Born in Watkins Glen, New York, February 10, 1861. Frederick was educated at the Havana (N. Y.) Academy, and later was graduated from the Law School of Columbia University.

Dey took up story writing for amusement while convalescing from a serious illness, and later made it his life work.

Two of his earlier books, "The Magic Word" and "The Magic Story," written in 1899, were extremely popular.

Broke, and with no market for his stories after the passing of the dime-novel era, Dey shot himself in his room in the Hotel Broztell, New York City, some time in the night of April 25-26, 1922.