Peter J. Vrijborg was born on October 5, 1862 in Beschotenweg-Weener, Weener Parish, Hannover Region, Germany. He was baptized in the school in the neighboring town of Mohlenwarf. He was the son of Meine Vrijborg (born in Bunda, Germany) and Antje Wientjes (born in Tischelwarf, Germany). Around age 20, Peter and his younger brother, Boyo (1864-1943), immigrated to the U.S.A. sometime between 1882 and 1886. They changed the spelling of their surname to Freiborg. At first they settled in Wellsburg, Iowa. In 1888 Peter moved to Lincoln County, South Dakota. He married Fentje "Fannie" Niggendijker there on March 7, 1892. Fentje, the daughter of Abraham Niggendijker (born in Bellingwolde, Holland) and Elisabeth Bultena (born in Wymeer, Germany) was born in Wymeer, Germany on July 1, 1872. In 1900, eight years after their marriage, the family moved north to Driscoll, North Dakota where they farmed. Peter and Fentje had ten children: Meine (1892), Abraham (1895-1979), Anna (1898), Harm (1901), Lizzie (1903), Boyolena (1905-1992), Fannie (1908), Marie (1912), Boyo (1914-1993), and Minnie (1915). The family moved to Renville County, Minnesota around 1913 where they owned a farm in section 9 of Crooks Township. Peter's brother, Boyo, was also living in Renville County at this time. In 1935, Peter and Fannie moved north to a farm near Roseland, in Kandiyohi County. Peter died on November 25, 1938 in the Willmar Hospital at age 76. Fannie died at age 94 on January 10, 1967 in the Woods Nursing Home in Olivia. Both were buried at Roseland Reformed Cemetery in Roseland, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Their daughter Lena married Helmer Negen in Renville County, Minnesota. Their great-granddaughter is my sister-in-law Vicki (nee Negen) Meinke.