Death of Lee Fred

This week adds another death in the fast deleting ranks of our old citizens. Tuesday morning at 5:30 o’clock, Lee Ludwell Fred passed away at the home of his son-in-law Mr. George E. Hilles on West Main street in his eighty-fifth year. Mr Fred has been suffering for some time from the general infirmities of age, and for the past four weeks had been confined to his bed, his vital powers worn out by the strain of long years of labor and the cares that beset one in this life. With the passing away of Mr Fred, the community loses another citizen who one day was prominent in the business affairs of the town, and withal a public spirited and valuable resident. He was born near Leesburg, Loudon County, Va, August 28, 1814, his father being John Fred. When Lee was an infant four months old his father came to Ohio locating on a farm in Goshen township, near where Ebenezer church now stands. In this neighborhood the deceased grew to manhood following the occupation of farming. In 1838 he was married to Mary Ann McGeath, of Goshen township, and became the father of six children. In 1857 he came to Barnesville, where for many years he was engaged in the dry goods and leaf tobacco trade, besides farming and other pursuits. All his life he was a man of pulse and energy, sometimes prosperous and at others called upon to suffer reverses. Even when the year weighed heavily upon him he continued to labor with a pluck and energy that was characteristic of him. His live was fraught with its share of vicissitudes, but he bore them with a cheerfulness, that is not common with most persons. Mr Fred was a good citizen and neighbor, and the writer knows that along life’s pathway he strew many deeds of kindness and good will towards his fellowman. The deceased was beret of his wife twelve years ago, since which time he had made his home with his children here and in the west. The children who survive are J.T. Fred, of Kansas City, Mo, John E. Fred, of Grandview, Mo, William W., of Marion, Ind. And Miss Becca Fred, of this place. One bother, Mr James Fred, of Senecaville, also survives. Mr Thomas Fred, of Belmont, whose death occurred some two weeks since, was also a brother. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Allan Kriehbaum, and the remains were interred in the Southern cemetery.

Death of Lee Fred, "Saturday Whetstone," Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio, 29 Oct 1898, front page