Fred T. Jonas

Descendants of Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Jonas

Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Jonas, son of Friedrich Theodor Jonas and Wilhelmine Sporleder, was born on 2 Oct 1875 in Kellogg, Jasper County, IA. Fred T as he was known, moved to Minnesota as a young man and married Ida Bertha Mathilde White (Freitag) White.

Ida was born 29 May 1878 in Nicollet, Nicollet County, Minnesota, daughter of Herman J. and Minnie (Brandt) Freitag. As a young girl she moved to Brown County, Minnesota with her parents. At the age of 19 she married Ray White. Three years later he lost his life in a railroad accident. She had two children by this marriage Howard and Adeline.

Children of Fred T. and Ida (Freitag) Jonas:
1. Emmath George Jonas (1906-1983)
2. Harvey Herman Jones (1909-1976)
3. Harry Gustave Jonas (1911-1962)
4. Frederick W. Jonas (1912-1978)
5. Lydia A. Jonas (1916-1986)
6. Irene J. Jonas (1918-2007)

Fred and Ida were married 16 Nov. 1905 in Town Posen,, Yellow Medicine Co., MN. Soon afterward they moved to Lynd, Lyon County, Minnesota where Emmath was born. The family then moved to North Dakota. Fred took up a partnership with two of his brothers, Herman and John in Pierce Co. They lived in North Dakota until after 1912. By 1916 they moved back to Minnesota.

In 1920, Fred and his family appeared in the Federal census in Birch Cooley, Renville County, Minnesota. Fred is unemployed. The family is living with Ida’s brother Fred.

By 1923, the family was living northeast of Morton. On Septeber 19, 1923, after a visit and dinner at a neighbor’s house (Chas. Stoll residence), Ida was hitching up the horse in preparation to return home. While she was attempting to rearrange some part of the harness, the horse kicked her, tragically striking her over the heart and breaking two ribs. She was given medical care, however she passed away the following morning. Funeral services were the following Sunday. She was first buried in Morton Cemetery.

Fred T. remained in Minnesota. Since Fred W. was the youngest of the boys and two young to work, he was forced to quit school and care for his sisters. My mother recalls a story her father told her that Fred W. was standing near his mother when she was kicked. Fred W. was somehow blamed for the tragedy and that is why he was forced to quit school.

According to William F. Blum, sometime after Oct. 1934 (after the birth of his grandson Winton) Fred T. Sr., Emmath and Martha (Blum) Jonas their baby son Winton, Fred W. Jr. and Lydia lived on the farm of William F. Blum in Gibson Twp., Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. This was at the height of the depression. The Jonas Family lived with the Blum’s for about 6 weeks. (This was just after the death of his father.) We assume he was spending time in Wisconsin after the death.

In 1941, Fred retired and moved back to Wisconsin. In 1956, the family was notified by the Morton Cemetery that Ida’s body would need to be removed or moved, due to some construction that was being done on a highway near the cemetery. Harry, one of Fred’s children, drove out to Minnesota to pick up the remains of Ida. My mom remembers the remains fitting inside a shoebox. The remains were reinterred 22 Oct 1956 in Forest View Cemetery, Two Rivers.

Fred died 4 Feb 1960 and was buried alongside his wife.