Henry Frahm

The Frahm home, located on 15th Street in the Southern part of Fort Calhoun, was built by Catharine's father, Fred Frahm for his new bride, Sarah Beales. The couple lived there all of their lives. Fred passed away in 1949; Sarah in 1975.Fred was the second son of Henry and Dorothy Elsabe (Rohwer) Frahm. Henry and Dora moved from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in the 1850s. They were married in 1860 at Omaha and lived on a farm in Fort Calhoun. Sarah was the daughter of Austin William and Hannah Mitchell (Hall) Beales. At the age of 12, Austin moved from Cambridge, England, with his parents, William Barnett and Elizabeth (Austin) Beales in 1848. William, Catharine Frahm's great-great-grandfather, was the first mayor of Fort Calhoun. Austin and Hannah were married in 1868. In 1885 they purchased and moved to a farm adjacent to Fort Calhoun. Fred Frahm owned and operated the general merchandise store in Calhoun. He purchased the business from his brother-in-law, Henry Rix. Fred was also a long-time member of the Fort Calhoun School Board. He served as mayor (1909-10, 1915-16 and 1922-23) and was a member of the city council. Sarah Beales was a 1894 graduate of Fort Calhoun High School. Fred and Sarah were charter members of Naomi Chapter #121, Order of the Eastern Star. In the 1980 edition of Washington County History, Catharine wrote: "I, Catharine Comly, am [Fred and Sarah Frahm's] only child. After finishing college, my life work has been in the field of medical technology and records. After some years in Wyoming and California, I returned in to the family home and worked in Omaha and later in Blair at the new hospital. Since retirement, I have been actively involved with various aspects of the Washington County Historical Association and related museum." Because of her bequeathment, Catharine will continue to remain active in the museum. The Historical Association plans to make the Frahm house a period home in conjunction with a living history program. "Everything is basically the same as the day it was built," said David Genoways, administrator of the estate and nephew of Catharine.The only modernizations made to the home were the addition of electricity, modern running water, modern sewer system and a modern furnace. Catharine was very conservative and she was very comfortable living in the way of the post-Victorian period. Programming will make the period home a museum worth visiting again and again. Catharine left not only her house and estate to the Association, but also most of her belongings and furnishings.

Source: The Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska, March 12, 1996, page 1 and Washington County Nebraska History 1980, page 252. The Washington County Historical Association. Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas, 1980.