On Saturday last in Mankato a young child of Fred Polchow was burned to death. Her clothes caught fire from a burning log in an open field, and being too young to put out the flames, she ran to a neighboring house. She was so badly injured that she died the same night. Mrs. Polchow gave birth to a child shortly after the accident, the shock of which was so great to her that her life was for a time in danger. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday Morning, April 25, 1878, Volume I, Number 101, Page 4)
F. Polchow, a German, was born in 1843, and in 1870 came to the United States; resided two years in the state of New York, and in 1872 removed to Mankato. Until 1877 he was employed here in the brick yards, then bought an interest in the business and has since been in J. A. Willard. Mr. Polchow married in 1870, Wilhelme Chultz. Frederick, William, John, Lena and Louis are their children. (History of the Minnesota Valley, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Rev. Edward D. Neill, North Star Publishing Company, Minneapolis, 1882, Page 564)
The 1895 Minnesota census showed Fred Polchow (age 52, born in Germany, brick maker) married to Minnie (age 48, born in Germany) and living in Mankato, Minnesota. Children William (age 24, born in New York), John (age 18, born in Minnesota), Lena (age 16, born in Minnesota), and Louis (age 14, born in Minnesota), Bertha (age 12, born in Minnesota), Anna (age 10, born in Minnesota), and Herman (age 8, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1900 United States census showed Fred Polchow (age 57, born in March 1843 in Germany, brick burner) married to Minnie (age 54, born in September 1845 in Germany) and living in Mankato, Minnesota. Children John C. (age 23, born in August 1876 in Minnesota), Lena (age 22, born in April 1878 in Minnesota), Louis (age 20, born in March 1880 in Minnesota), Bertha M. (age 18, born in May 1882 in Minnesota), Anna M. (age 16, born in April 1884 in Minnesota), and Herman (age 14, born in January 1886 in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1905 Minnesota census showed Fred Polchow (age 62, born in Germany, saloon keeper) married to Minnie (age 59, born in Germany) and living in Good Thunder, Minnesota. Children John C. (age 28, born in Minnesota) and Herman (age 19, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1910 United States census showed Fred Polchow (age 67, born in Germany, saloon keeper) married to Minnie (age 64, born in Germany) and living in Good Thunder, Minnesota. A son, John (age 33, born in Minnesota), also lived with the couple.
The 1920 United States census showed Fred Polchow (age 76, born in Germany) married to Whilhemia (age 74, born in Germany) and living in Good Thunder, Minnesota.
Fred Polchow died on October 29, 1925, in Blue Earth County, Minnesota.