Leavenworth paper

FRED TREFF, 83,
PIONEER OF CITY,
CALLED BY DEATH
NATIVE OF GERMANY, WHO ARRIVED IN COUNTY SAME YEAR TOWN WAS FOUNDED, SUCCUMBS
LIVED HERE OVER 62 YEARS
MADE SHOES FOR SOLDIERS AT FORT-LATER MOVED TO FARM NEAR BOLING-PARTICIPATED IN BORDER WARFARE
Fred Treff, 83 years old, a native of Germany and a resident of this county for more than half a century, who came to Leavenworth in 1854 when the town was founded by a party of Missourians from Weston, died at 6 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 428 Second Avenue. Senile debility was the cause of death.
Mr. Treff was from Saxony Germany. He left the Fatherland during the war. He then had some trouble in getting out of the Fatherland, as he was just at the enlistment age. After arriving in this country, he first went to Columbus, Ohio, but stayed there only a short time before coming to Leavenworth. Two years after his arrival here, he was married. During the first few years of his residence, Mr. Treff followed his trade of shoemaking. Most of his trade came from the soldiers at Fort Leavenworth, as there were but a handful of settlers in the city at that time.
Mr. Treff soon gave up his work in town and bought a farm near Boling, south of here. One of his sons, E.H.Treff, is now living on the farm. It was obtained from a land company which had purchased much of the Delaware Indian lands from the government. On this farm which contained about 40 acres at that time, Mr. Treff raised hay and hauled it to Fort Leavenworth. He received $6 a ton for it.
Among his best friends of the early days was, Chief Johnnycake of the Delawares.

 

FOUGHT PRICES RAIDERS


Mr. Treff was a member of the Kansas Militia when the Civil War opened and he served under Colonel Tom Moonlight in the border fighting. While with a small detachment of men between Leavenworth and Lawrence, Mr. Treff participated in a skirmish. When they discovered it not possible to defeat the guerrillas, they took refuge behind a natural breastworks. Then each of them placed their hats on sticks and set them up in such a way that it appeared as though there were twice as many men. Price's men were afraid to attack, because of their apparent superior force.
Mr. Treff continued to live on a farm after the war and only four years ago he retired from active life and moved to this city. He has been a member of A.O.U.W. lodge for many years and was one of Leavenworth's best known citizens.
The surviving relatives are his widow Mary Treff, six daughters, Mrs. L. Hilty, Ashland, Oregon, Mrs. K. Schwatke and Mrs. B. Frohn, both of Oakland, Ca., Mrs. B. Zapp, Mrs. Herman Witt, and Mrs. Fred Litchen, all of this city, and two sons F.H. Treff, Basehor and E. H. Treff of Boling.
The funeral service, which is to be private, will be conducted from the home a 2 o'clock this afternoon, with A.O.U.W. lodge No. 5 in charge of the ceremony. It is the request of relatives that no flowers be sent.
Burial will be made in the Mt. Muncie Cemetary.

Date of death Tuesday, August 29, 1916

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