The father of Gottlieb Drefs, Johann Drefs was born on March 6, 1839 in Neu Arzis, Bessarabia. He grew up there and on January 14, 1860 he married Christina Tschritter. Together they had 5 sons and 1 daughter.

Maria (Zeitner) born 1861 (died 1920 and buried in Grace Hill Cemetery, Tripp South Dakota
Friedrich born 1862 (died 23 Jul 1940 and buried in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Douglas County South Dakota)
Samuel born 1864 (died 1866)
Johann born 1866 (Death/Burial Unknown)
Samuel born 1868 (died 1869)
Gottlieb born 1870 (died 23 Apr 1916 Max, North Dakota)

Christina Tschritter Drefs died June 30, 1871. And was buried in Neu Arzis. Needing help with the children he hired a house keeper, Christina Zeitner, from a neighboring town to help out. Three months latter he married her. Together they added 13 more children to the household.

In 1876 the family decided to come to America and their destination was listed as Yankton South Dakota. They ended up living with Christina's brother Martin near Columbus Nebraska until 1878 when they finally got their Homestead in Hutchinson County South Dakota. For reasons unknown this farm was sold in 1900 and a new farm was purchased a few miles West in Douglas County South Dakota. It seems the years 1900-1903 were ones of restless change for the family. Gottlieb's brother Friedrich floated around from Tripp County South Dakota, to Colorado, to Potter County South Dakota and then back to Douglas County South Dakota. His brother Johann drifted out to Texas and worked in the newspaper businness. Gottlieb himself moved to Max North Dakota to find a farm there for himself. When father Johann Drefs died on June 17, 1903 no one in the family inherited his land. It is not completely clear understood why, but there appears to have been some inside family issues regarding rightful inheritance. The land was sold to the highest bidder. In latter years Friedrich Drefs was able to re-purchase the original family land. By that time the other brothers were out of the picture.

On 18 Nov 1894 Gottlieb Drefs married Karolina Pietz in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. In 1902 they moved to North Dakota. Together they had seven children; Maria (Mary) born 1895 in South Dakota and died in or around 1930 in North Dakota. It is believed she married a David J. Mittleider. Friedrich, born 22 Aug 1896 in South Dakota and died 15 August 1948 in Rolette County, North Dakota. Daughters Emma and Anna appeared to have died young and were probably buried in South Dakota before the family moved to North Dakota. Lydia Drefs, born 11 Mar 1907 in North Dakota married a Elmer Folmer. She died 17 Dec 1929 and is assumed to be buried next to her husband Elmer and a son in the Regan North Dakota cemetery. The husband and son have markers which can be found on Find A Grave. It would appear that she has no marker as none has been photographed and placed on Find A Grave as the husband and sons have. Hilda Drefs, born 25 Mar 1903 in North Dakota, married Robert Bucholtz and died 22 Apr 1959. They both have memorials with photos on Find A Grave. Finally, Gottleb's wife Carolina died from complications which resulted from the birth of their youngest daughter Bertha, born 06 May 1909 and died 03 Jul 1975 in Wing, Burleigh, North Dakota. Bertha does not appear to have ever married.