- Fred immigrated to America in 1848 to see if it would be wise for the rest of the family to move to America. Fred became a U. S. citizen on April 16, 1860. In about 1859, Fred moved to Martintown, Wisconsin and ran a saw mill. In 1869, he moved to a farm south of Lena, Illinois. Fred and Dorthea helped build the stone Salem Evangelical Church in 1869. Fred was one of the first directors. He was later a director of St. John's Evangelical Church. Fred's son, Henry later lived on his farm.