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S. L. Fritz

FRITZ, GOODINGTINE, RICHMOND, GRIGGS, WILLSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 23:44:45

S. L. FRITZ. It matters little what vocation a man selects as his life occupation so long as it is an honorable one. If he is an honest, upright man, courteous in his intercourse with his fellow-men and possessed of the average amount of energy and perseverance, he is bound to make a success of whatever he undertakes. Among those who have become prominent in their different callings is S. L. Fritz, one of the representative farmers and stock-raisers of his section. He came originally from Maryland. He was born in Washington County in the year 1852, and his parents, William H. and Margaret (Goodingtine) Fritz, were natives also of Maryland. The grandfather’s name was also William Fritz.

The father followed the trade of cooper, and in addition to this was also a farmer, and was fairly successful in both occupations. He was married in his native state to Miss Goodingtine, and the result of this union was eight children, as follows: George, William, S. L., Thomas, John, Ann Catherine, Margaret and Emma. About 1850 the father left his native state, and turning his face westward, went to Illinois, where he bought a small farm. There the mother died a few years later. The father selected his second wife in the person of Miss Christina Richmond, a daughter of David Richmond, an early settler of Carroll County, Ill. Three children were born to this union: David, Ralph and Frank. To the original tract of land Mr. Fritz added from time to time, until he became the owner of several hundred acres. He was an industrious, thoroughgoing farmer, and all his accumulations were the result of his own individual efforts.

Our subject obtained a district-school education in Illinois and assisted on the farm until grown. He then worked out as a farm hand by the month, and continued this for about eight years, six of which were spent in the Hawkeye State. Being thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits, he chose that as a means of livelihood when he came to Iowa in 1875. A few years later he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grundy County and since then has resided on this tract. To the person who closely applied himself to any occupation which he has chosen as his calling in life, there can come only one result—that of success, and so it has been with Mr. Fritz. He worked industriously and continuously at his farm and now he has a fine place.

In his choice of a companion in life Mr. Fritz selected Miss Florence A. Griggs, a native of the Keystone State, as were also her parents, Eli and Emma (Willson) Griggs. Two children were the result of this union, Lesley and Margaret. For five years after his marriage, Mr. Fritz rented land, and by that time he had accumulated sufficient means to enable him to buy his farm. Since then he has been engaged in general farming, and all the improvements have been put on this place by himself. He is public spirited and enterprising, and is one of the county’s much esteemed citizens. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894


 

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