George W. Frick is one of the most prominent educators of Alameda county, having three times served in the position of county superintendent of schools, his first election taking place in 1890 and his second in 1907, since which time he has filled that position. Mr. Frick comes of a family which settled in California in pioneer days. It was established in this state by his father, George Washington Frick, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Abraham Frick, the latter a sturdy settler of German ancestry, whose death occurred in 1880, while his wife died some years earlier. In their family were six sons and two daughters.
George Washington Frick, the father of the subject of this review, sought the opportunities of the middle west, removing to Illinois in 1839, the family making their home on a farm near Galena. He received his education in the district schools there, and also studied privately, subsequently taking a course in the Mount Morris Seminary when about twenty years of age. In 1852, in Galena, Illinois, he married Miss Mary E. Bryant, and before the year was out they started for California, accompanied by her parents. They made the long journey without any serious adventures, although they experienced the hardships and privations incident to such a trip. "Mother Bryant," as she was known, however, was crippled by an accident at the beginning of the journey, but was able to do the cooking for the party all the way across the plains.
Arriving in the Golden State in 1853, Mr. Frick took up teaching in Santa Cruz, having charge of the first public school there for two terms, at the end of which time he removed to Centerville, Alameda county, where he also followed this profession. He was one of the first republicans in the county and from the date of his arrival took an active interest in the affairs of his party. In 1857 he removed to Sonoma county and purchased a ranch about three miles northeast of Petaluma, his property comprising one hundred and twenty acres. He continued to teach school, having charge of the Bethel school for one term. In 1860 he became the candidate of the republican party for sheriff, but later withdrew in order to better the chances of the union party candidate. He was active in the Union League movement during the Civil war and was the president of the Bethel Union League near Petaluma. He was also chairman of the Sonoma county delegation to the state convention which nominated George C. Gorham for governor. Although his county had a large democratic majority, he was twice elected supervisor, drawing many democratic votes because even his political opponents were absolutely sure of the purity of his motives and the sincerity of all his actions. For fifteen years he served as a school trustee, always taking an interest in the cause of education, and practically all his life he held an official position of one sort or another in the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1871 he sold his farming interests near Petaluma and in the following year located in Mendocino county. In 1874 he became a settler of Santa Barbara county, where he was identified with the Lompoc Temperance Colony, of which movement he was a pioneer. He conducted a mercantile establishment in Lompoc and also participated in the public life of the municipality as school trustee. It was largely due to his efforts that a five thousand dollar schoolhouse was erected, and he also was instrumental in the building of a church edifice for the Methodist Episcopal denomination. After disposing of his store in Lompoc he acquired title to about one thousand acres of land in the San Miguelito canyon, which he devoted to dairying, making the purchase in 1876 and locating upon the property about three years later. Subsequently, however, he leased this land and removed to Oakland in order to give his children the best educational advantages.
Mrs. Frick, who in her maidenhood was Miss Mary E. Bryant, was a daughter of William Cowper Bryant of New England, who at an earlier day became a merchant of Galena, Illinois. He made several trips to California by way of Mexico and the Isthmus and while crossing the plains was shot by Indians and for some time carried the arrowhead in his breast, finally having it cut out with a butcher knife, as he was unable to reach a doctor. He was one of the pioneer draymen of San Francisco and while at his work fell through a wharf, receiving such serious injuries that he was crippled for life.
His wife, Anna (Sterret) Bryant, was of German descent and became widely known throughout the state of California for church and charitable work. As "Mother Bryant" she was familiarly known to the inhabitants of San Francisco and the surrounding territory. She crossed the plains on crutches and lived to be about seventy years of age. Two of her sons, John and William, became ministers. Mrs. Frick was president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Lompoc at the time of her death, which occurred May 3, 1884. Her husband passed away in Lompoc while on a visit, July 12, 1889, at the age of sixty-four years. In their family were the following children: George William, of this sketch; Laura A., who died December 3, 1888, at the age of twenty-seven; Abraham Lincoln, who is a lawyer by profession and served as deputy district attorney of Alameda county in 1891 and later became superior judge; John Frederick, who was graduated from the Oakland high school in 1888 and later studied law; and Blanche.
George William Frick was born in Santa Cruz, California, April 4, 1854, and attended the Bethel district school in Sonoma county until fourteen years of age, when he became a pupil in Professor E. S. Lippett's scientific and classical institute at Petaluma. In 1870 he attended grammar school for one term and in 1871 entered the Napa Collegiate Institute. In 1873, when he was nineteen years of age, he apprenticed himself to the printer's trade in a newspaper office in Napa and subsequently removed with his employer to San Jose, where he first began to write for the paper. He subsequently returned to Petaluma and then went to Lompoc, where he taught a private school and also followed newspaper work. Subsequently he studied law for nine months in San Francisco and then returned to Petaluma, where he again acted as compositor and writer and also studied for teaching, receiving his certificate in Santa Rosa in 1877. His first school was taught in Sebastapol. In 1879 he came to Alameda county and followed his profession for eighteen months in Castro valley. He next was connected with the two department school at Mount Eden for three and one-half years, and in 1884 became head of the Hayward school of seven departments, and in 1886 of the San Leandro school of eight departments. In July, 1888, he was chosen by the Oakland board of education to fill the principalship of the Tompkins school of eight departments, and in the fall of 1890 was elected county superintendent of schools. After serving his term he became principal of the Cole school of Oakland, and continued in that position for twelve years, being in 1906 again elected county superintendent and having since continued in that position. Mr. Frick has made many improvements since he has taken charge of the office. He has simplified the clerical work and has placed all of the affairs of the office upon a strict business basis. He makes it a point to visit all of the schools in the county, if possible, five or six times a year and keeps in close touch with the teachers and pupils in order to maintain that spirit of cooperation which is so necessary in order to insure success. He has also encouraged the introduction of industrial education in the country schools.
In Oakland, January 1, 1885, Mr. Frick married Miss Rhoda Louise Tucker, who taught in the Hayward school when he was principal. Her parents were William J. and Sarah L. (Walker) Tucker. She was born in Brandon, Vermont, and came to California in her early life. She attended the public schools, and graduated as class poet from the University of California in the class with ex-Governor Pardee. Mr. and Mrs. Frick had two children: Gladys C., now Mrs. Shepherd and Raymond L. Mrs. Frick passed away in 1892, her death causing sincere sorrow, not only to her immediate family, but to her many friends, all of whom esteemed her for her womanly qualities of character.
Mr. Frick is thoroughly devoted to his profession, which demands nearly all of his time. He is, however, interested in fraternal work and has been an active member of the Odd Fellows since attaining his majority, having held all of the chairs in the subordinate lodge and encampment. In 1890 he joined Oakland Canton, No. 11, of that order, and he is a past grand of Sycamore Lodge, No. 129, and a past chief patriarch of Alameda Encampment, No. 29, both of Hayward. For two terms he was district deputy grand master. He is also prominent in the Masonic order, being a past master of Eucalyptus Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M., of Hayward; is a member of Oakland Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M.; and the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a charter member and past exalted ruler of Oakland Lodge, No. 171, B. P. O. E., and is past president of Oakland Parlor, No. 50, N. S. G. W. He also belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose. In all the relations of life he has proven himself trustworthy, and he well merits the confidence the public places in him. He is a public-spirited and patriotic citizen who for many years has worked for the betterment of educational opportunities in Alameda county and who has achieved results which will tell in years to come.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 413-416
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 7/4/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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