Andrew Fruehauf, eldest son
Andrew Ferdinand Fruehauf - 1892-1965
Andrew Fruehauf
Andrew Ferdinand Fruehauf, born in 1892, was the first son of August Fruehauf and Louisa Schuchard. He served in the military during WWI. Prior to his induction, before he was stationed overseas, he married Alma Schmide about 1917, daughter of Charles and Anna Schmide of Michigan. After his discharge he returned to the Chicago branch of the family business. In a write-up that appeared in the April 10, 1920 issue of the Chicago Lumberman, it was reported that Andrew was setting up a headquarters office in Chicago where he would be selling Fruehauf trailers to lumber dealers. He was described as a “young man of engaging personality and the Lumber World Review is pleased to commend him to the trade.”
According to family legend, Andrew had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life after his experiences during the war. He eventually left the family business.
He was a devout follower of the Christian Science faith, the religion into which he was born. After leaving Fruehauf Trailer Company, Andrew chose a vocation that honored his religious beliefs. In April of 1952 he would offer a bid of $15,000 to purchase a bankrupt newspaper, the Detroit Tribune. The Tribune was Michigan’s oldest existing Negro newspaper and was put up for public auction in an attempt to clear up some of its accumulated debt. Andrew was the chief stockholder in the Midwest Publishing Company that happened to own the Tribune. Andrew’s dream was such that he wanted to convert the paper into a Negro counterpart to the Christian Science Monitor. He won his bid and became publisher and served in that capacity until his death in December 1965. He devoted the last years of his life to the paper, promoting and encouraging the aspirations of Black Americans. A huge congregation of the friends he had made in the Black community attended his funeral.
The Afro American, featured his obituary which may have shocked his relatives on February 12, 1966,“The entire estate of Andrew Fruehauf, member of the wealthy trucking family, has been left in trust for the perpetuation of the Detroit Tribune, Michigan's oldest colored weekly newspaper. Fruehauf, who died December 4, 1965, in a will dated October 12, 1960, requested that his estate, now estimated to be in excess of a half million dollars, be left to the newspaper as long as it reflects the aspirations of colored Americans in the community. Fruehauf, who for more than a decade sponsored the newspaper, insisted that it carry on its pages material advocating the philosophy of the Christian Science movement of which he was a devoted believer.”
Randall Fruehauf, Roy Fruehauf's son, recounted spending afternoons with his Uncle Andrew and lunching at the Statler Hotel where Andrew lived. Randall said, "Uncle Andrew used to tip the doorman, chamber maids and other hotel staff using $100 bills. When they saw him they all came running!"
In January 1967, one year after Andrew’s death, the Andrew F. Fruehauf Foundation was founded to carry out his final wishes. This non-profit organization was run by nephew Donald Chamberlin, and remains Andrew’s legacy to his community.
According to family legend, Andrew had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life after his experiences during the war. He eventually left the family business.
He was a devout follower of the Christian Science faith, the religion into which he was born. After leaving Fruehauf Trailer Company, Andrew chose a vocation that honored his religious beliefs. In April of 1952 he would offer a bid of $15,000 to purchase a bankrupt newspaper, the Detroit Tribune. The Tribune was Michigan’s oldest existing Negro newspaper and was put up for public auction in an attempt to clear up some of its accumulated debt. Andrew was the chief stockholder in the Midwest Publishing Company that happened to own the Tribune. Andrew’s dream was such that he wanted to convert the paper into a Negro counterpart to the Christian Science Monitor. He won his bid and became publisher and served in that capacity until his death in December 1965. He devoted the last years of his life to the paper, promoting and encouraging the aspirations of Black Americans. A huge congregation of the friends he had made in the Black community attended his funeral.
The Afro American, featured his obituary which may have shocked his relatives on February 12, 1966,“The entire estate of Andrew Fruehauf, member of the wealthy trucking family, has been left in trust for the perpetuation of the Detroit Tribune, Michigan's oldest colored weekly newspaper. Fruehauf, who died December 4, 1965, in a will dated October 12, 1960, requested that his estate, now estimated to be in excess of a half million dollars, be left to the newspaper as long as it reflects the aspirations of colored Americans in the community. Fruehauf, who for more than a decade sponsored the newspaper, insisted that it carry on its pages material advocating the philosophy of the Christian Science movement of which he was a devoted believer.”
Randall Fruehauf, Roy Fruehauf's son, recounted spending afternoons with his Uncle Andrew and lunching at the Statler Hotel where Andrew lived. Randall said, "Uncle Andrew used to tip the doorman, chamber maids and other hotel staff using $100 bills. When they saw him they all came running!"
In January 1967, one year after Andrew’s death, the Andrew F. Fruehauf Foundation was founded to carry out his final wishes. This non-profit organization was run by nephew Donald Chamberlin, and remains Andrew’s legacy to his community.
The Detroit Tribune
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Andrew Fruehauf
The weekly Detroit Tribune, published 1935 to 1966.
The Detroit Tribune was the successor to the Tribune Independent of Michigan, "The Leading Negro Weekly of Michigan" and the Detroit Independent established 1907 |
