Julius R. Frederick was born in 1852, grew up in St. Mary's, Ohio, and joined the U.S. Army around 1876. In 1881 he was one of twenty-five men who volunteered for the International Polar Expedition to Lady Franklin Bay. Lieutenant A.W. Greely of the 5th U.S. Cavalry led the expedition. The expedition departed in July 1881 for Greenland. Over the next three years the expedition engaged in exploration and scientific observation. Relief vessels were supposed to arrive in September 1883, but the ships never arrived. Help finally came in June 1884, when the six survivors were rescued by the ship Thetis. Among the survivors were; A.W. Greely, Maurice Connell, Francis Long, David Brainard, Henry Biederbick and Julius Frederick. Frederick left the army soon after the expedition and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He resided in Woodruff Place and worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau. He married Laura Keckler around 1885 and they had two daughters named Thetis and Sabine. Plagued by health problems after his Arctic service, Frederick died in Indianapolis on 6 January 1904.
From the description of Papers, ca. 1874-1978 (bulk 1881-1904). (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 54358685
