Fritts, Amos J., 1867-1941

FRITTS, AKIN, MILLER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/19/2022 at 08:43:12

From the Rock Valley Bee, September 12, 1941:

DEATH CALLS FORMER R. V. BUSINESSMAN
A.J. Fritts Buried At Dell Rapids Saturday

A.J. Fritts of Dell Rapids, S.D., manager of the Farmers Lumber Co. here for 28 years, died last week Thursday at 8:45 a.m., at his home. Funeral services were held at Dell Rapids Saturday afternoon and interment was made there.

Mr. Fritts succeeded Herman Wright as manager of the lumber yard here, two years after the co-operative company had been organized. He remained as manager until the first of September, 1935, when the family left here to live on their farm near Dell Rapids. He had come here from Elkton, S.D.

Born September 7, 1867, he married Miss Edith Akin in Rock Valley in 1894. Besides his widow, three children survive—Elmer of Cedar Rapids; Nina (Mrs. Vincent Cullen) of Burlington, Ia.; and Kenneth of Pierre, S.D. Nine grandchildren also survive him.

A wonderfully genial and accommodating man, Mr. Fritts was a splendid asset to the community, progressive and possessed of a remarkably fine personality. He had a great many friends all over the county and it was a blow to Rock Valley when they left here in 1935. His health had been failing during the past year and the final summons came as no surprise to relatives and friends.

His son Elmer and daughter, Mrs. Cullen, stopped here for a short visit Tuesday on the way to their respective homes. Their aunt, Mrs. Robert Allen, of Letcher, S.D., was accompanying them as far as Storm Lake to visit another sister, Mrs. Waite, there.

The Bee joins with the hundreds of Rock Valley friends in sympathy to the family in the passing of Mr. Fritts.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page has Amos John Fritts, born 6 Sep 1867 in Janesville, Bremer County, Iowa; died 4 Sep 1941 in Moody County, S.D.; buried in Dell Rapids Cemetery. Parents Phillip Henry Fritts (1826-1907) and Nancy Matilda Miller Fritts (1832-1911). Four siblings listed. Wife Edith Lorinda Akin Fritts (1873-1958). Daughter Nina Kathryn Fritts Cullen (1903-2004). There is a photo of his headstone, and a photo of him as an elderly man sitting in a rocking chair.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1893/1894 has groom Amos J. Fritts, age 27, resident of Hudson, S.D., a lumberman, born in Gainsville, Iowa, parents P. H. Fritts and M. Miller; bride Edith Lorinda Akin, age 22, resident of Hudson, S.D., born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, parents J. E. Akin and L. Clough; married at the J. E. Akin residence, May 23, 1894.