Notes:

NF Gazette
Funeral set for recluse Wednesday
RANSOMVILLE - Funeral services will be held Wednesday for Lester T. Frerichs, 61, who was found dead in his makeshift log cabin at 3396 Randall Road Sunday.
Mr. Frerichs had lived at the address for about two years as a recluse and was found dead by a neighbor.
An autopsy was performed at the request of Coroner Daniel Andrews, who issued a certificate of death from natural causes. He said Frerichs had suffered a brain hemorrhage.
He was born in the Town of Wheatfield, the son of Herman and Clara Retzlaff Frerichs, and was self employed as a landscaper.
Surviving are two sons, Lee Frerichs of Pensacola, Fla., and David Frerichs, Cincinnati Ohio; a brother, Ted Frerichs of the Town of Wheatfield; a sister, Mrs. Claribell Martin of Niagara Falls, and one grandchild.
Friends may call today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hardison Funeral Home, where services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Frank McLaughlin officiating. Burial will be in North Ridge Cemetery
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News Story - Gazette
Recluse found dead in Cabin
By JOE DONALDSON Gazette Staff Writer
RANSOMVILLE - "My family and I will miss him. He was a true friend, somebody who liked to help and who you could talk to." These were the sentiments of Mrs. David E. Nashwinter, 3378 Randall Road, as she talked about their friend who lived in a log cabin about a quarter of a mile back in the woods. The friend, Lester T. Frerichs, 61, was found dead by Mrs. Nashwinter early Sunday evening. Mr. Frerichs was a recluse. According to Mrs. Nashwinter, Mr. Frerichs at one time was a member of a prominent Bergholtz family that "owned half of Bergholtz." He apparently decided he had enough of life in today's complex world and wanted to be alone. . . "to live with nature." "He believed in God and had a monument to God by his shack. There was a Bible there under a piece of glass," said Mrs. Nashwinter.
Coroner Daniel Andrews of Youngstown ordered an autopsy on Mr. Frerichs to determine the cause of death and was withholding a death certificate until Autopsy results were received.
Mr. Frerichs built a log-cabin type structure on gravel pit property owned by Harold Truesdale and lived there for about two years. Prior to that he lived as a hermit on other nearby property and was kicked out.
"Mr. Truesdale didn't mind him living there. Mr. Frerichs had no electricity and build a stove out of stone and cooked on a grill, Mrs. Nashwinter said.
She described him as a fine person and a fine neighbor. "He would help us with haying and other chores and he often had supper with us," She continued.
"And he said he just had the happiest Christmas of his life." Mrs. Nashwinter said her daughter. Cindy, 11, and a niece, Debby Brown, 14 of Wilson, used their money to buy Mr. Frerichs Christmas gifts: a pair of gloves, two pairs of socks, a toy elf (to help him in his chores), a pack of pencils and a key chain. They made a Christmas tree out of an old branch and decorated it.
"He was so happy about his Christmas presents that he cried when he came to our house," said Mrs. Nashwinter.
Mr. Frerichs was on welfare, had a truck before it broke down and Mr. and Mrs. Nashwinter used to take him into town to cash his welfare check and pick up groceries. He even put up his own mail box. His only mail was the welfare checks sent to 3396 Randall Road.
Mrs. Nashwinter said he didn't talk too much about himself but did say he was a pro golfer at one time, was very well known in the Bergholtz area and used to sell apple cider from a truck on Niagara Falls Boulevard.
On Sunday Mrs. Nashwinter and her two daughters, the other daughter Patty, 10, went back to the cabin to deliver a turkey dinner to Mr. Frerichs.
There was no fire in his cabin, which was unusual, and the Nashwinter's went back home to get a flashlight.
When they returned they found Mr. Frerichs on the floor of his cabin. He had been dead for a number of days. His welfare check was in the was delivered Wednesday, indicating he died before then.
"We will miss him . .. especially my horse, who won't understand why he won't get any more sugar," Mrs. Nashwinter said as she explained she used to ride her horse in the backwoods. Mr. Frerich (sic) always had sugar for him.
As a recluse, Mr. Frerichs didn't bathe and according to Mrs. Nashwinter "was black and stunk."
"Maybe that's why he had trouble making friends with other people," she said.
Mrs. Nashwinter expressed two wishes: that there would be a funeral for their friend so they can buy flowers and that they can find a home for his puppies, which he adored.

Lester married ODELL, Elizabeth J on 11 Jun 1936 in Ransomville, Niagara County, NY. Elizabeth was born about 1917 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]