Albert J. Frecka
With a well equipped establishment at 28 South Third Street, in the City of Ironton, Mr. Frecka conducts a prosperous plumbing business, and he is known as one of the popular and progressive business men of his native city, the metropolis and judicial center of Lawrence County, where he was born on the 15th of June, 1883.
Mr. Frecka is a son of Charles C. and Mary E. (Witting) Frecka. the former of whom was born at Wheeling. West Virginia, in 1860, and the latter of whom was born at Ashland. Kentucky, in 1862. The parents have been residents of Ironton since 1872. and here the father was originally employed as an expert wire-maker in a leading manufacturing plant, but he now devotes his attention to the plumbing business. Of the ten children all are living except one, Henry. The names are here entered in the respective order of the children's birth: Albert J., John and Henry (twins), Karl, Margaret, Marie, Anna, Ralph, Robert and Raymond.
Albert J. Frecka continued to attend the public schools of Ironton until he had completed the first year's study in the high school, at the age of seventeen years. About six years prior to this, when he was but eleven years old, he had initiated his virtual apprenticeship at the plumber's trade, in which he eventually perfected his knowledge and became an expert artisan. He continued to work at plumbing at irregular intervals until he left the high school, and for two years thereafter he was employed in a nail and wire mill in Ironton, the ensuing three years having found him engaged as agent and wagon driver for the Model Laundry Company, with which he remained an additional three years in the capacity of shipping clerk. Upon severing this connection Mr. Frecka served two years as manager of the Fred Frecka Company's plumbing establishment, and he then, in 1908, purchased the plant and business, which has since successfully conducted under his own name and in an individual way.
Mr. Frecka has had no desire to withdraw from the loyal cohorts of the republican party, is actively identified with the Ironton Chamber of Commerce, and is an appreciative and popular member of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On the 26th of February, 1908, Mr. Frecka wedded Miss Margaret Rist, daughter of John Rist, of Ironton, and they have three children, Lila E., Albert J., Jr., and John C.
From "A Standing History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio" by Eugene B. Willard, Daniel W. Williams, George O. Newman and Charles B. Taylor. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1916