Contributed to the Pierce County WIGenWeb Project by Nance Sampson nsampson@spacestar.net
@2000 by Nance Sampson

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Submitted by Debbie Barrett June 13, 2001
mrsgrinnin@home.com

MELCHOR FRITZ, farmer, P. O. Plum City, Pierce county, was born in Wedenberg,
Germany, January 18, 1825, a son of Ludwig Fritz, who was the father of
twelve children, of whom Jacob, Melchor, Martin and Margaret are the only
ones living.  Melchor lived in Germany until twenty-four (years) of age, and 
received his education in the common schools.  In 1848 he came to New York
but in a short time went to Philadelphia and worked as a wood-carver for
four years and also learned the cabinet maker's trade, at which he served
six years.  He then came to Pierce county, Wis., to what is known as Plum
Creek valley, and commenced farming.  In Philadelphia he married Elizabeth
Markel, and two children were born to them, Maggie (Mrs. Toby), now deceased
and Henry who lives in Plum City and manages the farm and mill.  When Mr.
Fritz arrived in Pepin he had but ten dollars, and had to carry his goods
on his back from there through the woods.  He then commenced the work of
clearing the farm and had to carry supplies from Pepin on his back for some
time.  After a while a new neighbor came, who brought an ox with him and 
they used it to transport their supplies.  After more settlers came they 
made the first cart in the Valley and hitched the ox to that.  His trusty
rifle furnished all the meat (such as bear and deer) that was wanted.  After
having been here awhile, he went to Minnesota where he remained four years,
then came back and bought his present farm.  There were only two families
in the Valley when he came here, though there were plenty of Sioux Indians,
but they were not the best of company.  Mr. Fritz was all through the French
revolution and was in Stasburg when Napolean made himself emperor.  After
the township was organized he was elected supervisor for two years and was
school treasurer for ten years.  As more settlers came in he declined public
offices, preferring to attend to the clearing of his farm.  He is a member
of the Lutheran church and in politics is a republican.

--Taken from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley
Wisconsin Including A General Historical Sketch of the Chippewa Valley;
Ancestral Records fo Leading Families; Biographies of Representative Citizens,
Past and Present; and Portraits of Prominent Men.  Edited by George Forrester.
Published in Chicago, Illinois by A. Warner. Publisher. 1891-2. Pages 602-603