A German-American Civil War Veteran in Seattle

 
FRIDOLIN WILHELM.
America has been aptly named the land of opportunity, for in no other country is there chance for such direct progress of individual effort and merit as in the United States. This is evidenced in the careers of many notable men and finds exemplification in the history of Fridolin Wilhelm, now a capitalist of Seattle. He was born in Germany, September 14, 1841, and came of good German-Catholic parentage. His father was Nathan Wilhelm, who made farming his life work and lived to an advanced age of eighty-four years, having for a decade survived his wife. They reared a family of three sons and one daughter.

Fridolin Wilhelm was educated in the schools of Germany and there learned the cabinetmaker’s trade. In 1858 he sailed for New Orleans, his father furnishing him the money for the passage, and after reaching the new world he spent one winter in school in Cincinnati. He landed, however, at New Orleans and proceeded thence to Kentucky, where he was employed at cabinetmaking, a trade which he had learned in his native land. It was after this that he had the benefit of a winter’s instruction in Cincinnnati, and on the 1st of July, 1863, he responded to the call of his adopted country for aid and enlisted as a volunteer of Battery E of the United States army, which was attached to the Ninth Army Corps.

He was in the battle of the Wilderness and various other engagements, including the assault on Fort Sanders and the battle of Campbell’s Station in eastern Tennessee. Following the surrender of General Lee he went with his command to Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review, the most remarkable military pageant ever seen on the western continent. For a part of the time he had served as a wagoner in the quartermaster’s department, and although he was never wounded, he suffered from yellow fever. With the close of the war his command was ordered to the Pacific coast in 1865, and the following year was ordered to Washington territory. He continued on duty with the regular army until honorably discharged at San Juan Island.
It was at that time that Mr. Wilhelm came to Seattle, where he engaged in carpentering and building. He thus became closely connected with the improvement of the city began making investments in real estate, which in the course of years has brought splendid return and now places him among the capitalists of the city. In 1876 he built his first home in Seattle on the lot now occupied by his present commodious and attractive residence.

It was in that year that Mr. Wilhelm was united in marriage to Miss Regina Bohlert, a native of Germany, and to them have been born three sons and a daughter: John H., Frank Joseph, Fritz A., and Anna Regina, now the wife of Fred Kroeger of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Wilhelm belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Grand Army of the Republic, thus maintaining pleasant relations with the boys in blue. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but the honor and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He has remained an active business man since his arrival in 1868 and recently in connection with W.G. Norris… he has established a new city market at Third and Washington streets. His business interests have been carefully conducted and success in substantial measure is now his.

Clarence Bagley, History of Seattle from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time (Volume 3) (Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1916), 392-393.