WILLIAM HERBERT FRECKER

Mayoral term: June 8, 1906 - June 4, 1908
Born: May 1851, Chatham, Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Canada
Died: Apr. 22, 1914 (age 62) Tampa

 

William was one of five children of tanner/shoemaker Thomas Nicholas Frecker by his first wife, Emma Card.  Thomas had six more children by his second wife, Martha McDermott.

Although William's birth year appears as May, 1852 in later U.S. sources, his presence on the 1851 Census in Chatham at age 1/2 year guarantees he was born in 1851.

These charts are a summary of William's family in Canada.

Notice the ad shows "And in fact All Necessary Household Goods."  The map shows a furniture and crockery business on the corner.  The crockery would be the household goods.

When his business was up and running, the Shaw family relocated to Tampa.

FIRST MENTION OF WM. H. FRECKER IN THE NEWS

The first mention of William Frecker in Tampa is found in the Tribune in May 1896 on a list of registered voters in the 2nd Ward. (Tampa Heights)  It certainly is possible that Frecker came to Tampa as an employee of C. B. Shaw or a soon-to-be-hired employee.   But contrary to what's indicated in some sources, Frecker did not own it at this time nor did he start the company.

This is the Tampa the Freckers would have seen when they arrived here.

A clue in the photo that indicates this is NOT snow is that none of the chimneys show smoke coming from them.  The long shadows in the westward direction indicate this is late afternoon, but even then the temperatures would have been quite low and require the use of furnaces and fireplaces--a smoky haze would be quite noticeable in the photo.  By why would there be not a soul or horses and carriages on the streets??
 

See more photos and history about the Academy of the Holy Names and Convent here at TampaPix.

See the TampaPix feature about the DeSoto Hotel for the identification of buildings seen in this photo and a comparison to an 1895 Sanborn map.

At left is a crop of the full size version of the 1895 photo which gives a rare view in foreground center of the 45 ft. tower of the original wood frame St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Marion St. between Madison & Twiggs streets.  Behind it is the old 1891 Academy of the Holy Names Convent which took up the whole block between Zack, Twiggs, Morgan & Pierce streets.

BIG BUSINESS FOR SHAW,  MOVES CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE TO LARGER SPACE

Click the ad to see it larger, then again to see it full size.

FRECKER IN POLITICS - THE RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL

While working for Shaw at Chicago Furniture House,  Bill Frecker was getting involved in civic and political affairs of Tampa.  On May 7, 1898 the results of the individual voter precincts balloting were published.  In the 27th Precinct, 26 delegates were in the running.  With 70 voters, Frecker was one of the 13 men chosen to run for City Council.  This was no list of rookies, there were some big-hitters:  Thomas Palmer, C. E. Worth, Frank Wing, A. J. Knight, C. L. Knight, N. P. Bishoff, Thomas E. Jackson, and a few others.

POLITICAL RALLY AT COURT HOUSE SQUARE (Article below)
 

A week later, a political campaign rally took place  at Court House Square for the Citizen's League, of which Frecker was a member and had put him in the running for City Council. 

The  League  endorsed W. J. Dombrowsky for Mayor.

Various city officials were seen in the crowd, including current Mayor Myron E. Gillett, "all of whom took their medicine with the best grace possible when the speakers scored the city government for not making a better showing in the way of municipal improvements.  Various delegates made their speeches for Dombrowsky, and took shots and the current administration.

THE SEED OF THE TRIBUNE'S "HOTSTUFF FRECKER" NICKNAME
 

After mayor-candidate Dombrowsky spoke to the crowd it was Frecker's turn.  He was introduced as “a hot member of the Citizen's league, and was currently 'red hot' in his remarks and scored the present administration (Myron Gillette) and the party that is opposed to the candidates of the Citizen's League.  He denounced the members of the Board of Public Works for not furnishing an itemized statement of the moneys under their control, and then waded into corporations that have been shown favors by the city." William Stovall, owner and editor of the Tribune, would not ever let go of the "Red Hot" fervor of Frecker, he would continue calling him "Hotstuff Willie" or "Hotstuff Mayor" throughout his political career.  The Tribune gets Frecker's initials wrong--J.H. instead of W.H.

The news of the newly-elected mayor shared the front page with news of war, inhumanity & child abuse, murder, suicide, and robbery.

The Council granted the request for a recount, and Councilmen Webb, Holmes and Kruse were appointed to the recount.  It was found that three votes had been counted for Levick which should not have been, because they were marked to the right of the name instead of the left.  With those ballots disqualified, Frecker won by one vote, 117 to 116.

At the next City Council Meeting, it was announced that Frecker would be assigned to the committees that Levick had been previously appointed to.

SHAW EXPANDS CHICAGO FURNITURE TO CUBA AT WAR'S END

Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the U.S. to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million.  Cuba technically gained its independence, but United States soldiers remained in the country for years, commonly intervening in the new nation's politics.

With the war over and the U.S. maintaining order and Red Cross humanitarian aid in Cuba, Shaw wasted no time in sending a young Charlie T. Frecker, William's son, to Cuba with a shipload of furniture, hoping to establish a branch store in Havana.

CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE'S ADVERTISING
 

Shaw ran a relentless advertising blitz in the papers--very large ads and every day.  In July 1899 Shaw announced he was offering storage in warehouses he had on Zack Street.  "For furniture, store fixtures, carriages, or merchandise of any kind."  The warehouses were situated along a railroad line so trainloads could transfer cargo directly to his facility.  He also bought a second delivery wagon, and told the Tribune that if business continued  as it has for the past two months, he would need a third wagon.

The 1903 map below shows the locations of Shaw's Zack Street warehouses.  Notice the ACL Railroad track (blue) terminating directly behind the warehouse on the north side of Zack.  The warehouses were wood frame construction.

FRECKER STARTS HIS OWN BUSINESS - UNION FURNITURE CO.

Sometime in November 1899 Wm. Frecker left Shaw's Chicago Furniture House and started his own furniture business called "The Union Furniture Co." in in Ybor City. 

FRECKER JOINED BY FELLOW COUNCILMAN FRANK WING

Frecker soon opened another Union Furniture in the Jackson Building.  This was across Franklin St. from the Chicago Furniture House in the space formerly occupied by B. A. Brown, a former jeweler who in early Oct. that year sold all his stock to Southern Loan & Jewelry to pay off some of his debts.

It is at this time that Frank Wing entered the furniture business when he joined Frecker as a partner in the Union Furniture Co.

CITIZEN'S LEAGUE CANDIDATES RUN UNOPPOSED IN 1900 ELECTION EXCEPT FOR ONE POSITION

In 1900, the race for Mayor and City Council, as well as all other positions except Tax Collector, would be without opposition in the June election.  Frank Wing was sure to become Mayor, and Frecker one of the City Council members for "at large" (not representing any specific ward,) but Nicholas Bishoff's bid for Tax Collector would be opposed by Herman Glogowski, a former Tampa Mayor.  Nicholas Bishoff was also in the business with Frecker & Wing's Union Furniture Company, and the Tribune took every opportunity it could to point this out, as evidenced by the May 6 article below.

But on May 5, 1900, the Citizen's League "slate-makers" pulled Bishoff from the running for tax collector; the Tribune speculated it was because the League had concerns of three members of City government being associated in one business, the Union Furniture Co.  By pulling Bishoff , it would leave the race uncontested for the opposition (Glogowski) because the League's first choice, Charles E. Worth, pulled out to run for County Tax Collector.

BISHOFF BACK IN THE RUNNING

On May 12, 1900, the Tribune published an article stating that the Citizen's League was going to keep Bishoff on the ticket for Tax Collector.  The Tribune again stated that Wing, Frecker and Bishoff were all in business together and that if Bishoff defeated Glogowski, the only contested race, "one concern will have much to say about the conduct of the next City administration."  That "one concern" was the Tribune, under editor Stovall, who would unceasingly ridicule, criticize, demean and disrespect the City Council, especially Frecker.

The Tribune concluded by stating that Glogowski was making a strong fight, and it thought Bishoff would lose, stating that the "trio above enumerated will be reduced to a duet when the votes are counted."

FRANCIS LYMAN WING ELECTED MAYOR UNOPPOSED, BUT CAN'T TAKE OFFICE

The election result was no surprise, except that Nicholas Bischoff defeated Herman Glogowski for City Tax Collector.  But when it came time to transfer the City Government to the new administration, six of the City Councilmen from the old administration did not show up.  Without a quorum, new Mayor Wing and the new City Council could not take office.

At right is an excerpt of this Jun. 9, 1900 article.  Click it to read the whole article.  When it opens, click it again to see it full size.

The excerpt at right is Councilman Webb's (of the "Big Six" who didn't show up) explanation as to why he and the other five councilmen didn't show up.

PROTECTING THE RESERVE FUND

The issue at hand was a reserve fund of $28,000 for which the outgoing City Council had passed an ordinance for the funds to be used by the Board of Public Works.  They didn't want the new administration to use it for payroll or current expenses, or even current emergencies.  They felt it was the duty of the new Council to come up with funds for those needs, as the old administration did.  But when the City Treasurer refused to turn over the funds to the Board, they knew it was an attempt to "thwart the purpose of the ordinance and retain the money for its own miscellaneous uses.  The "Big Six" councilmen were determined that they would not allow such a scheme.

They awaited the return of Wm. B. Henderson of the Board of Public Works in order that the Board could begin legal proceedings to obtain the fund.

MAYOR WING TAKES OFFICE, TRANSFER OF CITY GOVERNMENT, FIRST MEETING OF NEW CITY COUNCIL

At left is the beginning of a long article that covers several topics.

The standoff caused by the "Big Six's" absence at the last meeting was met by a Writ of Mandamus by Judge Joseph B. Wall, compelling those members to attend this meeting.

Their failure to previously appear and the issue of the $28k reserve fund they had earmarked for the Board of Public Works made this meeting one of high interest for the public, so the spectator's gallery  in the chamber, the hallway outside, and the street below was crowded with curious onlookers, waiting for any new surprises.

Outgoing Council President Bruen and members Webb, Phillips & Brown arrived, and there was no further avoidance of the issues at hand.  Holmes and DeArmas did not attend.

The following are the topics of the entire article, click the links to see each topic in full:

P.1 - THE LAST SESSION & THE "LITTLE FOUR'S" FIRST VICTORY
The meeting was called to order by Pres. Bruen, minutes of the previous meeting were read by Chief A.J. Harris and approved.  A note from Auditor Weller indicated that May 31 ended the fiscal year and a report would be forthcoming. 

Weller also submitted a claim from the Tampa Harness & Wagon Co for $124 amount due on a contract for sprinkling Fla. Ave. for the past 4 months. (The sandy streets were sprinkled to keep the dust clouds at a minimum.) Weller also noted it had been submitted too late for the previous meeting.

Webb moved that the bill be paid.  Frecker objected, stating he was a member of the Finance Committee and he had not heard of this claim before.  Webb said it was a verbal contract made by Mr. Holmes of Tampa Harness.  Frecker insisted the bill should be investigated.  Webb insisted on his own motion.  Webb's motion was put forth and was defeated by the "Little Four" which now consisted of Frecker, Wing, Kruse and Morey, outvoting Webb, Brown & Phillips due to the absence of Holmes & DeArmas.

The vote brought forth a burst of applause from the Citizen's Leaguers who occupied almost all of the spectator's benches.  On a motion by Frecker, the bill was ordered filed.

P2.  THE OBSEQUIES (funeral rites, burial)

The regular business was suspended and the results of the election were formally declared.  The motion carried unanimously and another outbreak of applause ensued from the spectators.  Clerk Henderson prepared his minutes for this last session of the old Council and were signed by Bruen, and thus the record of the outgoing administration was completed. After signing off on the election results, there was nothing left for the old council to do but adjourn.  As the old council left, the spectators again applauded, "manifesting considerable jollification of a political nature."  The only persons left were Frecker, Clerk Henderson, and three newspaper reporters.  The other newly elected members then came forward.

P3.  THE NEW MAYOR

Chosen in advance for the task, former Mayor F. A. Salomonson administered the oath of office to the new administration, which was met by applause by the gallery and cordially by the outgoing members.  In administering the oath, Mr. Salomon said: "Mr. Wing, the people of Tampa fondly hoped, when they arose this morning, that they would find you mayor of the city.  The delay, however, has happened for the best, as you will now be able to begin your administration on the Lord's Day.  I congratulate you heartily."  Clerk Henderson and Tax Collector/Assessor Bishoff were sworn in.  Treasurer-elect Keller and Councilman Dekle of the 4th Ward were absent, being out of the city.  The others were sworn in one by one, each resulting in more applause as they came forward.

P.4  MOORE MADE PRESIDENT

Frecker made the first motion of the new administration, nominating A. C. Moore as the council president.  This was seconded and Moore was elected.  Moore wasn't new to this, he was the President of the previous City Council.  He made some comments and was seated in the President's chair.  Frecker was elected as President Pro Tem (serving in the absence of the President.)  Attorney Shackleford, the new City Attorney (replacing Whittaker) presented a "bundle" of resolutions for the new council to begin with,  The first was passed, adopting the rules used for the previous administration.

P.5  HOLDING TO THE CASH

Frecker introduced the next resolution, which was greeted by cheers from the audience.  It repealed the previous administration's resolution which was to turn over the City's reserve funds to the Board of Public Works.  This was the subject of the controversy in the previous administration's standoff.  The new resolution was unanimously passed, keeping the $28k in possession by the City Council to use as they saw fit.  As the funds were already with the City Treasurer, no problem was anticipated in keeping it there.  The Council then adjourned until the next Friday night.

P.6  KEYS TO THE CITY

Previous Mayor Bowyer, who was waiting outside, then invited new Mayor Wing to to his office, and in a few well-chosen and kindly words, formally turned over the keys of the city to his successor, wishing the best success with his duties.  This was followed by more great applause, for the old and new mayor.

This concluded the reporting of the events of the meeting.

P.7  APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE NEXT WEEK; POSSIBILITY OF A RIFT

The Tribune reported that by the time of the next meeting, it was believed that Mayor Wing will have decided on some of the most important appointments to City positions, and speculation was running rampant around town.  It was reported that a considerable split had developed with the new administration over the position of Police Chief, and there would be a strong conflict that will threaten the solidarity of the Mayor and City Council.  "This, however, is but a street rumor, and may not amount to anything."

P8.  ABOUT TAMPA'S NEW MAYOR, FRANK L. WING

This is the only source that reveals that after marrying (in 1892) he and Mrs. Wing moved back to his New England home with the intent on staying there.

(Mayor Wing's administration and his personal life and death are covered in more detail on Page 1 of this feature.)

P.9  ABOUT THE NEW CITY COUNCIL

This next section of the Jun. 10, 1900 article introduced each new Councilman with a short paragraph about them.  The beginning of this topic, as well as the paragraph about Frecker, which appears near the end, are shown at right.

Already, his reputation precedes him, having served in the previous administration.

Click the link above to read the whole article about the rest of the members.

MAYOR WING MAKES CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT TO POLICE CHIEF

The removal of Police Chief S. T. Woodward, "a man who has made the city the best chief it has ever had," and replacement by a transient citizen, a cigar-maker who was "almost a total stranger" to the business element of the city" caused a firestorm of controversy and dissention in in the City Council as well as the entire city.  It was evident to everyone that the appointment was a reward for the backing of Wing by the cigar makers of Ybor City and West Tampa.
 

Police Chief S. T. Woodward
From an Aug. 28, 1915 Tribune article.

Even the Tampa Tribune was against the dismissal.  This article specifies Councilman Valdez' emphatic disapproval, but Wm. Frecker was out of town so was not in attendance.

 FRECKER THREATENS TO RESIGN FROM CITY COUNCIL DUE TO WING'S APPOINTMENTS

About the public uproar over his choice of police chief, Mayor Wing said, "It is not necessary for anybody to bother me with their kicks.  There are lots of policemen around here, let them tell their troubles to them...I can't make appointments to suit everybody."
 

The appointment of Roberts as Police Chief and others in that dept. was unpopular with most everyone, but reappointment of A. J. Harris as Fire Chief was unpopular mostly with the Citizen's League.  Harris was a well-like Fire Chief, being the first Chief of Tampa's professional fire dept. who came to Tampa with plenty of experience in the mid-1890s. to this point.

Frecker was quoted by the President of the Citizen's League as saying, "I hope God Almighty will strike me dead if I ever darken the doors of the council chamber as a councilman again."

Frecker changed his mind about resigning from City Council. 
However, several days later, he did resign, but not from the City Council.  Read on.

TRIBUNE CALLS WING'S POLICE CHIEF APPOINTMENT A "GREAT, GLARING MISTAKE"
 

As was common when a new mayor took office, supporters clamored for jobs as reward for their campaigning efforts.   The Tribune found a way to attack Frecker, even though they agreed with Frecker about the Police Dept. appointments.  "It was to be expected that a man like Mr. Frecker...should feel that he should be consulted first, last, and all the time...now there is a howl from the Freckerites." 

The Tribune complimented Mayor Wing for not submitting to every "little ambitious politician who thinks he is entitled to the sole management of the affairs of this growing City.  And the more positively and emphatically the mayor gives the public to understand, that there is to be no 'BOSS FRECKER' or 'BOSS ANYBODY ELSE' in his administration, the better it will be for him and for the people."

See this entire article, there is more on the reaction and efforts of the Citizen's League. and the Tribune's view of the situation.

CHARLES SHAW CONTINUES ADVERTISING HIS CHICAGO FURNITURE HOUSE COMPANY

FRECKER RESIGNS FROM UNION FURNITURE CO.

In late July 1900, Frecker ended his partnership with Frank Wing and the Union Furniture Co.  The dissolution of the partnership was no surprise to anyone given the clash of political authority between Mayor Wing and Councilman Frecker.  Wing would continue with Union Furniture Co. and keep the name, Frecker and Bishoff were out entirely.  Frecker told a Tribune reporter that he anticipated establishing his own businesses in Tampa and Ybor City.

	JUDGE WALL STRIKES DOWN LICENSE ORDINANCE NO. 245 The Tribune gloats and considers itself victorious, stating that "Judge Wall sustains the position taken by the Tribune."  The city attorneys were ready to appeal to the Florida supreme court.
Judge Perry G. Wall Photo from The Sunland Tribune   JUDGE JOSEPH B. WALL   Joseph Baisden Wall was a half-brother of former Tampa Mayor & former Tribune editor Dr. John P. Wall.  Their father was Civil War Reconstruction era Judge Perry Green Wall, patriarch of the large Wall family in Tampa, their mothers were the first and second wives of Perry G. Wall.   Portrait from the 10th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida       When Perry G. Wall's first wife Nancy Hunter Wall died in Feb. 1845, she left Perry with seven children (four daughters and three sons which included John P. Wall and William "Billy" Washington Wall), all under the age of 11.   Perry and his children moved from Hamilton Co. to Spring Hill, Benton County (later renamed Hernando Co.)  where on December 11, 1845, Perry married 35-year old Barbara R. Baisden.  She was a daughter of Josiah Baisden.  Perry G. Wall and Barbara Baisden had three children: Joseph Baisden Wall (b.1847), Charles F. Wall** (b.1849), and Ella Wall, who died young.   Through the marriages of Perry G. Wall's children, the Walls were related to the families of Clarke, Knight, Lykes, Friebele, Parkhill, McKay, Frazier, Linebaugh, Dupree, and Hendry.   Joseph Baisden Wall (fourth son of Perry G. Wall) was born Jan 23, 1847 and served in the 2nd Florida Reserves during the latter part of the Civil war. He attended the University of Virginia and was admitted to the bar in Brooksville in 1869. He became one of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists that Florida had yet produced.   J.B. Wall married first in 1869 to Precious Ederington of Brooksville, with whom he had one daughter Helen (she married Judge Charles B. Parkhill). J. B. Wall then moved to Tampa in 1872.  For several years in Tampa, J. B. Wall was a partner of Hon. Henry L. Mitchell and afterwards, partner of Peter O. Knight.  In 1874 he was appointed State Attorney by Republican governor Ossian B. Hart.  J. B.  Wall prospered as a lawyer, entered politics and by 1886 was President of the State Senate. Joseph B. Wall's second wife was Fredericka Lykes of Brooksville; they had no children.     WALL INVOLVED WITH CANE BEATING FORMER JUDGE MAGBEE In his younger years, J.B. Wall was hot-tempered, as was his nephew-in-law, James E. Lipscomb. On Aug. 12, 1878, he was with Lipscomb when Lipscomb got into an altercation in the streets of Tampa with the retired Judge James T. Magbee.  Lipscomb pulled Magbee out of his buggy and gave him a thorough caning, using the whale bone end of his cane.  The issue was what Lipscomb and Wall considered a derogatory comment that Magbee had published in his Republican newspaper, the Tampa Guardian, about their uncle, the late Billy Wall.  Later, J. B. Wall wrote to the Sunland Tribune (John P. Wall, editor) and justified the caning by stating that "Magbee is sufficiently young and strong to be vicious and therefore by all social laws is amenable to chastisement." Though he claimed he hadn't touched Magbee, all three men involved in the affair were fined $10 in the Mayor's Court.  Magbee was 58 years old.   WALL TIES THE KNOT--THE HANGMAN'S TYPE, AND IS DISBARRED FROM FEDERAL PRACTICE On March 6, 1882, Joseph B. Wall assisted a lynch mob that hanged in front of the county courthouse a white itinerant sailor accused of attempted rape. Supposedly, Wall was in court that day, left the building and reportedly tied the "hangman’s knot, because no one else in the crowd knew how." The article about the lynching doesn't mention Wall or the the noose incident, but before the end of that week, Judge Locke disbarred Joseph Wall for it.   Naturally, editor of the Sunland Tribune (and half-brother of J. B. Wall) took to his paper to criticize Judge Locke for his action.  Click the article at right to see all of it.   J. B. Wall was later appointed judge of the criminal court of record and circuit court, which was the last official position he held before his death in 1912.  He was more than once prominently mentioned in connection with candidacy for governor, congressman and U.S. senator, though the only thing preventing him was his own consent to run for the offices.   **This was not the infamous mob figure Charlie Wall.  Charles F. Wall was a successful fruit grower and merchant who for many years lived at Seaside, then Hillsborough County, then Brooksville for the remaining years of his life. He had no children, but he and his wife adopted a baby who was a great comfort to them in their later years.  Charles F. Wall was a man of remarkable Christian spirit who was beloved by all who knew him; one who was always looked to in time of distress for advice--a man of high character. He died in 1913.   Read more about Judge Perry Green Wall and Joseph Baisden Wall, and see all the articles about the above events, here at TampaPix features, "Knight and Wall Hardware" and "James T. Magbee and the Civil War, Tampa."  See this 1996 St. Pete Times article about Tampa's lawlessness.

Auditor Weller's report was only partial, as the audit was not yet complete.  But already there were twenty-two errors amounting to over $600 in the collection of the occupational license taxes, extended back to October of 1900.  Even back to the day when the tax collector's office was flooded with attorneys wanting to pay the old tax rate.

The rest of the article explains:

HOW IT WAS DONE
An example of the "stealage" is given:  A saloon owner paid Frecker $250 for his license.  (Apparently, some of the exorbitant fees didn't change after the whole ordinance was struck down by Judge Wall.)  C. Frecker issued the license for $250, but on the stub in the license book wrote only $5, and in the cash receipt ledger also only wrote $5, "an embezzlement of $245--readily detected by an inspection of the license in the saloon man's possession."

More examples are given, Armour meat company, a $100 license fee, $10 entered in the cash book and license stub book.  Cudahy & Co, another meat company, same amounts entered as Armour.  Donaldson for his vaudeville show, $100 license, $10 entered in both books.  Fessenden Real Estate, $25 license, $5 in the books.  Greeson, "a member of City Council and political associate of W. H. Frecker," $15 license, $5 entered in the books.  There were sixteen more such discrepancies found thus far.

On the day previous to this article, Nick Bishoff paid to the city treasurer the sum of $625** which was missing, but he "disclaimed any knowledge of the crooked transactions, and young Frecker excuses himself on the plea that they were due to clerical errors."

**It was actually $1,625 that was missing which Bishoff paid to the city treasurer.