Source
Microfilm 981927 Item 12
The author of this document may have been the father of Bruno Fritz. This document includes the false story carried within the Fritz family of Iowa about the loss of Joseph Fritz.
Title card
Microfilmed for the Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Ottumwa Public Library
Ottumwa, Iowa
Mount Caramel School 1901–1902
Benedict Fritz & Early Pioneer
Date: 24 JUNE 1975
Reduction: 15 Foot
Candles: 64
By Ralph Wofford
Excerpts
Genealogical table (Family tree) of the families F R I T Z from Lech a. Tannberg 1350 - 1965.
...
12) Benedikt F r i z
born on May 22, 1791, died on February 4th, 1861 in Bludenz, burried[sic] on the old church yard (Hl. Kreuz-kirche) married to Veronika Jochum from Schrocken, died on May 1, 1837 in Lech. They had 7 children named: Johann Josef, Maria Kreszentia, Benedikt, Johann Christian, Johann Anton married to Christine Huber, Burs. ... The other children were Basilius and Maria Kreszentia. The fourth child Christian immigrated to the United States on August 5, 1852. His brothers Benedikt and Johann Josef followed him one year later on March 15, 1853, their descendants are living now in Blakesburg, Iowa, 24 km from Ottumwa. Benedikt Fritz was in Lech until 1842 and moved then with his family to Bludenz, to the "Halde" Rungelin Nr. 37. He got married again to Maria Agathe Juen, Bartholomaberg, who died in Bludenz on April 22, 1847.
...
Seal with heraldry of Benedikt F r i t z
1790 - 1793
The Fritz Family in America
As indicated in paragraph 12, three brothers came to this country in 1852 and 1853. They went to California near Placerville, where they made their gold strike and where they met Gephart Schoech who was responsible for them returning to Blakesburg, Iowa to live. One of the brothers, Josef, left the gold fields with his gold, but never reached Iowa and was never heard of again. It was assumed that he was killed for the gold he carried.