FRED ALTHEN IS DEAD

Two Rivers Man was Former Editor and Active as Socialist
(Special to the Northwestern)
Manitowoc, Wis. - Sept. 8 - Fred Althen, former city assessor of Two
Rivers and founder of the Two Rivers Reporter and its editor up to four
years ago, died at a Green Bay hospital following an operation which he
underwent there Saturday. Althen suffered from hernia and when the
operation was performed was also found to be suffering from appendicitis
and failed to survive the double operation. Althen was forty-two years
of age and is survived by a widow and eight children. Since retiring
from the newspaper business he had been engaged in the hotel business at Two Rivers.
Decedent was for several terms elected city assessor at Two Rivers and
was known as a leader of the Socialist Party in that city and was one of
the organizers of the party in the county. During his career as
publisher of the Reporter, Althen was twice prosecuted on libel charges
because of attacks in his paper upon Two River's people. As assessor
Althen stirred up considerable opposition at Two Rivers because of his
methods and his increasing of assessments of large concerns of the city.
The body of Mr. Althen was brought from Green Bay to Two Rivers and
burial was held in that city.
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, Fri., Sept. 8, 1916 page 9
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FRED ALTHEN-d.1916

FRED ALTHEN IS NO MORE
After undergoing an operation at the Green Bay hospital last week,
Thursday, Fred M. Althen passed away there early Sunday morning. He had
suffered an attack of rupture but upon coming to perform the operation
the surgeons discovered that he was also afflicted with appendicitis in
an advanced and dangerous stage. On Friday, it was found necessary to
perform another operation and his family was notified that his condition
was critical. Mrs. Althen and son, Seymour hastened to his side and
although he rallied at first, he began to fail rapidly Saturday night
passing gradually into unconsciousness and death. The remains were
brought here Monday and the funeral took place Tuesday from Grace
Congregational Church, Rev. Morris officiating. Deceased was born in
Wetzler, Prussia, Germany in 1872. At the age of fourteen he came to
America with his parents and they settled at Two Rivers. He immediately
attended school and early showed his capacity for hard work that has
characterized him in everything he undertook. At the age of eighteen
and only four years after coming to America, he successfully passed the
examinations and became teacher at the Town Line School west of here. He
early took a lively interest in political questions and debating
societies. He enlisted in the Spanish American War and served as
corporal in Company H. He was an ardent socialist and ran for office
several times on the Socialist ticket. To advance his socialistic
theories he decided to publish a newspaper and in 1904 he founded the
Reporter which he conducted until 1913 when he sold it to it's present
owner. Mr. Althen served as city assessor for two consecutive terms and
tried always to perform the duties of his office conscientiously. He
also held the office of city clerk and was a candidate for mayor in 1915
but was defeated. he was always more or less actively engaged in
advancing theories which he believed would make easier the burdens of
the laboring man. When stricken with the fatal malady he was employed as
a spinner at the Aluminum Goods plant and was exceptionally efficient in
his work.
Deceased is survived by a widow, a son, Seymour, daughter Corine and
four small children.
The Reporter, Friday, Sept. 8, 1916
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A FRIEND'S TRIBUTE
A little over one week ago a great man, well known in this city, but
little understood, sat in a chair opposite mine. He has now gone from
this selfish and thankless world forever. Oh, that I could call him back
again to carry on his needed work among his fellow workers and act as a
disturber of guilty consciences of the self righteous Pharisees. His
life was one of great service to all, little caring for self, ready at
all times to carry the truth to those who would receive it in spite of
the cynics sneer. He was disliked by some for one reason that being that
he did not fear the results of telling the truth as he saw it. I cannot
recall his faults, but whatever they may have been hypocrisy was not one
of them. He was no moral coward and altho not considered a success in
business he was a success as a man. He was a kind and loving father and
a worthy comrade. Let us do him honor by taking the good of his life and
planting it in our own.
G.S. Zander
The Reporter, Sept. 8, 1916
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Fred Althen

The news of the death of Fred Althen was a surprise and a shock of his
many friends and relatives. Few people knew that he was ill. He suffered
for some time with rupture and appendicitis and on Tuesday was operated
upon at a hospital in Green Bay. He appeared to be recovering at first,
but on Friday, his condition became such that another operation was
necessary and his life was in danger. His family was notified and Mrs.
Althen was at one taken to Green Bay by Mr. J.F. Magee in his auto. He
rallied for a time but grew worse and passed away early Sunday morning.
Fred Althen was born in Germany, 44 years ago. He came to this country
with his parents when he was a small boy and landed in Two Rivers where
he has resided most of his life. Fred had little education but had a
taste for literature and spent considerable of his time reading and
studying. He worked in the shops for a number of years and later was
granted a diploma and taught a country school. He entered as a volunteer
and served in the Spanish-American War. When he returned he became very
interested in socialism and was a leader in that movement in this city
for a number of years. For a time he fought the battles of prohibition
and populism in this vicinity and enjoyed being a leader and always had
some following. He had political ambitions and had the office of
assessor and city clerk and was a candidate for assemblyman and mayor
but was defeated.
Thirteen years ago, Mr. Althen established himself in the newspaper
business and launched the Reporter which paper he conducted until about
three years ago. His newspaper career was not as smooth as it might have
been, but he was sincere in his convictions, although most persons
thought he was in the wrong.
For several years, Mr. Althen was employed by the Aluminum Goods
Company. He resided in this city most of his life, but spent about a
year at Manitowoc and lately was employed at Cudahy. He is survived by a
wife and six children. – Two Rivers Chronicle.
Manitowoc Pilot, Thurs., Sept. 7, 1916
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Notes from Two Rivers:

Among those from outside who attended the funeral of Fred Althen were
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lafond and Mfrs. L. Klenke of Sheboygan, Mrs. John
Miller of Port Washington, Mr. and Mfrs. Geo. Alwardt of Kaukauna, Mr.
and Mfrs. Geo. Dunlap and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lutsev of Laney, Wis., Mrs.
Alvin Moss of Zachow and Miss Hannah Magee of Angelica.
Manitowoc Pilot, Thurs., Sept. 14, 1916
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