Frederick William Pollman, deceased, was one of the early settlers of La Cygne, and a resident of that town for over thirty years, and was numbered as one of its most useful and honored citizens. He was born at Billinghausen, state of Lippe Detmold, Germany, Aug. 9, 1838, and was reared in the Fatherland. There he received the thorough education of the German public schools and as is usual, in that country, he was bound out to learn the trade of brick making. He possessed the characteristic German traits of thrift, industry, and determination, which enabled him to carry to a conclusion any project he undertook. The conscientious discharge of duty and close application to business soon transferred him from the ranks of the common workman to the superintendency of the brick yard where he was first employed.

In 1866, Mr. Pollman wedded Miss Amelia Brockman, and two years later they immigrated to America, the land of opportunity to those possessed of pluck and energy. They first located at Quincy, Ill., where Mr. Pollman followed his trade four years. Deciding to push farther west and cast his fortunes in a newer country, he brought his family to Kansas, in March, 1870, and located at La Cygne, Linn county, where he resided continuously for thirty-three years, or until his death, Nov. 17, 1903, except one year, when he engaged in the bakery business at Butler, Mo. Upon locating at La Cygne, he started a brick yard, but as the demand for brick in a new country was light, he abandoned it and began work upon the construction of what was then known as the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf railroad. In 1873 he entered the employ of George J. Miller in the mercantile business. He saved of his earnings until in 1874, when he was able to open a meat market in La Cygne, in partnership with a Mr. Tilinger. That partnership was dissolved a year later. After spending a year in the bakery business at Butler, Mo., he returned to La Cygne, and again opened a meat market, which he continued to operate until 1900, when he sold the market to his son, C. Edward Pollman, and retired from active business cares. In the early nineties he purchased stock in the Linn County Bank, and was until his death, one of the financial pillars of that excellent banking house. He also had investments in much rental property in La Cygne, which together with his other holdings aggregated a comfortable fortune.

While his business career was a success and required from him a great deal of attention, yet he was essentially a home-loving man, and found his greatest happiness at his own fireside circle. To Mr. and Mrs. Pollman were born eight children, all of whom are living, and reared lives of usefulness and honor. They are: Mrs. Adolph Wishropp, of Paola; William, a capitalist of Baker City, Ore.; C. Edward, who conducts the Pollman meat market at La Cygne; Frederick W., Jr., who is cashier of the Linn County Bank; Mrs. Charles H. Miller, of La Cygne; George O., who resides near La Cygne; Paul, who is employed in the First National Bank of Baker City, Ore.; and Hermena, of Lawrence, Kan., the wife of Prof. Herbert Emerson. Mr. Pollman was a Presbyterian in church faith. In his passing the surviving family lost a kind and loving husband and father, and La Cygne and Linn county, one of their most valued citizens, one who always gave his influence and assistance to every laudable enterprise for the benefit of his community and who was known for his kindly words and helpful deeds.