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John D FRITSCH (b 1827)

This John D Fritsch was born in Germany, probably in Bavaria (Bayern) near Rehau, on the contemporary border of Czechoslovakia, on 05 Sep 1827. A 1938 obituary for his son John states that this John's middle name was David, but I know of no corroborating evidence for that fact. (See note below.) This John's parents were George Fritsch and Rosa Beck. John immigrated to the United States sometime in the early 1850s and apparently met his wife-to-be in Schenectady, NY soon after his arrival. Both John Fritsch and Louisa Beck appeared in Schenectady, NY in the 1855 NY State Census. John was living in a boarding house in the second ward of the city. Louisa was living with a private family as a helper in the city's first ward. John gave his occupation as shoemaker and reported that he had been in the United States for one year.

John and Louisa Beck were married in Schenectady, NY on 28 Oct 1855, only a few months after the state census was taken. John was age 28, Louisa was probably age 31. The couple moved to Jordan Township in Green County, Wisconsin between 1855 and 1859, probably in 1858. They were found by the 1860 US Census on 25 Jun 1860 living in Jordan. John reported that he was a shoemaker and farmer. They couple had one child, a son named John, age one, born in Wisconsin.

In August 1870, the couple were still in Jordan Township. John no longer mentioned shoe making. He noted only that he was a farmer. He gave his place of birth as Baden [Germany], probably a misunderstanding of Bayern or Bavaria. The couple now had three children, John (age 11), Elizabeth (age 9), and Mary (age 5). in Jun 1880, the US Census found the couple still in Jordan Township. The composition of the household was barely changed. Elizabeth, who was age 19, was married and living with her husband William Blaseng in nearby Cadiz.

The brief biography of John in the History of Green County published in 1884 says that the couple had five children. Louisa, Jacob and Mary were said to be no longer living. Neither Louisa nor Jacob were surviving at the time of either the 1870 or 1880 census. This suggests they died in infancy or early childhood. Mary died in 1883 at age 17.

John died on 31 Dec 1889 in Green County and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe, Wisconsin. His wife Louisa lived on until 1899.

Sources:

1938 Wisconsin State Journal Obituary for John D Fritsch (b 1859): Citation: Newspapers by Ancestry, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin), Tue 08 Mar 1938, page 3. Content: MONROE Funeral services for John D. Fritsch. 78, a lifelong Green county resident, who died here Saturday, were held Monday at the Shriner-Neushwaruler Funeral home, with burial in Greenwood cemetery. The Rev. Alvin C. Rabehl officiated. Mr Fritsch was a member of the Immanuel Evangelical church. He was born in Jordan township May 22, 1859, the son or Mr. and Mrs. John David Fritsch. Mr. Fritsch was married to Gustina Krueger in Jordan township on Dec 6, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Fritsch lived in Jordan 10 years and then in Clarno before moving to Monroe in 1914. They lived here ever snce. Surviving are the widow, six sons, John, Emil and Albert, of Clarno; William, Winslow, IL; Edward, Jefferson township, and Frank, of Monroe; four daughters, Mrs. Roy Chesebro, Mrs. William A. Miller and Mrs. Ralph Wenger, all of Monroe, and Mrs. Milton Stelzer, Bloomer, Wis; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Blasing, Winslow [IL], and 26 grandchildren. Note: This 1938 obituary states that John D Fritsch (b 1859)'s father was named John David Fritsch. This John D (born 1827)'s middle name may well have been David, but this obituary for his son is the only reference to the name I have seen.

Brief Biography of John D Fritsch (b 1827) : Citation: History of Green County, Wisconsin. together with biographies of representative citizens. history of Wisconsin, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief account of its territorial and state governments. (1884), p 902. This book is available from the University of Wisconsin Library. Content: John D. Fritsch was born in Bavaria, near the city of Rehau, Sept. 5, 1827. He is a son of George and Rosa (Beck) Fritsch, who emigrated to America June 29, 1852, settling in Schenectady, where they lived for six years. George Fritsch was by trade a shoemaker, and followed that business in this country. In 1858 he went to Monroe, and continued the same business until he concluded to try farming, and bought a quarter section on section 7. He also owns 220 acres on sections 21 and 22, and 100 acres on sections 18 and 19, and makes stock raising his business. He has a good farm, and is among the best class of Green county's citizens. While living in Schenectady he was married to Louisa Beck, Oct 28, 1855. They have five children, two of whom are living. Louisa, Jacob and Mary are dead. John, the subject of this sketch, is living on section 21, town of Jordan. Elizabeth is living with her father, but is married to William Blaseng. They are all members of the Lutheran Church. Note: This is a very confused piece of writing. It states that John (b 1927) is the subject of the piece, but it begins by what appears to be a description of the emigration of John's parents George and Rosa Fritsch. It seems likely that it was simply John who emigrated. I find no evidence that John's parents ever left Bavaria. The attribution of the surname Beck to George Fritch's spouse seems possibly suspect since John's wife's surname was also Beck. It's obvioulsy not impossible, but it could be one more bit of the author's confusion.

1853 Passenger Manifest of SS Samuel Radger: Citation: Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1853; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 17; List Number: 1230. Content: A passenger manifest for SS Samuel Radger arriving in New York on 05 Dec 1853 from Le Havre, France, includes the name Johann Frisch, age 24, nationality German (?Wuerttemberg?). Note: Although there is very little in this record to identify this person as John D Fritsch, the year of arrival is consistent with John's report to the census enumerator in Jun 1855 that he had been in country only one year and the age is not too far off. It's at least a possibility that this is our John.

1855 NY State Census, Record of John Fritsch (b 1829): Citation: Ancestry.com. New York, U S, State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operaations, Inc., 2013. Content: The 1855 NY State Census of City of Schenectady (Second Ward), Schenectady County, New York on 11 Jun 1855 shows dwelling 112, a boarding house owned by Susan Davis, age 61, born in Green County, NY. Resident in the house is John Fritch [sic], age 23 [sic], male, born Germany, in Schenectady one year, alien. (John should have been age 28.)

1855 NY State Census, Record of Louisa Beck (b c1824): Citation: Ancestry.com. New York, U S, State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operaations, Inc., 2013. Content: The 1855 NY State Census of City of Schenectady (First Ward), Schenectady County, New York on 19 Jun 1855 shows dwelling 207 and the household of William Barringer, age 48, merchant born in Columbia. The household includes two helpers, one of them Louisa Beck, age 31, female, born Germany, in Schenectady one year, alien.

1860 US Census, Household of John D Fritsch (b 1827): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1860; Census Place: Jordan, Green, Wisconsin; Page: 260; Family History Library Film: 805411. Content: The 1860 US Census of Jordan Township, Green County, Wisconsin on 25 Jun 1860 shows dwelling 701 with a household composed of [1] John D Fitch, age 32, male, farmer and shoemaker, (real estate: $1000, personal: $300), born Germany, [2] Louisa, age 35, female, born Germany, [3] John, age 1, male, born Wisconsin.

1870 US Census, Household of John D Fritsch (b 1827): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Census Place: Jordan, Green, Wisconsin; Roll M593_1715; Page: 160A; Image: 329; Family History Library Film: 553214. Content: The 1870 US Census of the town of Jordan, Green County, Wisconsin on 03 Aug 1870 shows dwelling 157 with a household composed of [1] John Fritz, age 42, male, farmer, (real estate: $4700, personal: $1120), born Baden, parents foreign born, eligible to vote, [2] Louisa Fritz, age 42, female, keeping house, born Wurtemburg, parents foreign born, unable to read or write, [3] John Fritz, age 11, male, born Wisconsin, parents foreign born, attending school, able to read but unable to write, [4] Elizabeth Fritz, age 9, female, born Wisconsin, parents foreign born, attending school, can read and write, [5] Mary Fritz, age 5, female, born Wisconsin, parents foreign born, attending school, can read and write.

1880 US Census, Household of John D Fritsch (b 1827): Citation: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Jordan, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: 1428; Page: 114A; Enumeration District: 139. Content: The 1880 US Census of Jordan Township, Green County, Wisconsin on 09 Jun 1880 shows dwelling 36 with a household composed of [1] John D Frich [sic], male, age 53, married, born Bieran [sic], both parents born Bieren, [2] Louise Frich, female, age 53, wife, married, born Wuertenburg, both parents born Wuertenburg, [3] John Frich, male, age 21, son, single, works on farming, born Wisconsin, [4] Mary Frich, female, age 15, daughter, single, in school, born Wisconsin.

Find a Grave Memorial 189164339 for Mary Fritsch (b 1876).

Find a Grave Memorial 133088571 for John D Fritsch (b 1827).