Frederik Olthof was born on March 31, 1883 in Kleine Striepe, (today a part of Itterbeck) Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany. His parents were Jan Egbert Olthof and Aleida Hendriksen (Hindriksen). Frederik was baptized on July 22 in Uelsen.
In April 1884, when he around one year old, he and his parents left for New York Harbor aboard the S.S. Amsterdam. Mother Aleida died on board and was buried at sea on April 24. Apparently, Frederik died at sea as well, as there are no records of his arrival in New York.
His father Jan Egbert would later re-marry, and one of his sons from this marriage was also named Fred.