Fritz, Henry William1855 - 1939

FRITZ, SEIFERT, MAURER, DENSMORE, SHARP

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/8/2023 at 11:28:20

Clayton County Register, 22 Mar. 1939.

On September 29, 1855, in the town of New Bremen, Ohio, a son was born to Daniel G. Fritz and Mary Seifert Fritz, and he was christened Henry William. The parents had emigrated to this country from Germany.

When Henry was four years old he moved with his parents to Garnavillo, Iowa, where his father worked at his trade of brick-layer. Soon after the Civil War took the father into the service, and the mother had the care of her small boys.

He was confirmed in the St. Paul's Lutheran church at Garnavillo in 1871.

When Henry grew to manhood he first worked for farmers in the neighborhood and soon bought land and farmed near Garnavillo until he retired about 1914.

He was always interested in veterinary medicine and often helped the neighboring farmers in looking after their livestock diseases.

Henry W. Fritz was married to Matilda Maurer at Garnavillo on November 29, 1883. To this union was born two sons and two daughters - Dr. Lafe H. Fritz, Dubuque; Dr. Glen H. Fritz, Omaha, Nebr.; Leona, now Mrs. L. L. Densmore, Edgewood, Iowa; and Jessie, now Mrs. F. E. Sharp, Elkader, Ia.

After retiring from active farming, Mr. and Mrs. Fritz lived in Garnavillo for a few years and in 1917 they moved to Guttenberg where they resided until 1928. Then they lived in Edgewood one year and in 1929 moved to their present home in Elkader, where Henry W. Fritz died on March 16, 1939, at the age of 83 years, five months and 17 days.

He left surviving him, his widow and four children above named, and 12 grandchildren.

Services were at the residence at 1:30 Sunday afternoon, and at the Congregational church at 2:00. The Rev. Noyes O. Bartholomew officiating. Burial was made in the family lot in the Garnavillo cemetery.