Senate. Joseph B. Wall's second wife was Fredericka Lykes of Brooksville; they had no children.  

 

WALL INVOLVED WITH CANE BEATING FORMER JUDGE MAGBEE
In his younger years, J.B. Wall was hot-tempered, as was his and his nephew-in-law, James E. Lipscomb. On Aug. 12, 1878, he was with Lipscomb when Lipscomb got into an altercation in the streets of Tampa with the retired Judge James T. Magbee.  Lipscomb pulled Magbee out of his buggy and gave him a thorough caning, using the whale bone end of his cane.  The issue was
what Lipscomb and Wall considered a derogatory comment that Magbee had published in his Republican newspaper, the Tampa Guardian, about their uncle, the late Billy Wall.  Later, J. B. Wall wrote to the Sunland Tribune (John P. Wall, editor) and justified the caning by stating that "Magbee is sufficiently young and strong to be vicious and therefore by all social laws is amenable to chastisement" Though he claimed he hadn't touched Magbee, all three men involved in the affair were fined $10 in the Mayor's Court.  Magbee was 58 years old.

 


WALL TIES THE KNOT--THE HANGMAN'S TYPE, AND IS DISBARRED FROM FEDERAL PRACTICE
On March 6, 1882, Joseph B. Wall assisted a lynch mob that hanged in front of the county courthouse a white itinerant sailor accused of attempted rape. Supposedly, Wall was in court that day, left the building and reportedly tied the "hangman’s knot, because no one else in the crowd knew how." The article about the lynching doesn't mention Wall or the the noose incident, but before the end of that week, Judge Locke disbarred Joseph Wall for it.   Naturally, editor of the Sunland Tribune (and half-brother of J. B. Wall) took to his paper to criticize Judge Locke for his action. 

Click the article at right to see all of it.
 

J. B. Wall was later appointed judge of the criminal court of record and circuit court, which was the last official position he held before his death in 1912.  He was more than once prominently mentioned in connection with candidacy for governor, congressman and U.S. senator, though the only thing preventing him was his own consent to run for the offices.

 

**This was not the infamous mob figure Charlie Wall.  Charles F. Wall was a successful fruit grower and merchant who for many years lived at Seaside, then Hillsborough County, then Brooksville for the remaining years of his life. He had no children, but he and his wife adopted a baby who was a great comfort to them in their later years.  Charles F. Wall was a man of remarkable Christian spirit who was beloved by all who knew him; one who was always looked to in time of distress for advice--a man of high character. He died in 1913.

 

Read more about Judge Perry Green Wall and Joseph Baisden Wall, and see all the articles about the above events, here at TampaPix features, "Knight and Wall Hardware" and "James T. Magbee and the Civil War, Tampa."  See this 1996 St. Pete Times article about Tampa's lawlessness.

 

 

In light of Judge Wall's decision to nullify the new tax ordinance, City Council met on the 17th to make changes to Ordinance #245. According to the Tribune, it was being modified to put more burden on the the tax payers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITY COUNCIL GIVES TRIBUNE THE AXE

A few days after Judge Wall's ruling, Frecker brought a resolution before City Council to cease using the Tribune for its legal advertising and continue only with the Times.  He stated that the Tribune was "a paper which uses every opportunity for to abuse the council."  It passed unanimously.  But Stovall didn't stop "biting the hand" that once fed him.

 


MAYOR WING ADDRESSES CITY COUNCIL ON THEIR MISHANDLING OF THE LICENSING MATTER

The Tribune praises Mayor Wing for being a mayor of "sensible and conservative views, who is not a party to and does not approve of the erraticism of the council."  It took pleasure in publishing the message, saying it showed that the mayor was not responsible for the "farce-comedy now being palmed off on the public under the guise of reform legislation."

Wing urged City Council to issue the licenses that were purchased from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5th, and to not pursue any more legal action with an appeal to the State Supreme Court, because it would end up costing the city more than what they would gain if they won.

But the Mayor DID agree that the ordinance was perfectly legal under Tampa's city charter, and that no court could have successfully defeated it IF it had been passed in time to publish it for 5 days BEFORE Oct. 1.   Mayor Wing also stated that bringing on years of trouble and lawsuits by dragging the matter out in the courts is undesirable due to an upcoming election in which the taxpayers would vote on waterworks bonding issue.  "You cannot sell your bonds if the city is engaged in litigation with its taxpayers."

 

THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN

At a City Council meeting in mid-November, Frecker brought up the subject of the circus coming to town by informing the councilmen that circus promoters wanted permission to tack signs on telephone and electric poles, and they already had consent of the corporations (TECO, So. Bell, etc.)  Several members opposed this stating that the city had an ordinance against the placing of advertising matter on poles.  A motion was made that the permission not be granted.  On the vote, Frecker stated that "It's immaterial to me, I was only asked to bring the matter before council."  To which Councilman Mason asked, "How many free tickets did they give you for it?" meaning, to bring the matter up in Council.  Frecker replied, "Not one, and I can produce the proof that I was offered enough tickets to supply the whole council, but I refused to take them."  The Tribune then airs its opinion that some of the members looked like they could have mobbed Frecker for turning down the free tickets.

Council Pres. Moore said the the council had made a serious mistake (in not allowing flyers to be posted.)  The Tribune refers to the ensuing discussion as a laughable sudden charge against an enemy, and that council forgot to take action on the matter.


THE GREAT EMBEZZLEMENT CASE OF 1901 - CHARLIE FRECKER & NICK BISHOFF ARRESTED AND CHARGED

The year 1901 started off with fireworks in the city tax collector's office when an audit of the licensing and cash receipts ledgers turns up a host of discrepancies.  The Tribune has it all figured out from the onset and pronounces Charlie T. Frecker guilty.  Nick Bishoff had hired young Charlie as his personal assistant, so he was not an actually an employee of the city. 

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE - Jan. 12, 1901
"Charles Frecker is a son of W.H. Frecker...and got the appointment to the responsible job through the influence of his father, who has not only occupied a position of practical bossism in some of the departments of city government, but also is partner with Bishoff in business."

"Again, the falsification of the records by young Frecker and the abstraction of the money was done in such a clumsy and bungling manner that it was sure to be discovered sooner or later."
 

Auditor Weller's report was only partial, as the audit was not yet complete.  But already there were twenty-two errors amounting to over $600 in the collection of the occupational license taxes, extended back to October of 1900.  Even back to the day when the tax collector's office was flooded with attorneys wanting to pay the old tax rate.

The rest of the article explains:

HOW IT WAS DONE
An example of the "stealage" is given:  A saloon owner paid Frecker $250 for his license.  (Apparently, some of the exorbitant fees didn't change after the whole ordinance was struck down by Judge Wall.)  C. Frecker issued the license for $250, but on the stub in the license book wrote only $5, and in the cash receipt ledger also only wrote $5, "an embezzlement of $245--readily detected by an inspection of the license in the saloon man's possession."

More examples are given, Armour meat company, a $100 license fee, $10 entered in the cash book and license stub book.  Cudahy & Co, another meat company, same amounts entered as Armour.  Donaldson for his vaudeville show, $100 license, $10 entered in both books.  Fessenden Real Estate, $25 license, $5 in the books.  Greeson, "a member of City Council and political associate of W. H. Frecker," $15 license, $5 entered in the books.  There were sixteen more such discrepancies found thus far.

On the day previous to this article, Nick Bishoff paid to the city treasurer the sum of $625** which was missing, but he "disclaimed any knowledge of the crooked transactions, and young Frecker excuses himself on the plea that they were due to clerical errors."

**It was actually $1,625 that was missing which Bishoff paid to the city treasurer.

NOT CLERICAL ERRORS, SO SAYS THE TRIBUNE

Mayor Wing had made not public action on the report yet, and the matter wasn't mentioned in the council meeting last night.  The Tribune wanted Charlie Frecker's head two months earlier when there was some squabble over the circus license fee.

Things only get worse for Frecker in the coming days, as more glaring discrepancies are found, amounting to over $1,000.

CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE--The Tribune has it all figured out, how it was done and "whodunnit."

 

 

TRIBUNE WANTS W.H. FRECKER TO RESIGN FROM CITY COUNCIL

On the same day the news broke in the Tribune, a second article was included, seen at left, calling on the mayor to act quickly and fire Bishoff because he was responsible for supervising Charlie Frecker, and fire Frecker as well.  Stovall gives notice that the Tribune "will insist upon this, in behalf of the people of Tampa and the safety of their public funds."

It's no surprise that the Tribune also called for Councilman Frecker to resign as well, citing "The people of Tampa have a sufficiency of the whole Frecker layout." 

No poll of the opinions of Tampa citizens has appeared or even been mentioned in the Tribune.

 

 

 

 

TRIBUNE PUSHES MAYOR WING TO FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES

The next day, the Tribune urges Mayor Wing to "MOVE" and Frecker to "FALL OUT."

"It is the plain duty of the Mayor to take the proper steps for the removal of Tax Collector Bishoff and for the criminal prosecution of Charles Frecker."

Even though "Councilman Frecker "may not be personally responsible or personally involved...his self-respect, if he has any, should impel him to retire from public office."

The Tribune says if he remains, it "will be an exhibition of gall never excelled in the history of politics."

 

 

 

PLANT CITY COURIER CHEERS EDITOR STOVALL - Formal City Charter Violations Against Bishoff  Published

An article from the Plant City Courier, date unknown, was reprinted in the Tribune on Jan. 27, 1901.  The Courier praises Stovall for the "warmest article...that ever emanated from Tampa or any other town in the South."  Stovall had his Gatling guns loaded and pulled the trigger with unerring aim, hitting the bull's eye in rapid succession.

Two charges against Bishoff are described, each with specifics (highlighted in pink or blue).  Apparently not only were some entries recorded for under what was actually paid, the fourth specific of the second charge shows $6,000 in receipts were made to various parties but the amounts were NOT paid.  What appears to be happening is favors are being done for some businesses by over reporting their payment, while others who paid in full are having some of their funds diverted somewhere else, possibly not in anyone's pocket but in the city cash total so the overcharges and undercharges balanced out--but obviously did not.  It's not clear if all of the $6,000 worth of receipts were not actually collected.

And that wasn't all of it, there were "other good and sufficient reasons" to charge Bishoff.


The above article incorrectly describes Bishoff as having been removed from his position.  Bishoff had actually resigned his position and Mayor Wing appointed J. S. McFall to fill the vacancy.  Later City Council would meet to vote on whether to accept it or not, and fire him instead.  This would have a surprise consequence later.

 

CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST BISHOFF AND C. FRECKER

When former Judge Perry G. Wall, patriarch of Tampa's large Wall family, returned from Cuba, he had his attorney (son) John P. Wall file criminal charges on Bishoff and Frecker.  Judge wall had learned of these events from a copy of the Tribune while in Havana.   John P. Wall also happened to be his son, former editor of the Tribune, and former mayor of Tampa.   Judge Wall, and no doubt many others, figured Mayor Wing would have filed the criminal charges by this time, and not having and not having done so at this point prompted Perry G.  Wall to act.  This reason, and another one, are stated in the next article, "MORE WARRANTS TODAY."   P.G. Wall was probably influenced by the Tribune's agitation and intense dislike of Councilman Frecker. 

Warrants on counts #1 and #2 on Bishoff and Frecker were sworn, and they were promptly arrested.  Bail was set but not high enough for Wall's liking so he filed more charges--#4 through #6.

 

BISHOFF AND C. FRECKER ARRESTED,  CITY TO FILE CLAIM WITH FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. FOR MISSING FUNDS

After their arrest warrants had been properly issued, Dep. Sheriff Lester arrested Bishoff at his place of business, which would have been the Chicago Furniture House.  Charlie Frecker was arrested at home; both men expected it.  

Here it is apparent that P.G. Wall took the initiative to file charges due to the the mayor not having yet done so.  Surely Mayor Wing would have, and probably wanted to first make sure that Bishoff was properly dismissed and the audit completed. The Tribune believes it is strange that so much time had passed and yet the City had not yet taken legal action:

The Tribune wrote on Feb. 5, 1901:

"...the prompt steps which he [P.G. Wall] took, relieved the mayor and other public officials of a duty which would have been incumbent upon them since Jan. 12....When it is considered that all this time was allowed to elapse and that at last a private citizen...had to take the plain and unmistakable step to bring guilty parties to justice, the case assumes a new air of peculiarity."

As a city employee trusted with the oversight of city funds, Bishoff had been bonded and insured by Fidelity & Guaranty Company, so the city planned to file a claim with them for the missing funds.  This situation also reveals the reason why P. G. Wall was so vigorous in filing criminal charges.

Perry G. Wall's explanation to the Tribune follows this article below.

PERRY G. WALL EXPLAINS WHY HE TOOK INITIATIVE TO FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES

P. G. Wall was a bondsman with the Fidelity & Guaranty Company, through which Bishoff was bonded and insured.  So it was his company that would have to repay the City the missing funds if not repaid by Bishoff or somebody else.  Wall says he heard about the issue from the Tribune while in Havana, which which he said stated of the "rascality and peculation being carried on in the office of the tax collector and assessor."  He wrote to his attorney (his son, John P. Wall) to do what it took to protect him from loss by making sure the shortage was repaid by those responsible for the loss.  When he returned from Havana and found out the shortage had not yet been paid back, believing there had been sufficient time to have done so, , his "interest as a person responsible and as a citizen who does not believe in excusing or palliating thievery and forgery in public office, made it my duty to resent the matter to the courts in the way of criminal prosecution."  After J.P Wall and attorney Turman looked over the ledgers of the tax collector and concluded evidence of forgery and embezzlement on behalf of C.T. Frecker and Bishoff, he filed the criminal charges.

COUNCILMAN W. H. FRECKER REPAYS REMAINING FUNDS

On Feb. 6, 1901, Bill Frecker paid the remaining balance due amounting to $1,019.58.   This made the total paid so far to be $2,681.58 which included Bishoff's repayment.

The criminal court was overloaded with burglary cases so the charges against Bishoff and C.T. Frecker could not be tried at this session.

The City Council was to meet on the evening of the 7th on the removal of Bishoff and to hear the evidence of the mayor's charges.

Bishoff had resigned but his final status as resigned or expelled was still to be determined.  His attorneys, Macfarlane & Raney would be present at the meeting.

The Tribune goes on to publish the amounts bondsmen paid to keep Bishoff and C. T. Frecker out of jail.

 

According to westegg.com inflation calculator, $2681 in 1901 would be like $83,368 in 2019.

Also, $2681 in 2019 would have been like $88 in 1901.

 

 

BISHOFF FIRED, POSITION OF TAX COLLECTOR IS VACANT TO THE SURPRISE OF THE MAYOR

With eight members present, including W. F. Frecker, City Council voted unanimously to fire Bishoff and not accept his resignation.  The vote took place without discussion, sustaining the charges of misfeasance and incompetence.

Bishoff's attorney, George P. Raney Jr., only said "Criminal prosecution having been instituted against Mr. Bishoff and his clerk, he will reserve his answer to these charges for the courts, and will make no answer before council."

The Tribune wrote that each member voted with an emphatic "aye" with Mr. Frecker's being particularly impressive. 

City Attorney Macfarlane then said that because of the wording of the city charter, the vote constituted not only the dismissal of Bishoff, but the service of the acting collector/assessor, J.S. McFall.  No one could legally hold the office until the mayor appoints one and the council confirms it.     Pres. Moore then said that the office was now vacant, so it was suggested that Mayor Wing be notified so he could make an immediate appointment to the position.  Efforts to contact Mayor Wing by telephone were unsuccessful, so Fire Chief A. J. Harris went out looking for him in his buggy. The Tribune wrote that this situation will prove to be a Saturday morning surprise for the people of Tampa and the mayor.  Macfarlane also added that after the meeting, any receipts signed by Acting Collector McFall would be worthless.  Read this whole article.  When it opens, click it again to see full size.

 

MAYOR WING LOCATED, TOLD OF CIRCUMSTANCES

A Tribune reporter tracked down Mayor Wing late that night and broke the news to him regarding Bishoff's firing and the vacancy of the office.  Mayor Wing did not want to discuss the matter, and only said that the city attorney had not told him of this consequence making the office vacant, such as he should have done.  He regarded the decision as being a "sudden step taken tonight as be unfair and unjust to me" and said the acting collector, "being under a good and sufficient bond, can certainly be trusted.."

 

 

 

THE PRELIMINARY HEARING

The preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 21 in the county court of Judge Francis Marion Robles.  Judge Robles was one of several sons of Tampa pioneer settler Joseph Robles.  The Tribune says "Quite an imposing array of counsel has been employed to represent Bishoff and Frecker, among them being [Matthew B., brother of Hugh] Macfarlane and [George P.] Raney, [Thomas P.] Palmer and Lunsford, and Robert McNamee.  County Attorney [Solon B.] Turman and John P. Wall were among the prosecution.

 

JUDGE FRANCIS MARION ROBLES

Francis Marion Robles was born Feb. 26, 1858* in Tampa; he was one of seven sons of Joseph Robles & Mary Garrison Robles.  On Dec. 22, 1882 he married in Tampa to Katie S. Binkley a native of Terre Haute, Indiana.

Francis obtained his law degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, graduating in 1890. He practiced law the following year, becoming the first lawyer of Hispanic descent to practice in Hillsborough County. After about a year, he then entered the cattle business as inspector for Hillsborough County and resigned that position in 1900 to become a candidate for the office of County Judge.   His 1900 Census lists his occupation as "butcher."

University of Michigan Class of 1890 photo

He was elected without opposition and took his place on the bench on January 8, 1901, serving in this capacity until Jan. 1909. He then served as Circuit Court Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit, beginning his first term in July of 1911 and a second term on July 1, 1917. Judge Robles was a member of the Democratic organizations and of the Order of the Odd Fellows. Francis and Katie Robles had two sons, Robert P. Robles (b. circa 1885) and Orryl S. Robles (b. circa 1895). Judge Robles died in Tampa on Sept. 7, 1933, age 75.

*The 1860 census of Tampa shows Francis was 3 years old by June 1860. He may have been born Feb. 1857.


Judge Robles, circa 1911
Photo courtesy of Michelle Hanko, his great-granddaughter

Read more about the Robles family at TampaPix


 

DEATH OF JUDGE FRANCIS MARION ROBLES

The Tribune is mistaken about Joe Robles being captured while running the blockade from Tampa to Cuba and spending months in prison.  They are confused with James McKay, Sr.  and his capture on his ship, the Salvor. This appears to be another example of folklore-based reporting propagated over the years from Joe Robles' obituary.  According to "The Robles Family during the Civil War in Tampa," USFSP Master's Theses (Graduate) by Karen E. Lucibello, 2012:

Joseph Paul* Robles, Sr., the feisty one hundred thirty-five pound, nearly 45 year old Spaniard, took advantage of the practice of letting boys of fourteen and men past 45 be volunteers in army service. He became superintendent of the vital saltworks near Tampa Bay and did voluntary service for the local Home Guard.  Covington** describes Charles J. Munnerlin’s Cow Cavalry as sort of a “home guard unit” because they slept “in their beds at home.” This appears to describe the situation for local volunteer groups. His obituary of February 13, 1907, in the Morning Tribune noted that Robles also served as a volunteer on a blockade runner where, “He was captured while aboard this craft, and spent a time in a Northern prison. Upon being released he returned to this county and began his long residence on North Central Avenue.” Since records of volunteer groups and blockade runners are not always available, there is no written verification of these stories.

*Joe Robles did not have a middle name, and his son, Joseph Paul Robles, was NOT a "Jr."  The "Paul" in Joseph Paul Robles Sr. made its way into print by carelessness, bad reporting or assumption, as evidenced by Ms. Lucibello's Graduate Thesis use of it for Joe Robles' middle name.  In an age and industry such as the newspaper business, when first and middle initials reigned supreme, Joseph Robles never appears with a middle initial or middle name in his lifetime.

*James Covington, The Story of Southwest Florida, Family and Personal History. 9 Volume 2 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1957). 314.

Lucibello, Karen E., "The Robles Family during the Civil War in Tampa" (2012). USFSP Master's Theses (Graduate). 105. https://digital.usfsp.edu/masterstheses/105

According to Michelle Murray Mears,

"Probably the most illustrious member of the family was Judge Robles....My family home was on what they called Michigan Ave., now they call it Columbus Drive. He would ride on a horse, all decked out with his boots on and everything. He would come by riding a horse. He wasn’t paying too much attention to us, I was just a child at the time, and I could see him as he’d go by, and that’s my memory of Judge Robles. He was quite a character in his own way."

Special thanks to Michelle for her assistance in providing information about her Robles family roots.
 

PRELIMINARY HEARING POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH

As a courtesy to M. B. Macfarlane, counsel for the defense, Judge Robles postponed the preliminary hearing until March 12 due to Macfarlane having planned to attend President McKinley's inauguration in Washington D.C. on March 4.  Even if the preliminary hearing had been started on time, the Criminal Court trial could not have started before the third Monday in March which was the next session of that court.

Read this entire Feb. 22, 1901 article.

On hand on the possibility that the hearing would start on time were the defendants who waited in Judge Robles' office.  Attorney C. C. Whitaker as well as John P. Wall were present for the prosecution, "who has been employed by a number of leading citizens to prosecute the two men, feeling that the case should be pushed with all the vigor possible, a number of citizens made up a purse and employed Whitaker with this purpose in view."  This made TWO private attorneys on the prosecution, as well as county attorney Turman.

The defendants remained out on bail, and the Tribune stated that it was doubtful that there will ever be a hearing in Judge Robles' court because Turman had already taken steps to bring the cases directly before the criminal court, and a commitment wouldn't be necessary so far as the prosecution was concerned.

REMAINING BALANCE OF MISSING FUNDS REPAID

As of Feb. 22, 1901, the balance of the shortage in the city treasury amounting to $97.47 had been paid by Councilman Frecker.  Part of it consisted of the return of Bishoff's salary which had been paid in advance to the end of the month.

$2,776 in 1901 would be worth $86,323 in 2019.

 

 

TRIAL CONTINUED UNTIL JUNE

When the trail date arrived, attorney for the defense Thomas Palmer asked Judge Graham for a continuance, due to his prior commitment of running for president of the state senate.

The prosecution objected vigorously on the grounds that Palmer's political aspirations should not delay the trial, but Judge Graham granted the continuance.

Click to see the entire article.

It's not known for sure which "firm" the Tribune refers to at right.  Whether the literal firm of W.H. Frecker & Bishoff in the furniture business, or the team of Charlie Frecker & Bishoff with the "firm" being their jobs in the tax collector's office.

In the coming months, the Tribune would continue to stir the pot so that the public wouldn't forget about this crime perpetrated on the people of Tampa.  As the day of the trial approached, the Tribune took credit for exposing the whole embezzlement affair, as well as for the removal, replacement, and arrest of Bishoff and C. Frecker.

THE DREAM TEAMS

Several big-name attorneys were involved in this case.  For the defense, there was recently added Municipal Judge Harry A. Peoples for C. Frecker.  Others were Matthew B. Macfarlane, Thomas Shackleford, State Rep. Robert McNamee, George G. Clough, State Sen. Thomas Palmer, and James J. Lunsford.  For the prosecution, in addition to state attorney Solon B. Turman Sr. (son of Judge Simon Turman), there were hired guns John P. Wall and Frank M. Simonton.  This list for the prosecution would change, ultimately being F. M. Simonton, John P. Wall, C. C. Whitaker, Samuel T. Fletcher, and H. S. Hampton.  (It's not known why city attorney Hugh C. Macfarlane wasn't prosecuting this case, perhaps because his brother was on the defense.)

THE TRIAL OF CHARLES TUPPER FRECKER BEGINS

The trial of Charlie Frecker began on July 1, 1901 with six members of the jury being selected as seen in the article below.  Not much more was accomplished due to what the Tribune believes were technicalities--the plan of the defense to object to every move made by the state.  Each objection resulting in more argument which became a talking match, which the Tribune believed to be of little or no relevancy to the real issues of the case.  Fortunately for Charlie Frecker, Tribune Editor Wm. Stovall wasn't the presiding judge.

 

 

The article at left is only the beginning paragraphs.  Click to see the whole article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TRIBUNE KEEPING SCORE

After preliminary events such as jury selection, the actual testimony began at 3:30 p.m and lasted until 6:20 p.m.  The Tribune reporter kept a record of how many minutes each attorney talked.

"Senator Palmer has a good lead, but his record may be overtaken to-day"

COMING SOON

THE TRIAL OF CHARLIE FRECKER

 

 

 

 


 

BIG CORPORATIONS FIGHT LICENSE TAX AGAIN

As Frecker continued to stand up to big corporations, they continued to fight the city license tax in 1901.  This time they just plain refused to pay up.  Frecker instructed the city attorney to "take legal steps to enforce the collection of these licenses."

TRIBUNE COMPLIMENTS FRECKER'S BUSINESS
Either Wm. Stovall has mellowed or this is a paid ad because it calls Frecker a "gentleman" and compliments Frecker's business, as well as his ability to manage it.  Apparently, Chas. Shaw had a business partner when he sold to Frecker in Aug. 1900, a Mr. Woodhull.

 

JAMES MCKAY JR. ELECTED MAYOR


 
James McKay, Jr., was born in Mobile, Ala., in 1842 and moved with his parents to Brooksville then Tampa in 1846.  He  was a son of James, Sr. and Matilda Cail McKay. At the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted in the Fourth Florida Infantry Regiment. McKay was later promoted to captain of an independent company of soldiers who were on detached duty to round up and transport cattle for the Confederate Army.

After the war, McKay worked as a seaman on his father’s schooners and eventually became a master mariner. Following his father’s death in 1876, McKay took over the family business, and sold it 10 years later to serve as a captain for the Plant Steamship Company. McKay became the captain of the Mascotte steamer in 1886, and was in charge of the construction of various ships including the Olivette.

He was then elected to the Florida State Senate, where he served from 1891 until 1893. On September 1, 1894, he became a U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida.

Elected on June 5, 1902, Mayor McKay’s administration emphasized the need for growth and the importance of public investment to service that growth. During his tenure, Mayor McKay made a number of judicial appointments and adopted some policies that appealed to the working class and union voters. After his time in office, McKay served as Tampa’s Postmaster from 1914 until 1917. He died in Tampa on September 5, 1925.

McKay was married three times, first to Mary Crichton, then to Helene Turton, and then to Lillian Warren. McKay and Mary Crichton McKay had nine children.

Most of the above is from "The Mayors of Tampa, 1856 - 2019."
 

The above photo is from Peerless Pageant: The First Ten Years of Tampa’s Gasparilla Festival by Rosanna Ensley, Tampa Bay History Magazine Volume 21  2007. It described as "Captain James McKay, Jr.was photographed astride his horse during the second Gasparilla invasion in 1905."  Lesley Collection, Tampa Bay History Center


According to Tampa Tribune articles, Gasparilla II celebration was part of the State Fair celebration from Nov. 15 to 17th..  The Gasparilla Krewe was part of the floral parade on Nov 15th.  The Gasparilla II King was William Gaither, and his queen was Mary Carnes, but their identities were not revealed until the Gasparilla Ball on the evening of Nov. 17.  There is no mention of James McKay in any of the articles published about the celebration over the four days from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19.  There really no "Gasparilla Parade;' they were a section of the floral parade of cars.

See his passport application of Jan. 15, 1918.

"History of Tampa of the Olden Days" By JAMES McKAY, JR.  REMINISCENCES OF CAPT. JAMES McKAY, JR.  In his later years he wrote two lengthy articles about the early history of Tampa and Hillsborough County. The first was printed in the Tampa Times, Dec., 20 1921, and was later reprinted in D, B. McKay’s Pioneer Florida. The second article appeared in the Tampa Times, Dec. 18, 1923, and is reprinted here.   [Note, TampaPix can't vouch for the accuracy of McKay's articles.  Much of it appears to be based on memories, an often inaccurate source of history if much more than a few years old.  McKay was 79 years old at the time.]  

 

 

FRED SALOMONSON ELECTED MAYOR FOR THIRD TIME

Mayor Salomonson, 1904
Photo courtesy of Tampa, Florida : its industries and advantages and a series of  comprehensive sketches of  representative business  enterprises
at Internet Archive.  

 

FREDERICK A. SALOMONSON
Tampa’s 28th, 30th, & 35th Mayor
First Term March 10, 1893 – March 9, 1894
Second Term March 8, 1895 – June 5, 1896
Third Term June 5, 1904 – June 7, 1906


Born: July 20, 1860, Almelo, Overijssel, Netherlands
Died: December 19, 1911, Tampa, Florida

Born in the Netherlands on July 20, 1860, Frederick A. Salomonson arrived in the United States in 1882 as a representative of a Dutch syndicate that owned land in Florida. After completing his business, Salomonson decided to remain in Florida and moved to Jacksonville where he worked for two years for a railroad company.

In late 1884, Salomonson moved to Tampa where he established a real estate business. With his real estate partner, John Fessenden, he co-founded the Tampa Real Estate and Loan Association in 1887.

Frederick A. Salomonson married Florence Augusta Newcomb on January 31, 1885 in Tampa, Florida. They had four children: Marie, Lodwoyk “Lodie,” Freida, and Wilhelmina.

Salomonson was one of the founding members of Tampa’s Board of Trade. He became involved in local politics and he was elected to Tampa’s City Council, where he first served from March 6, 1889 until March 5, 1890. Two years later, he was elected again, and served from March 4, 1892 until March 10 1893. Immediately following his second term as a City Council member, he was elected as 28th mayor of Tampa. It would be the first of three non-consecutive terms. During his first administration, Mayor Salomonson focused on capital improvement projects that facilitated social and economic growth in Tampa.

Frederick A. Salomonson began his second term on March 8, 1895. Just prior to this, Florida had gone through the Great Freeze during the winter of 1894-1895, which had severely damaged citrus tree groves, causing great hardship to the state’s economy. Approximately $78,000,000 was lost statewide. The result of the freeze ultimately benefited Tampa as many growers that had been located in northern counties moved south. However, at the time Salomonson took office, Tampa was still recovering from the effects of the freeze. During his second term, Mayor Salomonson worked on improving Tampa’s infrastructure. Water mains were placed, sidewalks were constructed in Hyde Park, and more streets were paved. Mayor Salomonson also worked toward expanding Tampa’s sewers to include all of the city, which was a thirty mile expansion. Public Works improvements were given priority and were a necessity for the growing city. In September of 1895, a Tampa police officer named John McCormick was fatally wounded while trying to apprehend a suspect. He left behind a wife and five children. Mayor Salomonson responded to this tragedy by assembling a police squad to find and apprehend the man who shot Officer McCormick. He also requested donations from local citizens for Officer McCormick’s family.

Beginning his third and final term on June 5, 1904, Frederick A. Salomonson continued his previous work to improve Tampa’s infrastructure. Tampa had grown considerably since he was last in office and in 1900, it had become the fourth largest city in Florida. The cigar industry continued to bring many immigrants to the area and Tampa’s political landscape showed both continuity as well as change. Shortly after being elected in 1904, Mayor Salomonson wrote an open letter to the City Council that was published in the Tampa Tribune. In the letter, Mayor Salomonson requested assistance from the council in approving repairs to Tampa’s sewer system, as well as its bridges and roads. At the time, many of the roads were still unpaved. Ahead of his time, the mayor also mentioned the need for a new City Hall building. This would not be completed until 1915. Upon leaving office, Salomonson returned to his real estate business. Shortly thereafter, he became ill with tuberculosis and spent time in Colorado in an effort to improve his health. Unfortunately, he was unable to overcome the illness and he died in Tampa on December 19, 1911.

Most of the above is from "The Mayors of Tampa, 1856 - 2019."

 

FRECKER BUYS OUT WING'S UNION FURNITURE BUSINESS IN 1905

Bill Frecker went full circle in the furniture business when he bought Frank Wing's furniture business.  Frecker started off working for Charles Shaw at Chicago Furniture House, then left to start his own business, Union Furniture, with N. Bishoff and Frank Wing.  Frecker's political differences with then Mayor Wing caused him to leave Union Furniture and buy Chicago Furniture House from Shaw.  Now he was buying back Union Furniture because he needed more room and Wing wanted to devote more time to being County Treasurer.

 

 

Above: Two of Frank Wing's ads for his Union Furniture store at 807 Franklin St.  in April 1901.


Below: The postcard shows Chicago Furniture House in the former Union Furniture location on the 800 block of Franklin St.  The store would occupy this location through at least 1918.  To the right of the CFH is the location of Tampa Hardware Co., whose space would be occupied by CFH by 1913.  On the next block can bee seen the Hampton Bldg, and the "Witch Hat" roof of the original location of Citizen's bank at Franklin & Zack, all occupying the 700 block of Franklin St.  Real estate developer of Sulphur Springs, Josiah S. Richardson's banner can be seen hanging over Franklin St, with a hand pointing to his office on the right.


Circa 1905-1907
Post card image courtesy of Ebay seller ltappe11

HOTSTUFF FRECKER ELECTED MAYOR

During his mayoral campaign, Frecker expressed policies that appealed to both business leaders and the working class. He was quite candid regarding his support for unions yet the business community found in Frecker someone that they could work with.  There must have been something that the voters of Tampa liked about William H. Frecker because he was elected mayor in June 1906.  He apparently had a great deal of support from the Cuban and Spanish community.  But for the Tampa Tribune, this was all-out war on Bill Frecker.

 


 

One of the first issues Mayor Frecker addressed was that of saloons opening on Sundays.  A long-standing city ordinance against it was often overlooked, with police "looking the other way."  Below, Mayor Frecker's brother, Charles A. (sometimes "E.") Frecker, seems to have gotten the better of a man who made derogatory remarks about the Mayor for closing saloons on Sunday.  "Bert" was probably a nickname for his middle name, Albert or Elbert.

 

He also dealt sternly with officers exhibiting immoral public behavior, on or off duty. Frecker suspended two officers, Killabrew for visiting a saloon and drinking alcohol on duty, the Williams for deserting his family.  Later in Aug, a police committee cleared Williams and City Council dropped the charge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


FRECKER REMOVES FIRE CHIEF A. J. HARRIS

 

On June 26, 1906 Tampa City Council approved Mayor Fecker's appointments to Chief of Fire Dept, Chief of Sanitary Dept. and Asst., Plumbing Inspector, Electrician, and Veterinary Surgeon. Frecker's decision to remove Andrew J. Harris as Fire Chief wasn't too popular with many Tampans, as Harris had proven himself for "nineteen years." (Harris was with the department for almost 19 years, since 1888, but he was not the elected Chief for all those years.  He was elected Chief 13 years earlier when the first paid, professional dept. was organized in 1893.)  The appointment of Tucker Savage as Fire Chief was the only one of Mayor Frecker's appointments that was "met with determined opposition" by the City Council.

 

*Harris was not Fire Chief for nineteen years.  Nineteen years earlier, in 1887, Tampa had a volunteer dept. and the Chief was Augustus Wuerpel. 

 

 

EARLY FIRE CHIEFS OF THE TAMPA FIRE DEPARTMENT
 

A. J. Harris was a furniture upholsterer and worked at this trade in Savannah, Ga. before coming to Tampa.  He was a member of the Savannah volunteer fire dept. and elected Second Pioneer of the Russell Hose Company on Aug. 28, 1874. By 1884, Harris was with the Wavers Co. in Savannah.

 

Harris came to Tampa in late 1886 to mid 1887 when the Savannah fire dept. was becoming a paid professional organization. The transition in Svannah was a gradual one, taking around 15 years from 1875 to 1890 as various stations were staffed with paid firemen.

 

By Sept. 1887 he was "doing a rushing business in the mattress-making and upholstering furniture business upstairs in the Wall Building." 

      

A. J. HARRIS AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF HIS EARLY FIRE DEPT. INVOLVEMENT IN TAMPA

August C. Wuerpel
Tampa's first organized Fire Dept. Chief.
Circa 1893 from a family portrait at Find-a-Grave, courtesy of JAV.

On June 2, 1884, sixteen local citizens formed Hook & Ladder Company No.1, a volunteer department with W. B. Henderson as foreman, Fred Herman, assistant foreman, and C. P. Wandell, treasurer.  Other members were P. F. Smith, Dr. Duff Post, Ed Morris, J. C. Cole, E. L. Lesley, Phil Collins, S. P. Hayden, Frank Ghira, H. L. Knight, A. J. Knight, C. L. Ayres, S. B. Crosby and A. P. Brockway.   In 1885, Augustus C. Wuerpel was appointed to be the department Chief.    [Grismer, A History of Tampa, 1959] 

Due to a relative lack of fires and lack of interest of the members along with their desire for public recognition, the fire-fighting organization formed in June of 1884 became defunct. [A. C. Wuerpel's letter explaining his resignation of 1890.]

The only equipment these firemen had consisted of twenty buckets, two scaling ladders and some axes. In these early days, dependence for water to fight fires in the heart of the business district was on public wells located at various intersections, and the Jackson Street ditch.  Bucket brigades carried the water to the site of the fires.  [Grismer, A History of Tampa, 1959] 

In these days, fighting fires wasn't just for the fire department, every citizen in the area who could assist pitched in with the bucket brigade, and wet blankets.  Disastrous fires of 1885 and May 1886 caused interest to revive the fire department and Wuerpel again was chosen as its chief with seven "bucket brigades" organized to serve the city.

Immediately after the Baldwin house/Miller & Henderson fire of May 12, 1886, Wuerpel and Tampa's leading citizens convinced the town council that it would be wise to invest in a fire engine, so a $600 "hand pumper" was ordered. Paid for by successful liquor dealer Robert Mugge, it became known as the "Mugge Pumper." It arrived July 30, 1886 along with 350 feet of two-inch hose and a hose reel. 

To make effective use of the new equipment, the Tampa Fire Company was organized on August 30, 1886, with A. C. Wuerpel as president, Robert Mugge as secretary, and Herman Glogowski as treasurer. Other members were G. B. Sparkman, Odet Grillon, H. Hearquist, C. O. Pinkert, John R. Jones, Leon Dartize, Charles G. Lundgren, J. O. Nelson, Vicente de Leo, and Ernest Gerstenberger.   A. J. Harris would likely have been a member of this fire company upon arriving in late 1886 to mid-1887. 

These men, and the members of the Hook & Ladder Company, served without pay. The new hand engine and supply of hose did some good in the fire of Sept. 1887*.  But that fire showed the necessity of a reliable water supply and again the council was receptive to equipping the department as it stood at this time. 

**Allusion to this fire comes from A.C. Wuerpel's resignation letter of June 1890. "The council, then in charge of the city's affairs, appreciated the necessity of fire protection and at my solicitation a hand engine and supply of hose was provided, which did good service in checking the conflagration of September, 1887." Wuerpel  was probably recalling the fire at "Rotten Row" in August 1887.  Many Tampans considered this fire to be a blessing as it destroyed all the dilapidated wooden saloons on the block.

 

TAMPA INCORPORATED

Tampa incorporated as a city in June 1887 and one of the first acts of the new Tampa city government was the passage of an ordinance on September 6, 1887 dividing the city into four wards. The old town of Tampa became the First Ward, North Tampa the Second Ward, West Tampa the Third Ward, and Ybor City the Fourth Ward. 

YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC

The next year, Dr. John P. Wall, in an effort to control the Yellow Fever epidemic in Tampa, called on A. J. Harris to fumigate all baggage arriving on the Mascotte at Port Tampa.

ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.

While plans were being made in 1889 to build Tampa's first brick city hall/fire department headquarters at Lafayette St. and Florida Ave, the city council passed ordinance No. 40 on April 22, 1889 authorizing the establishment of a volunteer fire department.  See this ordinance in its entirety in the TampaPix feature about A. C. Wuerpel. 

 

On May 5, 1889, A. J. Harris was appointed by City Council as First Assistant to Chief Augustus "Gus" C. Wuerpel of the volunteer department, with Manuel Rodriguez as second assistant.  A.J. Harris resigned as the foreman of the Alert Hose Co. so he could take the position as First Assistant Fire Chief.  Jeff Pierce was elected to fill Harris's position as Alert Co. foreman.  

On May 29, 1889, as set forth in Ordinance No. 40, elections were held by the six volunteer fire companies around the city to select their chief. Augustus C. Wuerpel was chosen over George R. Macfarlane by a margin of 67 votes. A. J. Harris and Manuel Rodriguez were elected as first and second assistants, respectively, with no opposition.  The department was comprised of these 6 companies for a total of 196 men, with A. C. Wuerpel as Chief, Andrew Harris as First Assistant Chief, and Manuel Rodriguez as Second Assistant Chief.

WUERPEL RESIGNS, HARRIS APPOINTED ACTING CHIEF

 

In 1890 when the new city hall was being completed and Chief Wuerpel was told all was ready for installation of the alarm bell system, Wuerpel advised the BPW of the weakness and lightweight construction of the building's cupola, favoring it be placed on a separate tower.  But the BPW disagreed and said it was of sufficient strength. Wuerpel installed he bell apparatus and tested the system, which by then other portions of the system had been completed.  The apparatus worked, but due to the "natural stiffness of the new machinery and owing to the weakness of the timbers in the City Hall cupola, a part of the striking machine broke and caused further delay until it could be fixed." This event would lead to disagreements between Council and Wuerpel resulting in Council appointing a completely inexperienced man in charge of maintaining the system, though Wuerpel had already been given authority over it. 

 

Wuerpel turned in his resignation, and in a lengthy letter to the Tampa Fire Dept.  which was published in the newspaper, on Jun. 12, 1890, he provided his reasons.  The letter is an excellent history of the department for the past five years.. 

 

A. J. Harris was then appointed Acting Chief of the volunteer dept. and still served as 1st Assistant. Harris served in those positions until a special election was held on Aug. 29, 1890 to fill the position of Chief through May 28th, 1891 (when Wuerpel's term would have ended, as well as the assistants' terms, Harris & Rodriguez.)

 

TALIAFERRO CHOSEN AS INTERIM CHIEF

 

Although Harris had previously announced he was resigning as 1st Assistant Chief while serving as Acting Chief, to run for the position of Chief, it appears that he instead ran for First Assistant Chief again. In that Aug. 29, 1890 special election, T. C. Taliaferro was chosen as Fire Chief over C. E. Harrison, 130 votes to 61 votes, and B. M. Balbontin was chosen as First Assistant Chief over A. J. Harris, 113 to 77.  Soon thereafter, Harris was appointed as the Superintendent and storekeeper of the new electric fire alarm system at a salary of $40/month.

 

 

TALIAFERRO ELECTED AS CHIEF FOR TWO YEARS
 

On May 28, 1891, Chief Taliaferro's term ended due to having been chosen in the special election to fill the remainder of Chief Wuerpel's term. The results of the regular election were published, indicating T. C. Taliaferro was again elected as Chief for a 2-year term in an overwhelming vote over Otto Kammerer, 493 to 10. 1st Asst. - Emilio Pons over S. J. Bowers,  2nd Asst. - C. W. Ayres over J. H. Hippenmeier,  3rd Asst. - L. Garcia, apparently unopposed.

 

Learn more about T. C. Taliaferro at the TampaPix feature about A. J. Harris.  He was more widely known as a director of the First National Bank of Tampa.

 

Thomas Carson Taliaferro
From a Jan. 3, 1993 ad about the merger of First Florida Bank with Barnett Bank, in Florida Today (Cocoa Beach)

The loss of Tampa Tribunes from Nov. 1891 through Dec. 1891, all of 1892, and Jan 1893 through March 1893 leaves a gap of about 1 1/2 years of Tampa history.

(L to R) Thomas Carson Taliaferro, Sr. and his brother, U.S. Sen. James Pendleton Taliaferro.  Circa 1920s.  Notice T.C. has his hand on top of his brother's head.
Photo courtesy of State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory project.

 

 

The missing Tampa Tribunes would have covered the circumstances of electing the next Fire Chief.  April of 1893 finds A. J. Harris still as the superintendent of the fire alarm system.    In a Tribune interview published Apr. 25, 1893, Mayor Salomonson told a reporter that an important matter had not yet received the attention it deserved, and that was one of having a PAID, PROFESSIONAL Fire Dept.  "As to the proper organization of a paid department, I think Superintendent Harris would be able to give you important information. "

 

May 1893 finds George Rae Macfarlane, cousin of Hugh Macfarlane, was Tampa's Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief.  George was a first cousin to Hugh and was the only son of Andrew Macfarlane and Margaret Rae. Andrew was son of Thomas, who was also grandfather of Hugh.  George emigrated to America in 1887, and was in the real estate business at Tampa. He first married Susan B. Gaunt. His censuses in Tampa indicate that he was born in Scotland in 1862; thus was about 11 years younger than Hugh. According to his great-granddaughter, he came to Tampa because he had family here already. George was also a collector at the US Customs. He was married to Nellie Harden and had a daughter named Mary Rae Macfarlane, born circa 1898.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HARRIS ELECTED FIRE CHIEF
 

On May 31, 1893, during Fred Salomonson's term as mayor, A. J. Harris defeated W. J. Dombrowski overwhelmingly for the position of Fire Chief.  Newspaper articles are joyful but erroneously report  "Honored again.  An Efficient Officer Enthusiastically RE-ELECTED by a flattering vote."   A. J. Harris' only prior election was Asst. Chief in 1889. His previous time as Chief was as Acting Chief, which was an appointment at the time Wuerpel resigned. 

 

Harris then remained as Chief until 1906 when he was removed by Mayor Frecker.

 

 

 

 

 

READ MORE ABOUT THE EARLY YEARS OF TAMPA'S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT, A.C. WUERPEL, AND A.J. HARRIS, here at Tampa Pix.
 

 

At Right: A Jacksonville newspaper praised Mayor Frecker for firing an off-duty sanitation inspector officer for not attempting to prevent the murderous stabbing of A. B. Wrens. 

 

THIS IS HOW WE SAY "CONGRATULATIONS" IN TAMPA
 

Ex-policeman J. A. Killabrew got revenge on Frecker by assaulting him in public.  The other ex-policeman, Williams, was informed by a lady on the street of the nearby fight and hurried there and led Killabrew away.  Frecker asked that Killabrew not be arrested, so no arrest was made.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During his term as mayor, Frecker persuaded City Council to "pass ordinances that reduced the rates charged by the Tampa Water Works Company and Peninsular Phone Company." In addition, the City of Tampa annexed the remainder of the Fort Brooke military reservation that was sold, in part, to real estate developers.  This was no easy feat, the struggle to incorporate the area dragged out over two decades.

 

See "The Final Battle for Fort Brooke" here at TampaPix.

 

THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIC IMPROVEMENT

 

 

AT RIGHT:

This Jan 10, 1907 Tribune article is a portion of a longer one in which the Tribune was praising the members of the Lafayette St. bridge committee for their progress.  The Tribune then asks if such equally qualified men could have been placed on the City Hall matter.  It states that if just the disgrace wasn't enough to get a new one built quickly, the fact that rapidly rising property costs should spur the City into action:  "...an ordinary regard for the public purse directs that the land for the structure should be purchased without delay."

 

In late April 1907, a small step towards a new City Hall was taken when Tampa finally was able to annex the Ft. Brooke area.  Mayor Frecker preferred that the annexation and new city charter be passed before trying to appropriate funding for the various wards.   It was agreed that a bond ordinance would be needed and a plan made to raise funds by the sale of some city property.

 

 

GREATEST STEP YET

 

After a little over a year in office, Frecker's administration put together a list of proposed costs of the most urgent city improvement issues.  The City Hall appropriation was $245,000 which included $45,000 to buy a new City Hall  site.  The proposed $600k  bond issue also included a new bridge across the Hillsborough River at Lafayette Street, (which ultimately would be the concrete bridge we have now,)  improvements to the sewer system, and street paving, a hospital and a new jail.    The vote was expected to be held on Dec. 10, 1907.

FEW OPPOSE BOND ISSUE SAYS MAYOR (below)

An ordinance was passed to redistrict Tampa into nine wards, and as soon as the legal ads were placed for it, City Council was expected to pass the bond issue ordinance, then it would be put up to a vote.   Mayor Frecker emphasized that everyone had to re-register to vote due to the redistricting of the City and the adoption of a new charter. 

MAYOR FRECKER CONFIDENT BOND ISSUE WILL BE APPROVED BY VOTERS

Personally, the Mayor had heard of nothing but favorable comments about the bond issue, but "in all progressive movements, however, the 'knocker' is sure to raise his head. 
 

The TRIBUNE urges to buy a lot right away before prices go up.

 



 

Every city is afflicted with individuals of this type."   He said that he had never seen a commendable movement initiated that didn't "raise a warwhoop in opposition to it.  The people have 'got on to' this tribe, however, and their howls are about as effective as those of a dog that nightly bays to the moon.  Tampa can't be stopped in her onward move by persons of this class."

 

 

THE TRIBUNE URGES NO DELAY

Opponents to the bond issue argued that no institution would loan Tampa the funds and if they did, the City wouldn't be able to afford the interest rate.  The Trib says otherwise.

YES DELAY
Fears caused by the depressed economy led to the postponement of the bond issue.  Mayor Frecker said, "The bonding issue has been pushed aside for the time being..."  But there would be no more chances for Frecker, his term ended in June 1908.

 

 

MARRIAGE OF CHARLES T. FRECKER & MARGARET VIRGINIA FULTON

 

Mayor Frecker's son, Charles Tupper Frecker, married Margaret Virginia Fulton (d/o Mr. & Mrs. W. L. Fulton) on Dec. 4, 1905 in Tampa.

 

Their daughter Margaret Loring Frecker was born Aug. 18, 1906 in Bainbridge, Georgia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was no birth announcement found in Tampa Tribune, only this article when Mrs. Frecker returned from her visit in Georgia with baby Margaret.

 

 

MAYOR FRECKER BECOMES GRANDFATHER OF TRIPLETS
On Oct. 22, 1908, Charlie & Virginia Frecker had triplets:  William Hubert,  Grace Virginia, and Ruth Barbara.  The Tribune got it wrong when they assumed Mayor Frecker was a grandfather for the first time Barbara, born Oct. 22, 1908 in Tampa.  
The Tribune was too busy criticizing the newly-elected mayor in 1906

.

THE GREAT YBOR CITY FIRE OF 1908

Fifteen blocks in the residential section of the cigar manufacturing district were swept as clean as a paved street, large stores of fine tobacco were destroyed, and over a thousand workers were thrown out of employment  when a raging fire swept through Ybor City on March 1, 1908.  A woman in child labor died of fright, a valuable horse was burned to death, and a handsome silver cigar display case costing $25,000 was lost in a matter of four and a half hours.

Read more about this fire, including the entire front page article shown above, and see why the identification of this photo is incorrect. 
It is not the La Trocha cigar factory seen burning in the distance.

HERE AT THE GREAT YBOR CITY FIRE OF 1908 AT TAMPAPIX

 

BILL FRECKER RUNS FOR REELECTION IN 1908 AGAINST FRANK WING

In 1908, Frecker campaigned on his record of law enforcement and exposing the lies of the Wing campaign; Frecker's rally was at Court House Square. Wing held four rallies, the largest of which at Franklin and Constance St.  (Constant St is today's Laurel St.  It is the street between Fortune and Scott streets and was named for early Tampa pioneer Constance Bourquardez.)  The crowd at the Frecker rally first thought the rally would be a battle of the bands.  Wing's marching band came within half a block of the square, playing loud music, drowning out the opening speech to the point that the chairman of the rally had to wait to continue.  Frecker's band responded by drowning out Wing's band.  Eventually, Wing's band marched away and the speeches resumed.

 

The Wing campaign blamed Frecker for the devastation cause by the many fires, especially the recent Ybor City fire, which spread due to lack of water pressure to fight the fire.  Wing claimed that by tying up the waterworks company in expensive litigation, they didn't have funds to extend and enlarge the water mains in Ybor City.  He also criticized Frecker for removing A.J. Harris as Fire Chief, head of the best and most organized department of the City, just because Harris didn't vote for him.  He also had former mayor Frank Bowyer expressing his low opinion of Frecker for the years Frecker was city councilman under his administration.
 

 

 

This article paints a vivid picture of the buzz of activity that filled Tampa the day before and the morning of the election. Frecker supporters wore small red, white and blue badges; Wing supporters wore buttons with a picture of Wing on them.

 

"From one end to the other last night rallies were held, and the voice of the political exhorter, rancorous even in the dying spasms of oratory, could be heard in many localities well into the cool of the early morning hours.  In every ward political henchmen cheered their favored ones to the degree of hope for future reward...the streets of the city were literally carpeted with circulars on which were printed cartoons, copies of affidavits, charges and countercharges, refutations and insinuations.

  ...Betting, and there was much of it, was at even figures with a considerable amount of both factions to be had...Every available vehicle in the city has been chartered for the day and painters have had their hands full drawing flaming letters for banners to attach to carriages and automobiles.

There was a Tampa record 82% voter turnout, with Wing winning by just 126 votes or 3.1% margin of victory.

 

AT LEFT: During the term of Mayor Wing, the Tribune criticized Frecker for continuing to remain active in municipal politics after his term as mayor had ended.  They claimed "he has a 'friend and brother' on the present Council--maybe two or three of them--and his 'influence' is frequently felt in the proceedings of that body.  The undoing of the present administration has been his one purpose in life."
 
FRECKER BICYCLE CITATION
 
 
 

THE WING FAMILY IN TAMPA

Frank Wing came to Tampa from New Bedford, MA in 1889 at the age of 21.**   In 1892 he married Annie E.  Hale, a resident of  Tampa since the age of one (daughter of Horace Harvey Hale & Ida Mary Lipscomb.).  An article in the June 10, 1900 Tribune when Wing became mayor says that after his marriage they returned to his New England home with the intention of remaining there.  "But thanks to the influence of his wife, he was induced to come back to Tampa."

**His obituary and City of Tampa website say he engaged in the furniture business, but this wasn't until 1900 when he joined Wm. Frecker.

The Wings were back in Tampa before 1895 when in January, 1895,  Frank purchased a lot in Ybor City on 7th Ave. between 15th & 16th St. for the purpose of building a wooden structure.  When completed, it was the location of his pawn shop. 

At this time, Wing was also in the real estate business in an office on the Sparkman block.  This was the east side of  Franklin St. between Madison & Twiggs, the 500 block.   In late Nov. 1895, he had a one-story brick building built on his lot at the corner of Franklin and Tyler streets, from which he continued in his real estate business. 

In Dec. 1895, Frank was joined by his brother-in-law, Horace E. Hale, in his pawn broker business in Ybor City.  Horace was formerly with W. H. Ferris' shoe store for the previous five years.

In 1895 their daughter Dorothy was born and around which time they built a beautiful house on north Morgan Street in Tampa Heights. Their children were: Dorothy (b.1895), Francis, Jr. (b.1899), Margaret (b. 1904*) and Albert (b.1906*).  *According to their censuses.

Wing served as a member of the City Council from June 1898 to June 1900, (along with Bill Frecker,) the first few months being the the time of the Spanish-American War.  During this term, he was a member of the Finance Committee, Police Department Committee and Chairman of the Schools and Public Buildings Committee. He was politically active and served a term as Hillsborough County Treasurer.

After he served as a council member, he ran unopposed for mayor as the Citizens’ League candidate in June 1900. Wing was twice elected Mayor of Tampa, first from June 8, 1900 until June 4, 1902, and again from June 3, 1908 until June 4, 1910.

 

 

In Aug. of 1899, Frank and Annie Wing's four-year-old daughter Dorothy died from a sudden illness.  She had been sick for only a short time, and a few days before her death the Tribune published "The many friends... will be delighted to know that their little girl is considerably better, and the attending physician thinks she is entirely out of danger." Her death notice two days later, Aug. 26, says "..but she must have foreseen the coming of the Angel of Death for only a few days since, she remarked to her mother that she would "soon be gone."  (Read the newspaper articles.)

The 1900 Census shows them at 209 7th Ave. in Tampa Heights, living across from William Beckwith who at the time was a real estate agent. 

 

In 1900, Bill Frecker joined Wing at his Union Furniture business.  Their political differences during Wing's mayoral term which Frecker was on the City Council led to Frecker leaving Union Furniture all to Wing.  In 1905, Wing left the furniture business to devote all his time to public office, selling his Union Furniture back to Frecker.


FRANK WING'S MAYORAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
(Information from "The Mayors of Tampa, 1856-2019")


 

During Wing’s first administration, Tampa benefited from a steady population growth, due in part by the economic prosperity from cigar manufacturing in Ybor City, phosphorus export, and the Port of Tampa (Port Tampa City 1893 – 1961). The population growth placed an enormous strain on public works and services. In response, Wing and succeeding mayors embarked on capital projects to improve and expand the City’s public works and services to the community.

During his second term Mayor Wing worked on capital projects to improve public works and services within the city.  He was the driving force in the construction of the Gordon Keller Hospital.  He also attempted to expand the police, fire, and other City departments. He initiated an expansion in sewers and water drainage capital projects and substantial improvements were made to the Port of Tampa.

From 1899 – 1911, the need for additional railroads, other than Henry B. Plant’s, to manage the expanding phosphate shipping industry became apparent.  The Spanish American War had proven how inadequate the harbor facilities were.  Local businessmen and the city administration sought and received funds from the U. S.  Congress to deepen (20 feet) and straighten (300 feet) the shipping channel from Port Tampa to downtown Tampa and the Ybor (Creek) Estuary.  In 1905, funds were provided to dredge sand to create Sheddon Island (now Harbour Island) for phosphate.


BACK TO BUSINESS AND DEATH OF SON, LYMAN WING

After his second term, Mayor Wing retired from politics and devoted himself to business, family, and social activities, which included the Freemasons and the Elks Club. His 1910 Census was taken while the Wings lived in the Tampa Heights area near Henderson Ave. and Oak Ave.

In Oct. 1911, his son, Francis Lyman Wing, Jr. died at the age of 12 from an accidental self-inflicted rifle shot.  He was hunting a chicken hawk on the family property in Sulphur Springs when he dropped his rifle, causing it to discharge.  (See the whole article.)

Frank Wing was also in the steam laundry business.  His 1920 Census shows he was also a fruit farmer and had moved to 301 Plant Ave. in Hyde Park with his wife and teenage  children, Margaret and Albert.    Wing was also involved in the construction and sale of houses. 

In 1922, one of his notable structures was opened for business, the Puritan Hotel in Hyde Park.


 

 

 

 

 

At left, the Puritan Hotel on Jan. 31, 1927.  It was located on the corner of Plant Ave. and Platt St.
 

Mouse over the photo to see it on Jul. 20, 1950.

Both photos courtesy of the Burgert Bros collection at the Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library System.

 

 

His 1930 Census shows him and wife Annie with the house all to themselves, both around 60 and Frank in the real estate business.  In addition, Wing served as director of the Lyons Fertilizer Company and served on the boards of several other local businesses. 

According to his obituary, Frank managed the Puritan until he became ill around 1935.  On the Wing's 1940 Census, Frank & Annie were at the same location, with their 33-yr-old son Albert Sayward Wing, living next door with his family--wife Elizabeth, son Albert Jr. (3) and John H. (2).  Albert Sr. had taken over the position of the Puritan hotel manager.  Frank had no occupation listed and died the next year, in October.

Some info above from City Council of Tampa, 2015 and Mayors of Tampa, 2019
 

 

FRECKER RUNS FOR MAYOR AGAIN, 1910

 

In his campaign for mayor in 1910, Frecker was endorsed by three big guns:

  • Hugh MacFarlane, prominent Tampa attorney and  the "Father of West Tampa" who was "recently elected by a flattering vote to the Board of Public Works." 

  • Former City Councilman now Sanitary Chief, James N. Holmes who was defeated in the primary election. 

  • Edward R. Gunby, another successful Tampa attorney who in 1904, along with Horatio Bisbee and William Wade Hampton, defended the rights of the settlers on the old Fort Brooke property, and argued against the Hackley Spanish Land Grant.

At a rally held Apr. 20, 1910, Hugh Macfarlane reminded voters of Frecker's record and stance on law enforcement, and particularly stressed his stand on the big corporations, saying Frecker was a man who would not sell out.  He had known Frecker ever since he came to Tampa, and he stood up against the strongest opposition from the corporations then and up to the present time.  "And if the corporations have experienced a change of heart, it is because they have learned that it is better to take what Mr. Frecker will honestly give them without selling out than to have to buy, at the present high rates, those who are willing to sell their influence."

 

In Part 2 of this article, Frecker addressed the crowd saying he knew he was among friends because when he came to Tampa, he lived in the old Second Ward which had by this time been divided into many other wards, and all had confidence in him.  He pointed out that since the time he left office, no new improvements had been made to the newly annexed areas from his administration.  He spoke in favor of paving, lighting, sewerage, as well as parks and breathing places "where the women and children could enjoy recreation."  He also spoke of Rev. Joe Sherouse, who apparently was an opponent, saying of him "..but he forgot to tell you how much he had lied to you, and I venture to say that there was never a speaker on a Tampa platform who has told so many untruths."  Frecker voiced his opinion of City Attorney Rowland, apologizing for calling him a "gentleman" earlier and would refrain from calling him a lawyer to prevent adding disgrace to the legal fraternity of Tampa.  Frecker also criticized Frank Wing, who two years ago (1908-current) wanted a chance to redeem his first administration (1900-1902), "and the very first act ...after taking office was to try to have Fred Turner removed from the Police Committee, because he knew Turner believed in the enforcement of the laws.  Frecker declared that the present conditions in Tampa were a disgrace, that the police force was disorganized and spent its time walking the streets advocating the candidacy of D. B. McKay. 

"I charge that the proposed McKay administration represents the same interests as the Wing administration.  There have been many mistakes made in this world, but the greatest mistake ever made by the people of Tampa was the election of Frank L. Wing.  Do you want his administration perpetuated by Mr. McKay?"

He pointed out that on a petition for McKay as mayor, circulated by Elmore Webb, the first name on it was Frank Wing.  Frecker read a letter from successful businessman Robert Mugge, which stated on April 4, 1909, "Gambling was never worse than now.  It exists within two blocks of City Hall.  I asked a gambler if he were not afraid and he replied, 'No, because they dare not squeal.'" ("They" being city officials, because they were in the pockets of the gambling houses, and cracking down on gambling would expose them.)

 

 

Next, James N. Holmes spoke at length at why he supports Frecker.  Because after conferring with him, he found that they held many of the same ideas regarding city improvements, including the submitting to the people of bonds to be voted on as to  how the money would be spent. 

 

Edward Gunby said it was his pleasure to "puncture, one by one, the bubbles which the McKay forces had been blowing."  One was the quit claim deed passed by the Frecker administration in favor of the Tampa Northern Railroad, which McKay criticized in his newspaper, the Tampa Times.    Gunby showed that the Supreme Court of Florida and of other states ruled that land covered by water between the shore and Government channel belongs, by right, to the owner of the abutting property. Gunby stated that the same issue and stance was taken by the Salomonson administration with the Seaboard Railway, which McKay did not see fit to criticize. 

 

He closed with what the Tribune said was a "fine burst of oratory seldom equaled anywhere, which bore some reminder of the manly doctrine of Theodore Roosevelt."  Gunby said, "I want to say a word to the young men.  No matter which side of any political question you may take, you should stand up for moral principles.  It is unfortunate that whenever a large community of people is gathered together, things exist which you and your families should never see, hear, or know about.  Indecencies are flaunted in the public streets before your faces.  One man cannot make a whole community pure, but you should stand against public shame and vice and cast your vote so that you can kneel before your God and your mother unashamed, knowing that you have done your duty."   READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE IN ITS ENTIRETY.

 

D. B. McKay won that election in 1910.

 

1910 Census, Tampa

For some unknown reason, the Freckers were enumerated twice on the 1910 Census, by the same enumerator.  After recording them on April 16, he recorded them again on a supplemental page on the 18th, at the start of a different neighborhood, and as the only family on the page stamped "SUPPLEMENTAL."

Their April 16 listing seems to be the more accurate, showing William a merchant in the furniture business, and as an employer.  Barbara indicates she was the mother of 3 children, 1 living at the time.  She was actually the mother of 4 children; 3 died in Chicago before coming to Tampa.  This is indicated on their 1900 Census which was enumerated by their son, Charlie T. Frecker.  She and William were on their first marriage for 35 years.

In the home is his Mayor Frecker's brother, Charles Frecker, twenty years his younger and single.  Charles was actually a half-brother, being a son of Thomas Nicholas Frecker's 2nd wife, Martha Eleanor McDermott.  Charles's middle name was Albert, and he appears in a few newspaper articles as "Bert Frecker."  Charles was a salesman in the furniture business, and is listed as "w" and employee.  He was working for his brother at Chicago Furniture House.

Their April 18th listing has some obvious errors, which makes the rest of the information suspect.  William and Barbara's ages differ by four years, which is not correct.  At most they would differ by ONE year depending on the current month.  Here, the enumerator has put "None" for occupation of William and his wife Barbara, yet has Barbara working at a furniture store and no occupation.  Charles is listed as a Carpenter.

 

 

1912 - BILL FRECKER RUNS FOR MAYOR A FOURTH TIME
 

In late Feb. 1912, about twenty-five men gathered at the Chicago Furniture House for a political meeting, for the purpose of discussing who should run for mayor in their party.  A committee was appointed to try to get Clerk of the Circuit Court C.M. Knott to agree to run, and if he declined "the honor is to be tendered to their old stand-by, Frecker."

In mid-March, the Hillsborough County political club apparently not able to convince Clerk Knott to run, chose Frecker at a meeting for which he wasn't even present.  A committee was appointed to go to Frecker's house that night to inform him and he had to be rousted from bed to be by a delegation from the club that informed that he had been selected to "carry the banner of the organization," and that he declined to state that night whether he would accept.

 

 

FUND RAISING IS DISMAL

Three days later, the Times (whose owner & editor was D. B. McKay) published that Frecker was reluctant to run due to lack of funds, stating that he still had debts he incurred during his campaign two years ago.  The article goes on to say that upon hearing there were 200 members in the association, Frecker proposed that if 100 would give $10 each and the remainder give what they could, he could run.  Times claimed that the hat was passed and $53 was raised.  Afterward, Frecker said he would consider the matter and give answer at a later date.

 

FRECKER PROVOKED INTO RUNNING FOR MAYOR

The next day, the Times and the Tribune both printed articles of similar content, stating that Frecker had decided to run because he was angered at what the Times had printed on the 18th about the lackluster effort of the members to contribute to his running.

A member of the group who was a former member of the board of a cigar makers union, Mr. Prest, delivered the message to the Tribune stating that "Mr. Frecker said he did not intend to run until he saw the scurrilous and lying article in the Times this afternoon.  This is the only reason that he has finally agreed to enter the contest."  The Tribune reports that Mr. Prest was to have been a compromise candidate of the organization if Frecker had not consented to run.

INACCURACIES BLAMED ON UNNAMED INFORMANT

Both the Tribune and the Times attributed any of the "inaccuracies" of the Times' article on Frecker's political organization itself, claiming that a reporter who tried to attend their meeting where Frecker was chosen and the contributions were made was "curtly informed" that he could not be admitted into the meeting because they were holding an executive session.  So the reporter had to get the story from "other sources" because "the whole populace were literally 'holding their breath' in painful suspense awaiting the decision of the perpetual candidate and his followers."

The Times claims that the information on which the article that Frecker found to be scurrilous was obtained from a man who said he attended the meeting, and that he had reiterated the next day that it was correct in every detail.

The Times also says that their unnamed informant said that the resolution nominating "Hotstuff" as a candidate and "lauding him as the noblest Roman of them all" which was adopted by his political organization last week, was written or dictated by the candidate himself.  The Times adds, "Of course modesty is his chief characteristic--the proof is overwhelming."

 

 

THIRD STRIKE, FRECKER IS OUT

 

Bill Frecker was defeated by D. B. McKay by a margin of 743* votes, with McKay taking 1,778 votes, Frecker 1,025, and Baya 413.  This time the mayoral term would be four years instead of two.  The Times reported that former Mayor Frecker came by the Times office to congratulate McKay on his win, and to a Times reporter said:

"The primary** is over, I am glad indeed that the contest was settled with one election.  That means we escape the bitterness that almost always accompanies a second primary." 

 

"Mayor McKay is my mayor as much as any man's now...Life is too short for the indulgence in partisan politics, and we should have less of that sort of thing in our city.  I believe we will have an administration that will make the city more prosperous.  We need a bond issue to carry through much needed improvements.  As a citizen and taxpayer I will lend my vote to putting through such a bond issue..every man should lay aside his personal preferences and forget politics and work for a greater Tampa.  We can afford to trust the city's future in the hands of Mayor McKay."

  *The Tribune claims McKay's majority was 340 votes, which could only be correct if you combine Frecker's 1,025 with Baya's 413.
**Again, the use of the term "primary" to mean a final election, further misused by stating "a second primary" which would be a runoff election.

 

 

BILL FRECKER VIES FOR STATE COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS

In 1913 Bill Frecker was a candidate for the Collector of Customs for Florida.  This was a much-coveted Federal position which paid very well, and was highly politically patronage-oriented.  Individuals who were qualified and often not-so-qualified but supported the President or his party to a great extent were often rewarded with the position.


 

"The candidates most prominently mentioned for this best paying Federal position in Florida have all been Tampa men: former Mayor Frecker, former State Senator James E. Crane, former State Rep A. J. Angle, President of the Board of Trade Frank Bowyer, and former Sec. of the Board of Trade J.D. Calhoun.

 

On. Jun 24, 1913, rumors swept through Tampa that former Mayor Frecker had been appointed to the position.  Many private citizens reported they received telegrams announcing this.  The Tampa Tribune carefully investigated this by contacting the Associated Pres bureau in Washington who dispelled the rumor; no appointment had been made.
   

Three days later, the Tribune was shocked to learn that an Apalachicola man was given "the biggest plum in power of the President to bestow in this State."

James Fennimore Cooper Griggs, with headquarters in Jacksonville, "came as a complete surprise here.  That Mr. Griggs was even an applicant for the position was known to but a few.

The Tribune claims that the belief was that the President (Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat) "wanted to avoid strife and went outside of these to pick a man."

Of the five Tampa men, Bowyer and Calhoun were not called to Washington to be interviewed.

 

Stovall unleashed on everyone from President Wilson's administration to Griggs, writing that Griggs was from the smallest customs port in the State.  He had no acquaintance at all with the customs service and knew little or nothing about how it has operated in such a great port as Tampa's.  He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in the 3rd District, but was one of two delegates from Florida to the last National Convention and was the first of the delegation to vote for Wilson at that convention. 

 

He was an unsuccessful aspirant for the office of Collector of Internal Revenue and never mentioned as a candidate for Collector of Customs.  What really irked the Tribune was that Tampa was made subordinate to Jacksonville.  "That the large affairs of Tampa's port would be conducted under the direction of Jacksonville headquarters is bad enough, but to add insult to injury, we are to have our customs affairs directed by an appointee from an insignificant port...who is in no essential the man for such an office." 

 

This was resented by every citizen in Tampa so strongly that there is "unrestrained talk of political scalps dangling at Tampa's belt in the near future."  The Tribune goes on to say, that "it may not even be considered facetious to suggest that, having thus shown its high consideration for the standing and importance of this port, the administration go to some other small village, like Micanopy, to choose the deputy collector for Tampa, and to still another, like Sopchoppy, to choose our next postmaster." The two Statewide offices which were filled by appointment by the present administration in Washington had gone to West Florida.  "It would seem to be about time that someone inform the White House very positively that there is more than one section of Florida."

 

 

WHAT WAS A COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS?

The Collector of Customs was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import duties on foreign goods that entered the United States by ship.  The office was described as "the prize plum" of Federal patronage not only in the state but perhaps in the country, outside of positions in the Cabinet.
  Because they were originally paid based on a percentage system that factored in both customs collected and fines levied for those who attempted to evade payment, these appointments were very lucrative, especially at the largest and busiest ports. Customs collections at U.S. ports were overseen by three political appointees—the Collector, Surveyor, and Naval Officer.

Customs authorities are, rightly or wrongly, often perceived as tax collectors. This is not entirely false: it is even one of their main tasks. However, in reality, their role was much more complex.  Customs authorities oversaw the goods traffic and the people entering and leaving the country. They had to verify that everything was legal and complied with the laws and regulations of the country. They ensured, among other things, the safety of citizens, of the environment and of the local industry.

The U.S. Customs Service employed a number of federal law enforcement officers throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Customs Special Agents investigated smuggling and other violations of customs, narcotics and revenue laws. Customs Inspectors were uniformed officers at airports, seaports and land border ports of entry who inspected people and vehicles entering the U.S. for contraband and dutiable merchandise. Customs Patrol Officers conducted uniformed and plainclothes patrol of the borders on land, sea and air to deter smuggling and apprehend smugglers.

The Collector of Customs for any given State was the head of all the local U.S. Customs  offices throughout the State.  The position was appointed by the President of the United States who also had the power to remove the office-holder.

In the 20th century, as international trade and travel increased dramatically, the Customs Service transitioned from an administrative bureau to a federal law enforcement agency.  As a result of the homeland security reorganization in March 2003, the U.S. Customs Service was renamed the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and most of its components were merged with the border elements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Sources: Wikipedia   Axxess International Inc.   The Free Dictionary (from Acts of Congress)

 

 

 

BILL FRECKER'S LAST YEARS
 

In a surprise move on Apr. 11, 1914, Bill Frecker announced his candidacy for a seat on the Board of Public Works.
 

 

Bill Frecker ran his Chicago Furniture House from 805 Franklin St. with his son, Charles T. Frecker, and his half-brother, Charles A. Frecker.

Business was still booming for Hotstuff Frecker.  Here he was awarded the contract for the new Centro Asturiano club house.


Chicago Furniture House furnished the Criminal Courtroom at the Hillsborough Co. Courthouse in April, 1914.

 

    

BILL FRECKER SERIOUSLY ILL, RUNS FOR BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
 

Former Mayor Frecker was taken to the Halycon hospital on Apr. 16 to undergo a serious operation. 

He had not been feeling well for quite some time and felt much worse on the 15th when it was decided he needed surgery.


 

On the 18th it was reported that he was steadily improving after his operation, but the cause of his illness was yet to be stated.

 

At right: The Tribune endorsed Frecker as the best candidate for a seat on the Board of Public Works, having been a City Council member and Mayor, stating "...and, with all the criticism that has been directed at him in his official capacities, it has never been shown that he was other than a faithful, honest and diligent public servant." It further states that his illness should be no reason that he should not receive the support...a citizen who will add strength to the BPW and will prove to be a valuable and efficient co-laborer.

 

Apr. 22, 1914 - The Tribune reported that Frecker was confined at the hospital and was dying, having had an attack of appendicitis, and the doctors had given up all hope.  It seemed he would recover a few days before, but his heart was weakened since then.

On the same day, the election results were published showing Bill Frecker came in 5th, just missing a seat on the BPW by 264 votes.

   
   

 
 
 

DEATH OF FORMER MAYOR WILLIAM H. FRECKER

 

William Herbert Frecker died on April 22, 1914 after an operation for an abscessed liver.  At the time he had entered the race for a seat on the Board of Public Works but it is believed his confinement to bed in the brief ten day period of his illness led to his narrow defeat.

 

One of the most important events that took place during Mayor Frecker's administration was the annexation of the Fort Brooke municipality, which until then was its own incorporated area comprised of the land south of Whiting Street.  Fort Brooke residents fought "tooth and nail" against annexation, hiring a "legal dream team" which included Hugh Macfarlane, John P. Wall and others.  "He was a man of rather aggressive disposition, but with a stern sense of honor and loyalty to his friends." 

 

At the time of his death, his wife was described as having been "almost an invalid for many years..."  She was mentioned briefly in the trial of her son, Charlie Frecker in 1901 when one of the defense attorneys said he would not bring up the subject of Charlie's mother as a means of promoting pity on Charlie from the jury.

 

Among his survivors, other than his immediate family, are his half-brother, Charles A. "Bert" Frecker, a sister Mrs. J. (Maria J. Frecker) White in Canada, a half-sister Mrs. W.F.  (Emily Frecker) Copp in Canada, and a half-sister Mrs. L.B. (Nina L. Frecker) Seavey in Chicago.

 

"HE WAS A MAN OF RATHER AGGRESSIVE DISPOSITION"


MAYOR FRECKER'S FUNERAL

 

William Frecker's funeral was held at his home in Tampa Heights and was attended by hundreds of friends.  Services were conducted by Rev. Smith Hardin, a former neighbor, and Rev. W.E. Thompson, pastor of the First Methodist Church.  A funeral procession to Woodlawn Cemetery was accompanied by a detachment of mounted police and members of the Knights of Pythas, who had charge of the services at graveside.  Hundreds of floral tributes were piled high on his grave.

  
Hubert D. King, close friend of the Freckers, may be the source of Charlie T. Frecker's son William Hubert Frecker's middle name. 
 

    THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS

(From their website: https://www.pythias.org/ )


Their lodge in Tampa was designed by architects Bonfoey & Elliott and built in 1918 at the southeast corner of Lafayette St. and Morgan St.

The Order of Knights of Pythias, a great international, non-sectarian fraternity, founded in Washington, DC, by Justus H. Rathbone, in 1864, became the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the Congress of the United States after careful investigation by then-President Abraham Lincoln.

Our fraternal order follows three distinguishing principles, Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. Domains of the Order exist in most states and provinces, and subordinate lodges are located in many cities and towns across the United States, Canada and Europe.

Our order bases its lessons and builds it ritual largely on the familiar story of the friendship of Damon and Pythias. These historical characters lived about four hundred or more years before the beginning of the Christian era. They were members of a school, founded by Pythagoras, who was known as the father of Greek philosophy. Their loyalty to each other, the adventures that beset them, and the outcome of this noble friendship, form the basis for one of the most beautiful stories of history as exemplified in our ritual.
Mar. 1918 Burgert Brothers photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library system.

 

 

TAMPA TRIBUNE EULOGY OF WILLIAM H. FRECKER

"After his term as Mayor, those who had opposed Mr. Frecker ceased to deride him as an agitator and disturber..."  Well, all except for the Tribune.

 

 

 


CHARLIE T. AND CHARLES A. FRECKER ELIMINATING COMPETITION IN TAMPA

One month after Bill Frecker's death, Chicago Furniture House bought the inventories of two bankrupt furniture retailers--the Voglesang store and the Havana Furniture Co., both in Ybor City.  A week later, they held a huge sale at the former location of the Havana Co. store at 1515 E. 7th Ave.
 

   


Color has been added to the ad.

   CHARLIE FRECKER NAMED TO STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

 

MARGARET FRECKER HOSTS PARTY
Below: Margaret Frecker was quite the socialite; her name appeard in the papers almost daily in the social news section, but almost always in a list of others who attended an affair or were on some committee.  Not very often was she the subject of an article.  Here in this May 1, 1921 article, she was described as "the attractive young daughter of Mr. & Mrs. C.T. Frecker" and the hostess of a party given at the home of her grandmother, the widow of Mayor Frecker.  Margarat would have been around 15 years old at this time.

It's not known what experience or credentials Charlie Frecker had in the realm of the medical or health profession; the appointment seems to come as a political reward, possibly he supported Gov. Catts in his election.  He was sworn in on Jun. 5, 1917 and soon was elected as chairman of the board in mid-December.

In Sep. 1917 Charlie Frecker, Pres. of the State Board of Health, Dr. Rollin Jefferson and James McGucken, started the "Anti-Slacker Club,"  the purpose of which was to help federal authorities track down illegal WW1 draft evaders.  The headquarters was at his Chicago Furniture House at 807 Franklin St.  Anyone could join the club and there were no dues or fees.  Three books were maintained for membership, one was for members to enter the names of men they knew of who had filed false exemptions for the draft and other related information.  The books were available for inspection by members of the various exemption boards, their attorneys and Federal officials.

 

 

In 1920 the Freckers were living at 501 Argyle St. 
Charles was owner of Chicago Furniture House, which was still located at 807 Franklin St.


The official date of the 1920 Census was Jan. 1, 1920, so unless someone was born on Jan. 1, they would turn a year older that year.  By adding 1 to their age on the census then subtracting from 1920, you would have their birth year, assuming their age was accurate.

 

   

 



CHARLIE FRECKER ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH BREAKING & ENTERING AND ASSAULT, FEB. 1923

These are all very long articles, so only the start of them are shown here.  Click each one to view the full article.  Most browsers first shrink the image to fit entirely on your screen, clicking again will show it at full size.

No attempt will be made at summarizing these articles--they are complicated and difficult to interpret just who is saying what and in whose favor.  What's clear is the outcome.  It was a frame-up job by his political enemies.


Who goes out in their slippers, and often enough, and them being unique enough, so that others can identify them as belonging to a certain person?

 
CLICK THE ARTICLES  ABOVE TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLES

 

CLICK THE ARTICLES ABOVE TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLES

Judge Robles told the Grand Jury it wasn't their duty to investigate this type of case, Tampa had a criminal court and prosecuting attorney for such matters.


 

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE


The charges were never prosecuted because the plaintiff's testimony was full of inconsistencies, kept changing and conflicted between the woman and her mother.  The anonymous letter Charlie Frecker received regarding the "immoral behavior" of Miss Painter, a Merchants Assoc. secretary, may have been bait to lure Charlie into taking action that would open the door to an easy frame-up.

 


THE END FOR CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE - BANKRUPTCY

Although the case against Charlie Frecker was never prosecuted, it appears to have had a negative impact on his business.  He may have also spent a considerable amount on an attorney for his defense.

But his legal troubles weren't over.
 

Charlie Frecker and his uncle, Charles "Bert" Frecker,  were sued by Lucy Cheney who was apparently a wealthy woman from Asheville, New Hampshire, and visited Tampa regularly.  She was in the news in 1923 quite often, in the society section, once for a sailing trip she took from NYC to Rio, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Panama, Cuba and various other places.  She came to Tampa often and would stay at the Tampa Bay Hotel or the Hillsboro Hotel.

WHEN IT COMES TO MIDDLE INITIALS, THE TRIBUNE CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

In early June 1923 she filed a lawsuit against Charlie T. Frecker and his uncle, Charles F. (A, not F.) Frecker for "distress."

Charlie Frecker and his uncle are accused of bankruptcy fraud by six furniture supply companies claim that in the past four months they transferred a large sum of money to one creditor with intent to prefer them over the other creditors.
 

Charlie and his uncle, as Chicago Furniture House, are declared bankrupt on Nov. 22, 1923 and a meeting for creditors to present claims was scheduled for Feb. 28, 1924 at the First National Bank building.

 


 

She apparently won and the entire stock of Chicago Furniture was levied upon by the Sheriff.  Here also is seen that Charlie was in business with his uncle, Charles A. Frecker.

A few months after Lucy Cheney's successful lawsuit against Frecker, she and Maud Fowler had their Orange Hotel remodeled.  Probably furnished with items acquired at bargain prices from her lawsuit.  Fowler was one of the major developers of Temple Terrace at this time, as well as the namesake of Fowler Avenue.

 

The Orange Hotel or Hotel Orange was NOT the historic Orange Grove Hotel which was located near the east end of Lafayette St.

Between 1923 and 1925 during the land boom, Temple Terrace streets were paved, storm sewers installed, and a well was drilled to tap spring water. On May 25, 1925, the City was incorporated, with D. Collins Gillette, one of the founding developers, serving as the first mayor, and Maude Fowler, serving as vice mayor.  Gillette was a son of former Tampa Mayor Myron Gillette.

THE FRECKER TRIPLETS BACK TOGETHER

This article of Mar. 30, 1927 tells of the Frecker Triplets; Billy Frecker's return from law school at UF.  When he left to attend UF, it was the first they had been apart, having gone through grade school to high school together.    Ruth and Grace had obtained jobs as stenographers at law firms. 


Grandchildren of W. H. FRECKER, not Frazier.  Mayor Frecker's middle name was Herbert, not Hubert. 
If Billy was named for his grandfather his middle name would also have been Herbert.

1930 CENSUS, TAMPA

The Freckers were living at 602 Euclid Ave in their home with a $65/month mortgage.  Charlie's middle initial is incorrect.  Charlie was 50 and working as a car foreman for the railroad.  His wife Margaret was 48.  All their children were still single and living with them, as well as Charlie's widowed mother, (Barbara) Ruth, who was 78.  About thirty years prior, she was described as "practically an invalid."  All the Frecker daughters were working as stenographers, Marguerite with a concrete co. and Grace & Barbara with a law office.  William was not employed.

  

 

MARGARET L. FRECKER

 

 

 

Charlie & Margaret's daughter, Ruth Barbara Frecker, married William Blanton Smith son of Mr. & Mrs. R. M. Smith, on Mar. 27, 1930 in Clearwater. By Sept 1933. Mr. Smith worked for Electrical Construction Co and left for Atlanta to be joined by wife where they planned to live. RUN ON THE BANKS AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION IMPACT W.H. FRECKER'S TRUST FUND

In June 1930, the four Frecker children filed a lawsuit against Citizens Bank for mismanagement of their trust fund set up by their grandfather, Mayor Bill Frecker.  Mayor Frecker's will placed $4,000 in trust at the bank, to be paid equally to his four grandchildren when the girls turned 18 and Billy turned 21.  Margaret turned 18 on Aug. 18, 1924, and the other two girls turned 18 in Oct. 1826.  Apparently, the bank closed on July 17, 1929, at which time the heirs made demand for a pro rated share of the trust.  But the bank paid them with bonds from the Citizens Mortgage & Bond company stating this is where their trust had been invested.  The Freckers alleged that this company was a dummy company, owned by the bank, and the rules of the court say a trustee cannot lend money to itself by investing in bonds of a subsidiary company.  Other allegations were made, including that the funds were invested in the "Bostain Hotel" in 1921 and that was the last notice they received before the bank closed.  The suit claims that aside from $1,000 paid to Ruth Frecker three months before the bank closed, they have received nothing.

 

DEATH OF BARBARA TATE FRECKER

Mayor Frecker's widow, Barbara Tate Frecker, died at the home of her son Charles at 602 Euclid Ave. in Tampa on Sep. 13, 1933.  She was 81.  She was survived by her son, daughter-in-law, her four grandchildren: William H. Frecker, Misses Margaret and Grace Frecker, and Mrs William Blanton Smith (Ruth Frecker), and one great-grandchild.

1935 FLORIDA CENSUS

This census shows Charlie and Virginia Frecker still at 602 Euclid in Tampa, with children William, Grace, and Margaret single and living with them.  But the right side of the page is torn off so Charlie's occupation has been lost.

An April 20, 1935 article in the Tampa Tribune lists Margaret Frecker as a secretary at Memorial Jr. High. 

 

BILLY FRECKER BEATS TAMPA'S BIG POLITICAL "MACHINE" WITH HELP OF SISTERS



1940 CENSUSES OF CHARLIE AND MARGARET VIRGINIA FRECKER

A short time after the 1935 Census in Tampa,  Charles T. Frecker moved to Chicago  where he took a job as a newspaper publishing company circulation manager. His 1940 census below shows he indicated he was living in the same house on Apr. 1, 1935, at 3927 Wayne Ave.  He was 61 and for his marital status,  there is a 7 next to the M which is faintly marked through with a slash.  It's not known what this means.

Meanwhile, on the same census, 1940, there is also a strikeout mark and a 7 on Virginia Frecker's marital status.  This may mean married but living apart.  She and her daughters Grace and Margaret were still living at 602 Euclid.  Grace and Margaret were still single, but Margaret would have been 33, not 31.  Grace worked as a secretary at a private law office, Margaret was a secretary for the public school system.

 

MARRIAGE OF WILLIAM H. "BILLY" FRECKER TO CECELIA MARIE VAN ORDEN

Cecelia M. Van Orden, a Tampa socialite, was crowed queen of the "Cavalcade of Florida" in 1938.  This event was a historical pageant sponsored by the American Legion  It celebrated the various stages of Florida's colorful history since the time of the Spaniards arrival. William H. "Billy" Frecker, grandson of Mayor Frecker, married Cecelia Van Orden, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Van Orden of Tampa, on  Dec. 22, 1938 at the Episcopal House of Prayer.  It was a small wedding with only the immediate families and a few close friends attending.  The wedding came as a surprise to many of their friends, as no formal announcement of their engagement had been made.

 

Even though their marriage license was obtained in Clearwater, Pinellas County, they married in Tampa on Dec. 22, 1938.


Photo is from the above wedding article.

 

 

Trudie E. Frecker (middle) and sister Cecelia Ann Frecker (right), children of William "Billy" H. Frecker & Cecelia M. Van Orden.  Billy Frecker was a grandson of Mayor Frecker, so Trudie & Cecelia are great-granddaughters of Mayor Frecker.  

On July 20, 1942 Grace V. Frecker, one of the Frecker triplets, married Ralph Lynn Holloway in Gulfport, Miss.  It was a small private wedding with just a few friends who were former Tampa residents.  After the ceremony, the couple went to Wyoming to live, where Mr. Holloway had been transferred to by the newspaper he worked for.  Grace Virginia Frecker was a granddaughter of Mayor Frecker.


Grace's marriage license shows her father, Chas. T. Frecker, was living at the YMCA Hotel in Chicago at the time.


This 1943 job wanted ad by C.T. Frecker might be Charlie's.

RUTH B. SMITH, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

In 1950, Ruth Barbara Frecker Smith, one of the Frecker triplets,  was living in Paris and working at the American Embassy as an employee of the public health service agency.  It's here in Paris where her daughter, Barbara Frecker Smith, spent the formative years of her youth.  Ruth had read an issue of the Tampa Tribune column "Kitchen Corner" where a letter from a reader requested a French apple cake recipe.  Ruth asked her French friends for one and sent it in.  Pictured is Ruth on the right with her daughter Barbara Smith, age 17, on the left.  Ruth Barbara Frecker Smith was a granddaughter of Mayor Frecker, so her daughter, Barbara (middle name Frecker) Smith, was a great-granddaughter of Mayor Frecker.

 

On Oct. 19, 1955, Billy Frecker received a concussion and possibly fractured ribs when he ran a stop sign he didn't see and was hit broadside by another car carrying a husband and wife with their two month old daughter.  Also in the car with Frecker was former Hernando Co. judge Spencer McKenzie, 50, and Mrs. Johnnie Merl Bradley, 27 of Ala.  They were on their way to a hearing in Tavares and Mrs. Bradley was probably his client.  This was probably what we'd consider today a low-speed collision, as the were the days before seat belts and occupants were usually thrown through the windshield and killed in higher -peed collisions.

 

Great-grandchildren of Mayor Frecker; Trudie E. Frecker & Cecelia Ann Frecker, with their mother Cecelia M. Van Orden Frecker.

 

 

ABOVE: Ruth Lynne Holloway (on the right) is visiting in Tampa from Atlanta.  She is a daughter of Frecker triplet Grace Virginia Frecker & R. Lynn Holloway, which makes her a great-granddaughter of Mayor Frecker.  

 

DEATH OF MARGARET VIRGINIA FRECKER, WIFE OF CHARLIE

Charlie Frecker's wife, Margaret Virginia Frecker, died in Tampa at age 71 on Apr. 3, 1959.  Her surviving  granddaughter, Barbara Frecker Jarrett (the woman on the left in the French apple cake article) was the daughter of Ruth Barbara Frecker Smith & William Blanton Smith.  Born Barbara (middle name Frecker) Smith, she first married H.R. Jarrett and in 1953 lived in Los Angeles with  their newborn son John A. Jarrett.  The obit has misspelled Jarrett and misidentified John as Margaret's grandson instead of great-grandson.

 

 

This 1953 Tribune article at left says that Ruth Frecker Smith (wife of Wm. Blanton Smith and dau. of Charlie T. & Margaret Virginia Frecker) was visiting her son-in-law and daughter Mr. & Mrs. H. R. Jarrett, in Los Angeles, with Mrs. Jarrett being the former Miss Barbara Smith (the woman on the left in the French apple cake article.)  Since Ruth didn't have a son named John A. Jarrett, he must have been the grandson mentioned here, son of Mr. & Mrs. H.R. Jarrett.
THE FRECKERS AND TAMPA'S LITTLE THEATER

BELOW: The whole Billy Frecker family was active in Tampa's Little Theater; with jobs ranging ticket taking, acting and production.  Billy met his wife Cecelia while cast opposite each other in "One of the Family."  Their daughters, Ann & Trudie were to play in the upcoming production of "Rip Van Winkle."  Mrs. Frecker lately centered on the Children's Little Theater and was a member of the group's committee.

 

Billy Frecker's niece, Barbara Smith Jarrett, also was involved with Tampa's Little Theater.  Here in 1953 she had a role in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Who was Joanne Torretta?





 

Joanne Torretta was the mother of WFLA Tampa news Channel 8 anchor Gayle Guyardo.  In 1958, Joanne played the role of "Maria" in the Tampa Chamber of Commerce film "La Flor de Tampa" (The Flower of Tampa), which promotes Tampa and especially the cigar industry.  Rick, the lead character, was played by Tampan Joe Russo. See the the article in the Tribune the day before the film's premiere, and photos from behind the scenes of the making of the movie, as well as links to see the actual film.  Here at TampaPix.

         
 

 

MISS MARGARET FRECKER AWARDED

 

IT'S ALL ABOUT PUG                      

John Anthony "Pug" Jarrett, a son of Barbara F. Smith Jarrett & Howard R. Jarrett, is a great-great-grandson of Mayor Frecker.

Read the article that was written with this photo, it's all about Pug.

 

On Feb. 8, 1964, Margaret L. Frecker (Charlie & Margaret V. Frecker's first child) married Harry C. McKinnon in Brooksville, Fla.  Margaret worked with the Hillsborough Co. school system, she was 58, Harry worked at the Post Office in West Tampa.


 

 

 

 

Charles Tupper Frecker died in Chicago on Jun 23, 1966 at age 87 and was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.  The information at right is indexed from his death certificate, but the image of it isn't available online.  It shows his occupation was "branch manager." No obituary has been located.

 

 

Billy Frecker's daughter, Cecilia Ann Frecker, was one of the 1966 Debutantes of the Krewe of Venus, Gasparilla.  Cecelia Ann appears in the above "Won't you buy a poppy" and Mothers Day articles.

 

AT LEFT:  The Freckers were often in the news for various entertainments given at their home, especially events associated with Gasparilla.

Below is Cecilia Ann Frecker again.  She was also part of Krewe of Venus in 1967

 

 

 

 

Cecilia Ann Frecker would sometimes be mentioned in the papers as "Ann Frecker" 

The Tampa Tribune of June 24, 1970 announced that Ann Frecker, daughter of William H. and Cecelia Frecker,  graduated from Wesleyan College, Macon Ga. 

An index of Montgomery county marriages shows she married William Elmore May, Jr. in Brewton, , Ala. on Mar 13, 1979.   Brewton is just north of the Florida state line in the extreme western panhandle.  Cecelia was around 31 years old, William was 32.  

Ann is listed as an employee of the State of Ala.  in yearly January listings of as "May, Cecelia Frecker" in 1978, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1990. 

The Tribune published on June 2, 1994, that Cecelia Ann Frecker May had graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg on May 13 with a masters degree in social work.  

Sometime between her 1994 graduation to 1998, she married Marion Landry and lived in Lake Charles, La.  She is named as Ann Landry in the obituaries of her father, mother and aunt Ruth Barbara Smith.

Mrs. Cecelia Ann Landry, LCSW is a clinical social worker in Lake Charles, LA.

 


Obituaries of two of Mayor Frecker's granddaughters; Grace, one of the triplets, and Margaret, his first child.

       
Margaret's obituary omits her sister, Ruth Frecker Smith, who may have been living in Atlanta at the time.


BILLY FRECKER CITY COUNCIL BIO
From The City Council of Tampa and Celebration of Old City Hall's Centennial, 8th ed., Jun 2019,
where it shows "no photo available." Mr. Frecker's photo from his obituary has been substituted here.
The City Board of Representatives was the name for the City Council in these years.  Members were "Aldermen."


 

Billy Frecker and his second wife, Beverly B. Jones Frecker were featured by
Leland Hawes in the Tribune's "History and Heritage" section of the Tribune in 1992.


 

In 1967 Cecelia Marie (Van Orden) Frecker was in business with Lorena Culbreath at the Culbreath's Garden City on N. Dale Mabry.  The following year, Cecelia and Billy Frecker divorced. She remained single for the rest of her life

AT RIGHT:  Twenty-seven years later, Cecelia (on the right) still had a fine talent for floral decoration when she won 2nd place in the annual Temple Terrace Garden Club flower show.

 

 

 

 

Cecelia Marie Van Orden Frecker died in Tampa on Mar. 29, 2000.    Her three grandchildren would have been her daughter Cecila Ann Frecker May Landry's children: Sean May & Todd (Arthur) May, and Trudie E. Frecker's  daughter, Alicia Paige Frecker.  Cecelia's  five great-grandchildren were probably all grandchildren of her daughter, Cecelia Ann (Frecker) May.

**It's not clear if Cecelia Ann was William Elmore May, Jr's first or 2nd wife.

 

 

 

 

WILLIAM HUBERT "BILLY" FRECKER'S OBITUARY

William Hubert Frecker died in Tampa in 1998 at age 89.  He practiced law in Tampa starting in 1932, was on the City Board of representatives from 1938 to 1942 (age 30 to 34) and a prosecuting attorney from 1946 to 1951.  His military accomplishments were either embellished or he downlplayed them considerably in his 1992 interview with Leland Hawes.  He was a member of numerous organizations including being one of the organizers of the Tampa Little Theater.  He was survived by his second wife, Beverly Jones Frecker, as well as his two daugthers.  At this time, Cecelia Ann was Ann Landry, wife of Marion Landry. Their sons were Sean (Frecker May) and Todd May, apparently sons from her previous marriage to William E. May, Jr.

 

 

 

 

DEATH OF BARBARA F. (SMITH) JARRETT MULVIHILL
(Daughter of Frecker triplet Ruth Barbara Frecker Smith)

 

 

Barbara F. Smith Jarrett (the girl on the left in the apple cake article) divorced Howard R. Jarrett in Tampa in 1957, then married Jack Mulvihill. 

Barbara Mulvihill died in 2009; her obituary only mentions by name her daughter Brenda Carol (Mulvihill) and Brenda's husband Jeffrey (Trent) Copper, and their sons Zachary Copper and J.T. Copper.

 

 

 

Descendants of Mayor William Herbert Frecker
(Conclusions from online newspaper articles and various online public records.  This information is not guaranteed 100% accurate.)

 

Through only surviving child Charles Tupper Frecker (b. Oct. 23, 1878 Can. d. Jun. 23, 1966 Chicago, Ill.) marr. Dec. 4, 1905 Tpa to Margaret Virginia Fulton, d/o M&M W. L Fulton.
 

BLACK-Grandchildren of Mayor Frecker   BLUE-Great-grandch. of Mayor Frecker.  RED-Great x2-grandch. of Mayor Frecker  PURPLE-Great x3-grandch. of Mayor Frecker.
 

I.

Margaret Loring Frecker b. Aug. 18, 1906, Bainbridge, Ga. - d. Feb. 13, 1988 (81) Tpa,  marr. Feb. 8, 1964 Brooksville, Fla. to Harry C. McKinnon  (no ch.)
   
II. William Hubert "Billy" Frecker, II  b. Oct 22, 1908, Tpa - d. Feb. 1, 1998 (89) Tpa marr1 Dec. 22, 1938 Tpa to Cecelia Marie Van Orden, div. 1968 - marr2 May 1969, Levy Co., Fla. to Beverly B. Jones
  A. Cecelia Ann Frecker (b. 1947) marr1?. Mar. 13, 1979** Brewton, Escambia Co, Ala. to William Elmore May, Jr.  marr2. Marion J. Landry bef. June 2, 1994 of Lake Charles, La.  **The indexed marriage record lists her as "Cecelia Ann May" instead of "Cecelia Ann Frecker" which might mean it is a remarriage to Mr. May.  The birth years of their sons indicate they were married before 1967.
    1. Todd Arthur May b. c1967  marr. Apr. 27, 1991 in Birmingham, Ala. to Kelly Leigh McDowell, lived in Huntsville Ala.
   
ch:Harris, TX: Carson Lee May, ch:  Harris, Tx: Madison Tucker May,
    2. Sean Frecker May b. c1974  marr. Katherine, lived in Fairhope, Ala.
  B. Trudie Elizabeth Frecker (b. c1949)
   

1.

Alicia Paige Frecker v. Feb 1972  Tampa Prep senior 1990 b. c1971-72
   
III. Grace Virginia Frecker b. Oct. 22, 1908, Tpa - d. Jul. 21, 1967 (58) Tpa,  marr. July 20, 1942 in Gulfport, Miss. to Ralph Lynn Holloway, moved to Cheyenne, Wyo.
 

A.

Walter Frecker Holloway b. 1943 marr1 Mar. 1968 Pasco Co, Fla. to Donna Sue Dacko,  marr2 May, 1982, Pasco Co., Fla. to  Christina Marie Gould
 

B.

Ruth Lynne Holloway marr1 Jul 1969 Broward Co, Fla. to  David Lawrence Grace (lived in Miami), marr?. 2008  Allen William Bell, of Rockledge, Fla.
   
IV. Ruth Barbara Frecker (b. Oct. 22, 1908, Tampa - d. Nov. 22, 2001 (92) Tpa,  marr. March 27, 1930 in Clw.  to William Blanton Smith, moved to Atl.
  A. Barbara Frecker Smith (b. Dec. 14, 1932 Tpa - d. Mar. 6, 2009 Tpa) marr1 Howard R. Jarrett, div. May 1957,  marr2 Jack Mulvihill  Tpa
     1. John Anthony Jarrett  b. 02-53 b. San Diego, Ca. of Tucson, Az.  marr.  Christina Alvarez      ch: Loreall Jarrett
    2. Brenda Carol Mulvihill marr. 1990 Hillsb, Jeffrey Trent Copper                        ch. Zachary Copper, J.T. Copper
       
           

 

WILLIAM FRECKER'S CANADIAN FAMILY

Among former Tampa Mayor William Frecker's survivors, other than his immediate family, were named his half-brother, Charles A. "Bert" Frecker, a sister Mrs. J. (Maria Frecker) White in Canada, a half-sister Mrs. W.F. (Emily Frecker) Copp in Canada, and a half-sister Mrs. L.B. (Nina L. Frecker) Seavey in Chicago.

 

This chart is a summary of William's family from Canada, details and sources follow it.

 

 

Emma Card Frecker, William's mother, died July 3, 1854 at age 32 and is buried at St. Luke's Methodist Cemetery in Chatham.

Tombstone photo enhanced from Find A Grave,
courtesy of David L. Underhill, U.E.

Thomas Nicholas Frecker (b1822, Quebec - d1901, Richibucto, NB.) and first wife Emma Card (b1822, NB.) had five children in Chatham, Northumberland Co, NB. Thomas then married Martha Eleanor McDermott on Jun 3, 1861.  They had six children in Richibucto, Kent. Co, NB.
1.  Matilda Sophia (Boysen)
2.  Maria Jane R. (White)
3.  John Edward
4.  William Herbert
5.  Emma
b. c1845  d.1888 Chatham, NB
b.   1846 d1930 Richibucto, NB
b. c1849 d.1888 Chelsea, Mass.
b    1851 d1914 Tampa, Fla.
b. c1853 d. ??
  6. Ella R. (Harris)
  7. Thomas
  8. Emily Florence (Ramsay, Copp)
  9. Charles A.
10. Nina L. (Seavey)
11. Thomas George

b. c1863  d. 1894 Richibucto NB
b. c1865  d. c1874 age 9
b. c1868  d.1944 St. John, NB
b. c1870  d. 1926 Tampa
b. c1875  d. 1956 Chicago
b.  1878   d.  1952 Surrey, BC

       
 

 

 

Although William's birth year appears as 1852 in later U.S. sources, his presence on the 1851 Census in Chatham at age 0 guarantees he was born in 1851.

The earliest census the Freckers have been found is on the 1851 Census of Chatham, New Brunswick.  The images aren't available, so the transcription will be used as the source of information.  This record shows that shows W. H. Frecker was born in 1851. It would have been impossible for him to be on the 1851 Census if he was born in 1852.  Emma Card was Thomas's first wife.  Their birth years are calculated from their ages.

 

 

On the 1861 Census, Thomas is married to his 2nd wife, Martha Eleanor McDermott.  They married Jun 3, 1861 in Kent, NB.  Emma Frecker was born in 1853 so all the children seen here were children of Thomas and Emma Card Frecker.  Their ages are all consistent being 10 years older than the 1851 Census age. 

 

 

 


 

 

At Right: Info from the 1871 Census in Richibucto, Kent County, NB shows William at age 19 with his father and step-mother.  Their daughter, Matilda, their oldest, has married and is out.  Here Thomas has four children by Martha:  Ella, Thomas, Emily and Charles.  These were William's half-sisters & half-brothers.

 

 

 

 


1. Matilda Sophia Frecker (born c. 1845, William's oldest sister) married Carlsen (Carsten) Andrew (Andreas) Boyston (Boysen) of Chatham, on Sep. 10, 1874 in Richibucto.  New Brunswick Marriage Registers, 1789-1889 Kent 1844-1887  (This record is very faint and barely legible, even after enhancement below.)

Mouse over the image to see it transcribed.

Matilda and C. A. Boysen are on the 1881 Census of New Brunswick in Chatham.  C. A. was 33, born in Norway, Matilda was 32, b. NB.  There were no children present. 

According to newspaper information posted at her Find A Grave record by Daniel F. Johnson  Newspaper: "The World", Chatham, March 17 1888, Died, 14th March (1888) Matilda Sophia Boysen wife of  U.A. (C.A.) Boysen and eldest daughter of Thomas Frecker of Richibucto (Kent Co.)  Matilda's tombstone is badly worn and also bears the name of her husband at the bottom, Carsten Boysen.  (Nobody can seem to agree how his names were spelled.)  In the middle is Charles Alexander Boysen.  From the July 31, 1886 Chatham newspaper, The World:   Died, 30th July, Charles Alexander Boysen, age 5 mos., adopted child of C.A. Boysen and M.S. Boysen.  They are all buried at St. Luke's Methodist Cemetery in Chatham.   Carsten remarried a year later in Portland, NB, to 40 year old spinster Jessie Haviland of Boston on Apr. 3, 1889.  On this record, his name is "Carsten Andreas Boysen," born in Norway, widower, occupation clerk, religion Lutheran, parents: Jeus and Cecilie Boysen.


2. Maria J. R. Frecker (b. Jul. 19, 1846, William's sister) married John White before 1881(based on her absence on the Freckers' 1881 census and her daughter's age at marriage).  Maria died Oct. 21, 1930 at age 84 in Richibucto, Kent Co, NB.   New Brunswick Provincial Deaths, 1815-1938 Her death certificate shows her parents' names, Thomas N. Frecker and Emma Card.  It shows that Emma Card was born in Dorchester, NB. but this is probably incorrect, because it also shows Thomas was born in Chatham, NB. and he was in fact born in Quebec.  The informant was Maria's daughter, Mrs. William J. Thompson.  Maria and John's daughter, Mary Christina White, was born c1882 and  married on Jan. 1, 1913 in Kent Co., NB to William James Thompson.   New Brunswick Provincial Returns of Marriages, 1887-1919 1913  Maria and John White also had a son, John Frecker White, born Jun. 13, 1889 in Kingston, Kings Co, NB. . New Brunswick, Provincial Returns of Births and Late Registrations, 1810-1906


3. John Edward Frecker, (born c. 1849, William's older brother) married on Jun. 10, 1875 in Halifax Co., Nova Scotia to Johanna Moore, age 19, daughter of Edward & Johanna Moore of Nova Scotia.   Nova Scotia Marriages, 1864-1918 Halifax 1870-1885  The record was spread across two pages so the right-hand page has been placed under the left-hand page.  John was 25 and working as a tanner, probably with his father.  The record names his parents, Thomas and Emily.  Emily is a name often used interchangeably with Emma.   Thomas was a tanner, which would be part of leather preparation.  

John and Joanna Frecker are on the 1880 Census in Chelsea, Suffolk Co, Mass., 150 Essex St.    John E. Frecker was 30, born in NB, his occupation was tanner.  Joanna was 24, b. Nova Scotia.  Their daughter Emma A. Frecker was 2 years old, born in Nova Scotia.

According to a record of deaths in Chelsea, Mass. for 1885, John & Joanna had a daughter named Emma A. Frecker who was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Jan. 20, 1879 and died in Chelsea on Nov. 2, 1885, age 6y, 9m, 13d.  Her "disease or cause of death" seems to be "Tubes Mesent" (Mesentery?  This isn't a disease, it's a part of the anatomy.)

On Feb. 20, 1883, their son Arthur W. Frecker was born in Chelsea, Mass. Massachusetts Births & Christenings, 1639-1915 The record shows that John's occupation was still a tanner.  Arthur Wesley Frecker registered for the WW1 draft in 1918 from his home  in Mexico, Oxford County, Maine when he was age 35.  His occupation was machinist and closest relative was Susie Frecker, his wife.  On the 1920 Census of Mexico, Oxford Co, Maine, Arthur was 37, wife Susie was 43, they had a 7 year old son named Arthur, 6 year old son named John, in addition to two children from Susie's prior marriage, Irene Hill (16) and Asbury Hill, (12).  Arthur W. appears to be a salesman for "Wollworth." (Woolworth?).  Arthur W. Frecker died in 1956 at age 72 and is buried in Linwood Cemetry, Chelsea, Mass.

John Edward Frecker died on Mar. 7, 1888 in Chelsea, Mass. one month short of his 38th birthday. Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924  The record shows he was born in Chatham, NB and his parents were Thomas and Matilda, but Matilda was actually his stepmother.  John was living at 240 Congress Ave. and his occupation was "Currier."  (A specialist in the leather processing industry. After the tanning process, the currier applies techniques of dressing, finishing and coloring to a tanned hide to make it strong, flexible and waterproof).  His cause of death was partly legible, Pernicious Auormia(?).  Possibly this was pernicious anemia and maybe was due to his occupation by exposure to whatever chemicals he may have used.


1881 CENSUS, RICHIBUCTO, NB.

Ten years after the 1871 Census,  on the 1881 Census of Richibucto, Kent Co, NB. the only Frecker children still in Thomas and Martha's home from the 1871 record are Emma, Ella, Emily and Charles.  (Charles later shows up in Tampa and joins William in the furniture business.)  Thomas and Martha had two more children, Nina (6, b. around 1875)  and another Thomas (3, b. around 1878.)  Apparently Thomas who was 6 in 1871 died around 1874 at age 9 (source is a cemetery record showing only the boy's age) so they named their last son Thomas.  (Later, evidence will be presented that he is Thomas George Frecker.) Of the whole family in 1881, only Ella and Charles have aged consistently--10 years.  Everyone else aged just 7 to 8 years.  This may be due to a somewhat illegible 1871 Census causing the transcription above to unreliable for ages, or any number of r1`.easons.  The original was not available online.

William and his older siblings were no longer in the home, with Matilda already married, John already married, Maria probably already married, John already married in Halifax and William already married and living in Chicago.   This census shows Thomas (Sr.) was born in Quebec (that is a cursive "Q" in col. 11) and was a shoe maker.  All others were born in N. Brunswick.  Nina was named as a survivor in William H. Frecker's obituary as a half-sister, in Chicago, named "Mrs. L. B. Seavey."


5. Emma Frecker - Nothing has been found about her other than her presence on the 1861 and 1871 censuses at age 8 and age 17.  This indicates she was born around 1853 - 1854.  She was the last child of Thomas N and first wife Emma Card Frecker and probably named from her mother who died in 1854.


6. Ella R.  Frecker (born c.1863, Richicbucto, NB. William's first half-sister) married James Harris (son of Allen and Anne Harris) of Richibucto in Westmoreland Co., New Brunswick,  on April 8, 1891 at the residence of Enoch W. Rushton in Mocton, Westmorland, NB.  E. W. Rushton was one of the two witnesses, the other was Ardetta Rushton.  James was a widower, age 33, born in Richibucto and was a railroad engineer. Ella  was single, age 27.  The record shows her parents were Thomas and Martha Frecker but doesn't give the ages of the bride or groom.  New Brunswick Provincial Returns of Marriages, 1887-1919  Green-M    Page 2 (back side)  Ella's entry at Find A Grave has no photo, and she is listed as "Ella R. Frecker" born unknown, died Mar. 12, 1894, age 31. (which puts her birth c. 1863) daughter of Martha and Thomas Frecker. She is buried at Richibucto Protestant cemetery.  It's not known why she is listed as Frecker instead of Harris.


7. Thomas R. Frecker   (born c.1875, William's half-brother) This Thomas appears only on the Frecker's 1871 Census at age 6.  He may have died around 1874 at age 9 due to this  cemetery record showing a Thomas R. Frecker and only the boy's age)  Evidence on the Frecker's 1881 Census of another Thomas at age 3 tends to confirm this.


8. Emily Florence Frecker, (born c. 1868, William's half-sister) was first married to Thomas Harvey Ramsay, age 55, on Sep. 23, 1890 at St. John (city & county), NB.  Thomas was a merchant in Newcastle Miramichi, NB, son of James & Agnes Ramsay.  Emily was age 21, spinster (single) daughter of Thomas & Martha Frecker New Brunswick Provincial Returns of Marriages, 1887-1919 1890 Q-Y  New Brunswick Provincial Marriages 1789-1950

Their son, Harvey James Ramsay, was b. Aug. 5, 1891 at Southesk, N'umberland Co, NB..  Provincial Returns of Births and Late Registrations, 1810-1906 Their daughter, Emily Florence Ramsay, was born Mar. 8th, 1894 at Southesk, N'umberland Co, NB.  New Brunswick, Provincial Returns of Births and Late Registrations, 1810-1906  This record is the source of Emily Frecker's middle name, Florence.  When Thomas Harvey Ramsay's and Emily F. Frecker's son married in York Co, NB on Sept. 27, 1916, his name is James Harvey Ramsay, son of Thomas Harvey Ramsay and Emily Frecker. New Brunswick Provincial Marriages 1789-1950

By June 1899, Emily Frecker Ramsay's husband, Thomas H. Ramsay, died and Emily F. Ramsay married on Jun 7, 1899 to William Freeman Copp, (b. 1862) a merchant from Newcastle, NB .  He was a widower, and son of George B. and Mary Copp.  Emily also shows "widow," born in Richibucto, parents: Thomas and Martha Frecker.  New Brunswick Provincial Marriages 1789-1950.  Emily F. Copp is found on the 1901 Census at St. John, NB.  She indicates age 30, her husband is Wm. Copp, age 39.  William's son from his prior marriage was Herbert A. Copp, age 7.  Then Emily's children are listed, Harvey Ramsay (8) and Florence Ramsay (6).  In 1914, Emily is named as a survivor of former Mayor Frecker, "Mrs. W. F. Copp, Canada."  Emily Florence Frecker Ramsay Copp  died on Sep. 11, 1944 at St. John (city and county), NB. Canada.



Thomas Nicholas Frecker
(William's father) died on Mar. 28, 1901.  He was born on Jun. 11, 1822 in the capital of Quebec.  His full name, date of birth & death is from his cemetery record at Find-a-Grave.  There is no grave photo but there is this photo of the cemetery.

     
 


 

9. Charles Albert Frecker, (b. c.1870, William's younger half-brother) died in Tampa on Jan. 1, 1926.  His obituary says he was 56 and incorrectly names him as Charles E. Frecker.  He was in the furniture business with his brother, William and nephew, Charles T. Frecker.   He continued with his brother's  Chicago Furniture House in Tampa along with Charlie T after William's death in 1914, to around 1923 when CFH was declared bankrupt.  Charles was in the news 24 times as "Bert Fecker" and 16 times as Charles A. Frecker.  Several legal notices concerning his brother's death name him as Charles Albert Frecker--"Bert" is a nickname for "Albert."

 


 

10. Nina L. Frecker, (born Jun. 9, 1875, William's youngest half-sister), She was named as a survivor on William's 1914 obituary as "Mrs. L. B. Seavey in Chicago." Nina was born Jun 9, 1875 in Richibucto, and married possibly in Iowa or Nebraska, to Luther Benjamin Seavey around 1901,  a telegraph operator for the railroad.  A marriage record for them is yet to be located. Nina died May 30, 1956 in Lemont, Cook Co, IL.  She has been identified by these obituaries and Cook Co. Ill. death records. 

                                   

Notice her place of birth was where the Freckers were living on the 1871 Census of Richibucto, Kent Co., N.B.  Both she and her husband had been telegraph operators.

   

Other records and articles reveal that Luther & Nina were married by 1901 and their son Thomas Albert Seavey was born in Nebraska.  They then lived in Hinton, Hungerford Co., IA where they are found on the 1905 Iowa State Census. 

 

Nina and Luther both indicated they were 25, Nina had been in the U.S. for 9 years and in Iowa for 5 years, Luther had been in Iowa for 1 year so they likely married around 1901 in Iowa.  Their son, (Thomas) Albert Seavey was born in Nebraska which shares its eastern border with Iowa.  Albert was age 3.  Luther worked as a railroad station agent. 

According to articles in the Sioux City Journal in 1905 and 1906, there was a railroad workers strike in 1905 in which Luther participated.  He was the agent in charge of the station in Hinton.  In Aug. of 1905, the Willmar & Sioux Falls Railway Co. had him arrested and charged with robbing the station at Hinton of $450.  Luther was cleared of all charges, apparently this was a revenge tactic by the railway because of the strike.  In late August of 1905, Nina and Luther each sued the railway company, two police officers who arrested  Luther, and a couple of other individuals with the railroad company, for $10,000 each.  Luther sued for malicious prosecution and mental anguish and Nina sued for mental anguish and diminishment of her social standing.  The case bounced from court to court due to technicalities, and eventually to the Supreme court, who sent it back down to the lower court.  One article in 1906 says they were both arrested and charged with robbery, and that their innocence was established, then they brought suit for damages.  No article of the outcome could be located, but apparently they did not win, or win much, because in the legal section of the Chicago Tribune, Aug. 19, 1908, Luther B. Seavey, telegraph operator, filed a petition in bankruptcy having  $219 in cash and no assets.

Luther Benjamin Seavey registered for the WW1 draft on Sep. 12, 1918 stating his birthday was Oct. 17, 1880 and was 38 years old.  He worked as a telegrapher for E.W. Wagner & Co at the Continental Commercial Bank in Chicago and listed his address as 725 Humphrey in Oak Park, Cook Co, with his wife Nina L Seavey as closest relative, same address.

The Seaveys could not be found on the 1910 or 1920 Census, but they are in Oak Park, IL,  on the 1930 Census, at age 48 & 49, both working as telegraph operators for Western Union.  On the 1940 Census in Oak Park, they are telegraph operators for the steam railway system.  Nina's birth place is listed as "New Brunswick."

Their son, Thomas Albert Seavey was on the 1930 Census in Oak Park, Ill. at age 29, married to Grace, with 9 year old son Duane.  Thomas was a credit manager for an oil company, later he was a real estate marketing agent.  He died widowed at age 84 on Feb. 18, 1986 in Oak Park.  He was born Jan 29, 1902 in Nebraska and is buried in Oakridge Cemetery at Hillside, Cook Co., Ill.

11.  Thomas George Frecker - (born Apr 9, 1878, William's youngest half brother) Thomas appears on the Frecker's 1881 Census in Richibucto as Thomas at age 3. The fact that the Freckers named another son "Thomas" indicates the first Thomas had already died. 

The source of his middle name comes as a conclusion from two records. There is a record of a death registration for a GEORGE FLETCHER who died in 1952 in Surrey, BC, Canada at age 74 which claims that he was born Apr. 9, 1878 in NB, and that his parents were THOMAS FLECKER and MARTHA MCDERMOTT.  Unfortunately, Familysearch.org is not displaying the image so further investigation isn't possible to see why his surname is FLETCHER.  It could be to poor handwriting or poor quality image or both.   Some users of that site have added this George as a child of Thomas N. Frecker & his second wife Martha McDermott.  George's birth date qualifies him as a candidate to be the 3 year old Thomas Frecker on their 1881 Census, even more so if his middle name or his given name was Thomas.

There was no George or Thomas named as a survivor in William's obituary, but it might be because the family was not aware of him.  William and Barbara did name their first son George, and if it was in honor of William's very young half-brother, Barbara Tate Frecker probably did not remember.

Here is the second source of evidence to uphold the possibility that Thomas is George Frecker.  Thomas appears on the 1891 Census at age 13 as THOMAS G.  in the Thomas and Martha "Fricker" family.  Clearly, this is Thomas N. and Martha Frecker, and the only children left at home are Ella, Nina, and Thomas G.  The spelling errors are trivial and probably due to bad handwriting or careless transcription. The only other error is that Thomas N. Frecker was born in Quebec, not NB.  Probably caused by a hasty enumerator.

Birth years are calculated from ages so depending on the month of their birthday and the month of the census, the actual year could be a year earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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