Your Silent Neighbor
by David K. Leff
Canton Town Historian

A lifelong resident of the Collinsville area, Charles Froideveaux (1867-1941) attended Huckleberry Hill School and Collinsville High School. He worked for the Collins Company for decades and spent 20 years as a foreman of the machine shop. He died unexpectedly in the middle of the afternoon while at work.

In 1891, Froideveaux married Bertha Horak who died in 1903. He married again in 1907 to Carolyn Neff. The couple took a five-month trip to Europe in 1936, the only vacation Froideveaux ever took from his work at Collins.

Prominent in Avon town affairs, he served as state representative in 1895 and 1905. He had been a member of the board of education, and at his death was on the board of finance. Froideveaux was a past master of the Village Lodge of Masons, and a member of other fraternal organizations. The funeral was held at his home.

Charles Froideveaux is buried in the Village Cemetery, Collinsville.


“Your Silent Neighbors” introduces readers to people out of Canton’s past.  Readers are encouraged to visit these gravesites and pay their respects to the people who have helped make our community what it is today.