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|name=Christian Fritz | |name=Christian Fritz | ||
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| + | Christian and Ellen had eight children: | ||
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| + | # [[Rebecca Alice Fritz]] (4.1) | ||
| + | # [[William Benedict Fritz]] (4.2) | ||
| + | # [[Francis Layton Fritz]] (4.3) | ||
| + | # [[Annie Isabella Fritz]] (4.4) | ||
| + | # [[John Frederick Fritz]] (4.5) | ||
| + | # [[Albert Levi Fritz]] (4.6) | ||
| + | # [[Josia Fritz]] (4.7) | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Revision as of 03:59, 11 February 2017
| Christian Fritz | |
| Born | |
| Died | |
| Buried | [[ ()|]] |
| Father | [[]] |
| Mother | [[]] |
Christian and Ellen had eight children:
- Rebecca Alice Fritz (4.1)
- William Benedict Fritz (4.2)
- Francis Layton Fritz (4.3)
- Annie Isabella Fritz (4.4)
- John Frederick Fritz (4.5)
- Albert Levi Fritz (4.6)
- Josia Fritz (4.7)
Contents
Biography
Christian Fritz was born in Lech, Austria on the 14th of November, 1827. He was fourth child, and third son, of Benedict and Veronica Jochum Fritz. Christian's mother died on the 1st of May 1837,[1] when Christian was nine and a half years old.
During the early 1850's, in his mid-20's, Christian immigrated to the United States. He headed first to Ohio before moving to Iowa and settling in the town of Blakesburg. Soon after, Christian married Ellen, a native of Ohio.
About October of 1869, Christian and Ellen's daughter Annie Isabella was born.[2]
Christian lived in Urbana Township in 1870, next door to Ellen's parents.[2]
During their time in Blakesburg, their family grew by at least three: a daughter, Rebecca Alice, and two sons, William Benedict and Frank Layton. They moved to Churchville by 1877, having added two more sons to their family: John Frederick and Albert Levi. About this time may be when they had their son, Josia, who may have been stillborn or may have died very young.
The family moved to Jefferson by 1880, by which time they also lost their second daughter, Isabella. At this time, Christian worked as a tailor, although he had been unemployed for three months. The only child in the family attending school was Fred. They also had a boarder, a 43-year-old Danish blacksmith named John Johnson.
The family didn't stay in one place too long, moving during the next decade to Madison, and then to Penn, Iowa by 1900. During this time, Alice married and moved out, followed much later by Fred, and then William, then John. A few years later, Levi passed away.
Christian suffered because of his age for the last six years of his life, including a stroke of paralysis in May, 1908.
Christian and Ellen spent winters with their daughter Alice's family in Wiota. They were in Alice's home during winter early 1910 when Christian suffered another stroke of paralysis. He died a few days later, in the early morning. He was given a funeral, and was buried in the Earlham cemetery.
Ellen lived another fifteen years where she became a highly respected citizen of Penn. She passed away in the home of her son William.
Obituary
The following death notice is from a newspaper clipping collection compiled by Gertrude Alice Brinton.
AGED MAN PASSES AWAY
Christian Fritz, Father of Mrs. F. W. Beebe, Died at Home of Postmaster Beebe and Wife in Wiota at Early Hour This Morning.
From Wednesday's Daily
Christian Fritz, an aged man, father of Mrs. F. W. Beebe of Wiota, died at five o'clock this morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Beebe, death being the result of a stroke of paralysis suffered some days ago, and the general breaking up and illness incident to old age. Deceased was a native of Austria, having been born near Vienna in that country on the 14th of November, 1827. His wife is living. For a number of years they have made their home with the Beebes during the winters, and were there Mr. Fritz was taken ill.
The funeral services will be held tomorrow morning, the interment being made at Earlham.
The following obituary is from a newspaper clipping collection compiled by Gertrude Alice Brinton.
Obituary.
Christian Fritz was born Nov. 14, 1827, in Lentz, Austra[sic]. In 1854 he came to America and after five years he settled in Blakesburg, Wapello County, Iowa.
He was united in marriage Dec. 23, 1860 with Mary Ellen Hunt. To this union was born seven children, two daughters and five sons. Two sons, Levi and Josia and one daughter, Isabella have gone on before. Wm. lives in Dexter, Frank and Fred live in Earlham. Alice Beebe, where he was staying at the time of his death, is living in Wiota. Besides the children named he leaves an aged companion to mourn his departure.
He was 82 years, 2 months and 25 days old. For six years he has been a constant sufferer. A stroke of paralysis in May, 1908 left him helpless, having never fully recovered. The end came Feb. 6, 1910. Those who knew him best, tell us he was a good man and of a quiet desposition[sic]. He was brought here last Thursday for burial in the Earlham cemetery. Funeral services were held in the M. E. church, conducted by Rev. Sprague.
The following were the out of town attendents[sic] at the funeral: Mr. and Mrs. Shea, Ottumwa, W. B. Fritz, Blakesburg, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Barkley, Orilla, Iowa, John McLain and Mrs. and Mrs. H. G. Schlarb, Van Meter and Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Kail, Stuart.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank our many friends, both of Wiota and Earlham for their kind help and sympathy during the illness and death of our husband and father.
Mrs. C. Fritz and children.
Notes
His birth place is incorrect. It should be Lech, Austria.
References
Census
1870 United States Federal Census, Monroe County, Iowa, population schedule, Urbana Township, Albia post office, folio 461 (back), page no. 22, dwelling 147, family 136, Christian Fritz; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDVL-KC8 : 9 November 2013); citing FHL microfilm number 545911; citing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 336.
1880 United States Federal Census, Warren County, Iowa, population schedule, Jefferson Township, folio 397-B, page no. 6, dwelling 51, family 51, Christian Fritz; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDLL-813 : 30 December 2012); citing FHL microfilm number 1254368; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 368.
1895 Iowa State Census, Madison County, Iowa, Penn Township, page 6 (penned, front), page 491 (stamped, back), dwelling (blank on census), family 24, Christian Fritz; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VTSN-7BZ : 30 December 2012); citing FHL microfilm number 1020202, roll number not provided.