----Source: GREENWOOD GLEANER (Greenwood, Wis.) 02/16/1911

Fricke, Oscar (19 MAY 1863 - 14 Feb 1911)

Oscar Fricke, Register of Deeds of Clark County, Wis. died early Tuesday morning, Feb. 14, 1911, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. Mr. Fricke first complained last Wednesday morning and in the afternoon went home from his office in the court house. On Thursday it was found necessary to take him to the Eau Claire Hospital for an operation for appendicitis. He was operated on Friday for appendicitis but a complication of gall trouble with blood poison set in. A second operation was found necessary for gall stones, the effects of which proved fatal. On Monday a sudden change for the worse took place and he died shortly after midnight.

Mr. Fricke was a Wisconsin product, being born at Newburgh, Washington Co., May 19, 1963. He attended the public school at Newburgh until about 12 years of age, when he removed with his parents to a farm in the town of Eaton, Clark County, where he helped his father clear a home in the heart of a pine forest. Here he went to school in a log school house, with C.M. Bradford, former County Clerk, as teacher.

Arriving at his majority, Mr. Fricke purchased a farm near Greenwood, where he resided until the year 1891. In 1891 he entered business with B. Dangers in Greenwood doing a general mercantile business. Later Mr. Dangers withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Fricke continued the business, the firm name being changed several times as new men were associated with him, until a few years ago, when he sold his interest to Elmer and Paul Rossman.

Mr. Fricke was assessor of the town of Eaton in 1885. In 1886 he was elected chairman of the town board, serving three consecutive terms.

Upon his removal to Greenwood he was elected supervisor of this city and was a member of the county board for several separate terms; being twice elected chairman of that body. In 1903 he was elected to fill the unexpired term of Chas. Cornelius as Register of Deeds, Mr. Cornelius having resigned. He was reelected to the office in 1904 and has held the office ever since. He was of German descent, which fact was of incalculable advantage to him in the discharge of the duties of the office.

Mr. Fricke was a man of the highest business integrity and the county has lost a progressive and honest citizen, a faithful and upright officer, who in his several years of service was ever ready to work for the county’s progress and prosperity. He was a kind hearted husband and father, much beloved by his fellowmen, and his face and cheerful greetings will be missed by man.

Mr. Fricke was united in marriage to Miss Clara Ditton on May 5, 1894, and to this union one daughter, Zura, was born.

Mr. Fricke was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was a Woodmen, a charter member of the Odd Fellow Lodge at Greenwood, a member of the Encampment of Rebekahs, and also held insurance in the Fraternal Reserve Association.