Fridley was a Winnebago Indian agent, a lawyer, farmer, and merchant.

[2] He and his family were pioneers of the Fridley Township in Anoka County.

[2] This railroad would build north from Minneapolis into Fridley Township.

At age 21 he became a Deputy Sheriff of Steuben County, New York, and a Federal Government Customs Collector.

In 1850, he was nominated by President Millard Fillmore on December 16, 1850, to the post of Winnebago Indian Agent.