Biography of John Fritz

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1898. Pages 417-419

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved. 


JOHN FRITZ, who resides on section 18,, Oxford township, is a prosperous 
and greatly esteemed agriculturist of Hamlin county, as well as a 
veteran of the late war. Mr. Fritz was born November 22, 1835, in 
Wittenberg, Germany. His father, Jacob Fritz, a native of Neuhausen, in 
the same country, was born November 21, 1804, and was a farmer by 
occupation. He was married in Germany to a Miss Winter, who died a 
few years later, after having given birth to a son. Mr. Fritz 
subsequently married our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Anna 
Maria Flamm, and who was a native of Germany, born in 1808. Five 
children were born of this union: John, the subject of this sketch; 
David, a shoemaker in Germany; Jacob, a retired farmer living in Atkins, 
Iowa; Anna Maria, who died in Germany in 1892; and Hannah, who died when 
but an infant. Mrs. Fritz died in 1843, and our subject's father married 
for the third time soon after, his bride being Anna Brently. The issue 
of this marriage was seven children. Jacob Fritz died in 1887, and his 
wife some years earlier. John, the subject of this sketch, remained in 
Germany until 1854, when he came to this country and settled in Monroe 
county, New York, where he remained two years, attending school during 
the winter months and working upon a farm in summer. In 1858 he removed 
to Iowa, becoming a charcoal burner in the village of Mount Pleasant and 
also a coal mirier. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Company C, 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry, a veteran volunteer regiment, and was mustered in 
at Burlington, Iowa. From there he went to Davenport, and subsequently 
to Memphis, which remained the headquarters of the regiment for nearly a 
year. From Memphis a campaign was made through Tennessee, Mississippi 
and Arkansas, then to Vicksburg and Louisville, Kentucky. At the latter 
place our subject joined Wilson's cavalry corps, and five or six weeks 
later made a trip up the Ohio river to Pennsylvania and also up the 
Tennessee. He was on picket duty at Braverly Springs for a considerable 
period, and following this was ordered farther up the river and 
eventually through Alabama and Georgia, taking part in sharp skirmishes 
during almost the whole of this time, and arriving in Selma in time to 
participate in a battle there. - Just before this battle Mr. Fritz was 
engaged in the very peaceable occupation of making coffee for the camp, 
when suddenly firing was heard in the distance and the enemy was almost 
within range. Being a little distance from the main body of the troops, 
he made a dash for his comrades, and arrived just in time to join them 
in the charge upon the Confederates. This charge was made on the left 
flank, and by a clever movement the regiment was enabled to reach the 
city of Selma and rally the remaining forces for the grand charge, which 
was successful and saved the day. Mr. Fritz was soon after detailed as 
one of a reconnoitering party to move to the rear. He was gone two days, 
and during this time distinguished himself by bravery after an attack 
made upon the party, in which one man was killed and a number of others 
wounded. Most of those remaining retreated without even a suggestion 
from their superior officers, but our subject and a few others stood 
their ground and assisted in conveying the wounded to a place of safety, 
though under a heavy fire during every moment of the time. From Selma 
Mr. Fritz' regiment was ordered to Montgomery, which place was reached 
by crossing the Alabama river on a specially constructed pontoon bridge, 
the old structure having been burned. Columbus, Georgia, was the next 
point reached, and from there the troops went to Macon, in the same 
state, engaging in numerous skirmishes and raids on the way. When about 
ten miles from the city the enemy displayed the flag of truce, thus 
averting an expected battle. In consequence the troops were soon ordered 
to Atlanta, and were within fifty miles of Jefferson Davis when the 
latter was captured. The last battle in which Mr. Fritz took part was 
fought in February, 1865. He was mustered out at Atlanta soon after and 
returned to his home in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and the following year 
opened a meet strop there, after having spent the winter in Benton 
county, in the same state. In 1867 he visited Benton county once more, 
and this time engaged in farming there. He remained in Iowa for fifteen 
years, and in 1889 removed to Hamlin county, South Dakota, where he 
purchased his present farm. He is now the owner of four hundred and 
eighty acres of land, nearly all of which is under cultivation, with 
sixty acres devoted to pasture. The farm is very well improved, 
including a very good two-story dwelling house and numerous well 
constructed outbuildings. Mr. Fritz a short time ago gave one of his 
sons a quarter section of land, and the latter is now farming for 
himself. Our subject is a Republican in politics and has been a school 
officer and the incumbent of several other local public positions. He is 
a member of the Lutheran church of Oxford township, and one of its 
officers.

	In 1867 Mr. Fritz married Miss Anna Maria Koehl in Benton county, 
Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz are the parents of six children, two of whom 
died in childhood: John D., the eldest, married Mary Tetzlaff in 1896, 
and now has one child. Louisa 0., Mary R. K. and Carl F. W. are still 
living upon the homestead. In addition to their own children, Mr. and 
Mrs. Fritz have adopted a daughter. Mary E.