Some Notes on Freeman Krech aka Warren William’s Father

I was digging around Google tonight for any info I could find on Warren William’s father, as previously all I was really aware of was that he was born Freeman E. (or W.) Krech in Belleville, IL, 1856 (died 1931), and that he had owned a newspaper in Aitken, MN, where the actor Warren William was born.

I was disappointed to discover that the Krech.org site which I list on the Warren William links page no longer exists.  I’m glad I mined it for the few notes I had grabbed at the time (which are on the links page too).

I found this notice in the 1884 Report By Railroad and Warehouse Commission of the State of Minnesota:

RAILROAD COMPANIES ORGANIZED UNDER THE GENERAL LAWS THAT HAVE FILED ARTICLES IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE SINCE LAST RAILROAD REPORT
(For older organizations see Railroad Commissioner’s Reports for former years.)
AITKIN MILLE LACS & MINNEAPOLIS RY CO
Articles filed November 25 1884
Object of Corporation: To acquire, control and maintain and operate a line of railroad and telegraph running and extending from the village of Aitkin to some point on the north or east shore of Mille Lacs lake, thence in a southerly direction to the city of Minneapolis.

Capital stock: $1,000,000
Place of business: Aitkin, Minn
Corporators: D.J. Knox, Aitkin, Minn.; V.W. Parker, Spearfish, D. T.; C.W. McDonald, Aitkin, Minn.; Moses McKinney, Minneapolis, Minn.; Geo. W. Knox, Orange City, Fla.; James J. McDonald, Freeman E. Krech and Thos. R. Foley of Aitkin. Minn.

The following item was found in Volume VII, July to January 1894, of Paving and Municipal Engineering: A Monthly Magazine dedicated to the improvement of cities:

A contract has been effected between the county commissioners and Freeman E. Krech, W.B. Marr, Warren Potter, James U. Marr, James McDonald, and F.M. Shook, business men of Aitken, Minn., who pledge themselves to build a wagon bridge across the Mississippi river within one year from date or less, and the commissioners agreeing on behalf of the county to accept it as soon as possible, after completion.

Interesting to note a James (J.) McDonald associated with Krech in both dealings above.

Finally from a History of the Aitken Independent Age itself, published originally August 3, 2005, we have this:

…Barrett was succeeded by Freeman Krech, a young accountant and freelance writer from New York (my italics). The newspaper was published in a small frame building on the west side of Minnesota Avenue. It then moved to the building now occupied by Gramma’s Pantry, where it stayed until the mid 1890s. It moved again to the F. M. Shook building, where Sprint is now located, remaining until 1910. In the meantime, the paper changed hands several times, reverting many times to the proprietorship of Krech.

In 1901, B. L. Hollister started the Aitkin Independent, as editor and pubisher, with Tony Klee as the printer’s devil. Two newspapers were published for several years and then in 1912, the Age, now under the ownership of Hollister and the Independent under Krech, consolidated under the name Aitkin Independent Age…

I guess all I learned here was that Freeman Krech was in Aitken by at least age 26 and that in between his Illinois birthplace and settling in Aitken he had lived and worked in New York. Better than nothing.