Fritz, Michael R. 1841-1898 & Barbara Struck Family

FRITZ, STUCK, VONMAURICE, SEIVERT

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 5/18/2023 at 15:28:30

Fritz, Michael R. 1841-1890 and Barbara Struck Family

This story was taken from page 392 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg. Note: Data was listed as taken from the source which in some cases varies source to source as to date, places, spellings and information.

Michael R. Fritz, an industrious farmer, who resided on Sec. 26 of Washington Twp., Sioux Co., Iowa, was born in the State of Prussia, Germany Aug. 6. 1841. In 1843 he came, with his parents who were also farmers, to America, landing in New York City. They went on to Wisconsin and lived on various farms. When Michael was 16, he left home and learned the blacksmith trade. In Aug. 1862, he enlisted in the Union Army, joining Co. C, 26 th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served until June 1865 with an honorable discharge. He participated in many hard-fought battles, then his health failed and the rest of his term was spent in various hospitals. He then went back home to recuperate and did blacksmithing again until 1879, when he moved to his farm in Sioux Co., which he had bought 3 years earlier.

In 1869 he married Barbara Struck, a native of Wisconsin. This family consisted of John, George, Bert, Katherine, and Lelia. In religious sentiment they were brought up in the Catholic faith.

-John was born in 1876 and never married. He died in 1955.
-George was born in 1877 and died when he was 2 years old.
- Katherine was born in 1878, never married and died in 1963.
-Frank, born in 1881, married Helena Geuder. They farmed the “homeplace” and had 2 sons: Harold born in 1919 and Robert born in 1922. Both boys attended country school and graduated from Ireton High School and stayed at home to help their parents farm the land and raise livestock. Frank passed away in 1955 and Helena passed away in 1958. The boys stayed on the farm and Christine Vander Hamm kept house for them. Harold passed away in 1960 from a fatal heart attack and Robert passed away in 1974.
-Bert, born in 1884, was married to Anna Bertram (who was born in 1880 to the Fritz Bertrams) in 1910. They lived on the farm 1 mile north and ½ mile west of Craig in Sec. 31 of Reading Twp. Anna Fritz was well known as an expert poultry woman. Her flocks of Silver Laced Wyendottes were of the best and she always had a large demand for them. They had no children. Following the death of his wife, due to a tragic fall down the basement steps in 1934, Bert continued to live on the farm until 1936. He moved to Ireton and lived there until his death in 1953. Bert was always greatly interested in the public affairs of his town and served on the Town Council for 6 years.
-Lelia was born in 1890 and died in 1972.

John, Katherine and Lelia, with their mother, moved to a house in the northwest part of Ireton, when Frank got married.

In this year of 1981, there are no surviving descendants of the Michael & Barbara Fritz family.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
Find A Grave has Michael Fritz 1841-1890 buried in Calvary Cemetery LeMars IA.

Death Record lists Michael Fritz, married, age 49, born abt 1841, Prussia died 14 Dec 1890 Plymouth Co. IA.

From family reports on Ancestry.com from public member trees, submitted by other than this submitter.

Michael R. Fritz born abt 1844 (1841) Germany died Buncombe, Sioux, IA, (no parents listed on one report, another report has parents as Michael Fritz 1814- died Racine WI 1895 and Maria Sabille Von Maurice 1815-1846), he married Barbara Struck born 27 Dec 1850 Bristol Kenosha WI died Sioux County IA. Her parents were Casper Struck 1817-1902 and Catharine Seivert 1824-1893.

CHILDREN of Michael and Barbara Fritz:

1.. John M. Fritz born 1876 Buncombe Tsp Sioux county IA.
From the Wednesday, October 9, 1955 Le Mars Sentinel:
Funeral services for John M. Fritz, 79, a resident of the Ireton community for more than 70 years who died Friday night at Sacred Heart hospital following a long illness were at 10 a.m. Tuesday Mar. 8, at St. Joseph Catholic church, Le Mars. Burial was in Calvary cemetery under the direction of Mauer's funeral home. Rev. L. Friedman of Hawarden officiated. Mr. Fritz was born Jan. 3, 1876, at Hudson, Iowa. He moved to the Ireton vicinity at the age of 6 years. He farmed near Ireton until 1910, when he retired and moved into Ireton. He lived there until the time of his death. Mr. Fritz was a former director of the Farmers Cooperative association of Ireton and a former director of the Security Savings bank there. He also served on the Ireton town council. Survivors include a brother, Frank Fritz, and two sisters, Miss Katherine and Miss Lelia Fritz, all of Ireton, and two nephews. Mr. Fritz was never married. Poster's note: John Fritz was the son of Barbara (Struck) and Michael Fritz according to his brother Frank's obituary and "Ireton, A Proud Heritage, 1882-1982"

2. George Fritz born 1877 died 1879 No birth or death record, in the obit of mother Barbara it mentions a son lost in infancy buried in Calvary Cemetery LeMars. There is a tombstone in Calvary Cemetery for Geo. Fritz 1877-1879.

3. Katherine L. Fritz born 9 Oct 1878 died 14 Jul 1963 Hawarden, Sioux County IA.
Obituary in the Sioux Center News of July 18, 1963
Katherine Fritz Funeral services were held Wednesday at 9 a.m. at St Mary’s Catholic church in Hawarden for Miss Katherine Fritz, 84 of Ireton who died Sunday July 14 at the Hawarden Hospital after a long illness. The Rev. Leander Friedman officiated. The Rosary was recited at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday at her home. Miss Fritz was born October 9, 1878 at Hudson, IA. She came to Ireton as a young girl and is a graduate of Valparaiso University , Valparaiso IN. She taught in rural schools near Ireton, and later for two years at Maurice high school. She took graduate work at Valparaiso University taught English there three years. Miss Fritz is survived by one sisters, Miss Lelia Fritz and one nephew Robert Fritz both of Ireton. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery at Le Mars.

4. Frank M. Fritz born 1881 Buncombe, Sioux IA
From the Thursday, June 23, 1955 Hawarden Independent:
Frank Fritz Of Ireton Dies At Hospital Here Frank M. Fritz, 74, well known Ireton farmer and stock man died Monday at the Hawarden hospital where he had been a patient the past month. Mr. Fritz had been in poor health for a long time. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 this morning (Thursday) at St. Mary's church in Hawarden with. Rev. Fr. Gerald Winegert of Struble officiating. Burial will be in the Ireton cemetery under the direction of the Satterlee Funeral home. Rosary was read in the Fritz home Wednesday evening. Frank Mark Fritz, son of Michael Fritz and Barbara Struck, was born June 6, 1881, at Hull, Iowa. His parents moved to a farm south of Ireton when he was one year old. He lived with his mother until she retired in 1910 when he formed a partnership with his brother and farmed the home place. He married Miss Helena Geuder of Guttenberg Iowa, November 28, 1912. In the spring of 1913 he moved onto the farm southwest of Ireton which was his home ever since. Mr. Fritz was a charter member of the Sioux County Farm Bureau, a director of the Farmers Cooperative association and Rural Telephone association, both of Ireton. He was a life long member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Hawarden. He is survived by the widow, Helena; two sons, Harold F. and Robert J.; and two sisters, Katherine and Leila Fritz, all of Ireton. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, two of them, Bert and John, within the past 22 months.

5. Burton W. Fritz 1883 Buncombe Sioux IA
Fritz, Burton born 1883 died 1953 buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Ireton IA as listed in the Sioux County cemetery Index.
Hawarden Independent of Sept 3, 1953 Ireton, la.—Bert Fritz, 69, a life long resident of Ireton and vicinity, died last Thursday at his home following a heart attack. While Mr. Fritz had been suffering from a heart ailment for some time, his death was unexpected and came while he was up and about at his home. He was a great lover of children and at the time he suffered the fatal heart attack a number of children were with him. They readily summoned help and medical aid reached him in a brief period of time after he was stricken. He was greatly interested in the public affairs of his town and for six years he served on the town council. A son of Michael and Barbara Fritz, pioneers of Sioux county, he was born Sept 25, 1884 on a farm near Ireton, where he grew to manhood. He married Miss Anna Bertram of Ireton April 20, 1910, and they lived on his farm, two miles northwest of Craig. Mrs. Fritz died January 13, 1934. No children were born to this union. Following the death of his wife he continued to live on the farm two years and since 1936, he had lived in Ireton. Survivors are two sisters and two brothers, Misses Katherine and Leila Fritz and John and Frank Frtiz, and two nephews, Harold and Robert Fritz, all of Ireton Rosary was said at 8 o'clock Sunday evening at his home in Ireton with Rev. Fr. Benjamin of Struble in charge. Funeral services were held at 10 o'clock Monday morning at St. Mary's Catholic church at Maurice with Fr. Benjamin officiating. Pall bearers were Eldo Degen, Leon De Raad, Andy Schipper, James McNally, Andrew Hoogland and Jack Schmidt, all of Ireton. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery at Ireton under the direction of the Satterlee Funeral Home. The services were largely attended and many friends from Hawarden, Le Mars, Maurice, Struble, Beresford, Kingsley and Sioux City attended.

6. Lelia Fritz born Nov 1890 Buncombe Sioux IA Miss Lelia Fritz,81,of Ireton, Iowa passed away suddenly Monday, April 10, 1972. at her home from a heart attack. Funeral services will be Thursday at 9:30 a.m. April 13 at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble, Iowa with Rev. Roger Augustine officiating with burial in Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Rosary will be held on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at the Dow Funeral Home in Ireton. She was born November 2, 1890 near Ireton the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.R. Fritz. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Surviving is one nephew, Robert Fritz of Ireton. Hawarden Independent (4-13-1972) Note Parents: Machiel Fritz and Barabara Struck or Struch

OBITUARY OF FATHER MICHAEL R. FRITZ died 14 Dec 1890

Hawarden Independent of of Dec 25, 1890
M. Frits, one of Washington township’s pioneer and highly respected citizens, died last week from dropsy of the heart.
Poster’s note: Find A Grave has Michael Fritz 1841-1890 buried in Calvary Cemetery LeMars IA.
Death Record lists Michael Fritz, married, age 49, born abt 1841, Prussia died 14 Dec 1890 Plymouth Co. IA. His wife was Barbara Struck. (See his Biography on this web page under BIOS.)

Description that accompanied his headstone on the Iowa tomb stone photo project -
Calvary Cemetery Plymouth County, Iowa
Michael Fritz 1841-1890 Partially buried military stone.
"U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
about Michael Fritz - Name: Michael Fritz - Residence: Yorkville, Wisconsin
Enlistment Date: 21 Aug 1862 - Rank at enlistment: Private State Served: Wisconsin
Was POW?: Yes Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company C, Wisconsin 26th Infantry Regiment on 21 Aug 1862.
Mustered out on 22 May 1865.
Sources: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion"

FamilySearch.org --Brief Life History of Michael
When Michael Fritz was born on 6 August 1841, in Hilbringen, Merzig, Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany, his father, Michael Fritz, was 26 and his mother, Maria Sibille de Maurice, was 26. He married Barbara Struck on 30 March 1869, in Waukegan, Lake, Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Hull, Sioux, Iowa, United States in 1880 and Sioux, Iowa, United States in 1885. He died on 14 December 1890, in Plymouth, Iowa, United States, at the age of 49, and was buried in Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa, United States.

OBITUARY OF MOTHER BARBARA FRITZ
From the Thursday, February 2, 1928 Hawarden Independent:
Beloved Lady Passes On
This community was deeply saddened when the news spread that Mrs. Barbara Fritz had passed away at her home Tuesday afternoon. Although it was generally known that her condition was serious yet hopes were entertained that she would rally. A few days ago this hope was increased when indications showed slight improvement. She suffered much the past two weeks but this suffering seemed to subside and was not so noticeable the last day or two. She realized her condition and was prepared to change this mortal life for immortality and calmly and sweetly conscious to the last she passed over without a struggle. Hers had been a beautiful life, devoted to her family, losing her husband by death while some of the children were yet small, she took over the management and by hard work with hands she also labored hard with a heart of love and won the confidence and esteem of her children, training them so today each and all stand in the community highly respected. It was only a mother who had faith in life and hope and love who could impart to her children such qualities. She was a true Christian in all her dealings and actions, ready at all times to lend a helping hand where need was shown. Quiet, trusting and always looking and seeking the good in others and charitable in mistakes, she will be much missed in the community and to her children will be left a heritage of mother love expended, putting self in the background and always trying to see others happy first. Only memories will be left but these can never be erased and as time passes on they will gleam like jewels in a crown to her children.
Barbara Struck, the second child of Casper and Catherine Struck, was born Dec. 27, 1850, at Bristol, Wis. She was a member of a family of eleven children. She spent her life until young womanhood in the vicinity of her birth. She was united in marriage with Michal (sic) Fritz Nov. 30, 1869, at Racine, Wis. The day after their marriage the young couple left for Hudson, Black Hawk county, Iowa, where they resided until coming to Sioux county in 1878. When they came to Sioux county they homesteaded on the farm well known as the Fritz farm, now owned by E. W. Benson and located 4 1/2 miles southwest of Ireton. Mr. Fritz, the husband and father, died in 1890. The mother and the children continued to live on the farm until 1910 when they moved to Ireton to make their home. Two sons have married and moved onto farms of their own. By their industry and application they owned one of the best farms in this part of the country which was always kept in a high state of cultivation.
Six children were born to this union, one dying in infancy, the others living here in Ireton and vicinity, highly respected by all. Three sons, John M,, Frank and Burton W., and two daughters, Katherine and Leila, survive her. Two sisters, Mrs. Henry Matter of Salem, Wis., and Mrs. Willis Upsom of Bristol, Wis., and one brother, Frank J. Struck of Lakeview, Ore., also mourn the passing of a sister. She also leaves two grandsons. She had reached the age of 77 years, 1 month and 4 days at the time of her death.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Friday morning in St. Joseph's Catholic church in LeMars and burial will be made in the Catholic cemetery at that place, beside the bodies of her husband and infant son.
The entire community extends sympathy to the bereft children in their hour of sorrow.
Poster's note: In the 1925 Iowa census, Barbara gives her mother's maiden name as Catherine Seivert.

This picture was from the Sioux County Atlas of 1908 Part 1V Section 3 page 8. A picture of the home of Mrs. Barbara Fritz.

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