Date : 24 Jan 1915
Location : St. Michael's Cemetery, Littleton, IA
German Settlement "The Forks"
of the Big and Little Wapsiea.
William Trebon, one of the oldest pioneers of the county, both in years and point of residence, passed away last Friday at his home near Littleton, after an illness of three months from a complication of ailments due to old age. Deceased was one of the band of sturdy Germans who came into the county in the sixties, and helped form the settlement north of Littleton, commonly known as "The Forks," deriving its name from the fact that it was located in the forks of the Big and Little Wapsies. It was a timbered section, and every acre yielded stubbornly to the axe the grubbing hoe. It was a life of hard labor in which Mr. Trebon did his full share, but he had the satisfaction in later years of seeing it made one of the finest farming sections of the county.
Frederick William Trebon was born in Province Rosen, Germany, in 1832, and was confirmed in 1847 in the Evangelical Lutheran church. At the age of 22 he entered the military and served three years in the German army. He came to America in 1865 and settled in Buchanan county. He was married to Wilhelmina Zummak, who was born in Bonak, in 1859. Mrs. Trebon's death occurred Feb. 28, 1911. They were blest with eight children, of whom Herman G., Reinhart A., and William F., are the sole survivors, five children having preceded their parents in death. Mr. Trebon was himself the last survivor of a family of eight. Besides the children above named, he is survived by eleven grandchildren and numerous other relatives. He was 82 years, 9 months and 14 days old at his death. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Gerlach, Sunday afternoon, at the church in The Forks, and he was there laid to rest.
Independence Conservative - Jan 27, 1915
