Frederich Fritz Family

Frederich Fritz was born in Bosigheim, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on March 8, 1827. He lived at home until his Mother died. After his father remarried, Frederich decided to come to America. He worked as a cook's helper to pay for his passage and sailed on a sailing vessel bound for New York City with seventy-five cents in his pocket. He had been an apprentice to a stone mason so had a- trade to follow in the new world.

He left New York and arrived in Cleveland, Ohio, where he met and married Christina Kieser. They were married there on November 6, 1852. Christina was born on April 30, 1828 in Gosingersheim, Germany. She brought two small leather bound book with her to America, one was a Lutheran hymnal published in 1849, and the other was a new testament, published 1815. A descendant, Lorena Badenhop, has these 'books today. Christina came from Germany to Cleveland to stay with friends and relatives.

Frederich and Christina established their first home in the area south of Defiance, Ohio, on the Defiance- Paulding County Line. Frederich became a naturalized citizen on April 8, 1856, in Defiance, Ohio.

Mr. Fritz purchased a farm in Henry County on June 5, 1869, near Standley, Ohio, on the east side of the Defiance?Henry County Line. They lived the rest of their lives here in a log house. He cleared the land and farmed and followed his trade of stone mason. There were nine children born to Frederich and Christina. They were Frederich, born September 20, 1854, John M., born October 26, 1856; John Jacob, born August 25, 1858; Christina Katerina, born December 11, 1860; Henry William, born November 7, 1862; Carolina Frdericka, born August 10, 1865; Mary Elizabeth, born June 5, 1868; Christian Immanuel, born September 1, 1870; and Wilhelmina Elizabeth, born May 21, 1875. Three died in their youth. Frederich lived one day; Carolina died at the age of nine years; Jacob died of t.b. at the age of twenytwo. The parents and children are buried in old St. Stephen's Lutheran Church Cemetery, south Richland Township, Defiance County, Ohio.

Henry William went west when the Oregon Territory was being settled. He homesteaded near Troutdale. He married Carrie Cassidy and had one son, William. Carrie died when William was small and Henry and William came to Ohio to visit. While in Ohio, Henry married Eliza Troeger. They spent their lives in Oregon and are buried in Douglas Cemetery, Troutdale, Oregon. William Fritz married Ann Bruns and has a daughter, Phyllis.

Christian Immanuel also settled near Troutdale, Oregon. He married Grace Woodward and had a daughter, Louise. Louise married Leo Dollowitch and has a daughter, Helen. Louise and Helen and Helen's family live near Boring, Oregon. Christ died in 1911, a victim of diabetes, and is buried in Douglas Cemetery.

Christina Katerina Fritz often did housework for neighbors, relatives and friends. Katy married Fred Schatz, of Defiance, Ohio. She died after giving birth to Adele. Adele lived only a short time, and she and her mother are buried in old St. Stephen's Cemetery.

John Fritz married Mary Fritsch. They lived south of Standlay on a farm. Their children were Charlotte, who died at age three years; Albert, George and Esther. Esther married Carl Degler and had Dorothy Zinser, Paul Degler and Donna Regaletti. George married Emma Goller and had Theodore and Alvin. Alvin lives on the family farm. George married Clara Sheele, after Emma died in middle age. Albert married Lena Degler and had no issue.

Mary Fritz married Frank Orthwein and had five children: Edwin, Paul, Walter, Hildegard, and Lorena. When her parents died, Mary became the guardian for her youngest sister, Minnie Fritz.

Minnie was a retarded child. Her father was greatly concerned about her welfare in the future so he appointed Mary to be her guardian. The Orthwein's added a new wing to their house. It consisted of a new kitchen for Mary and private living quarters for Minnie. About 1920, Mary turned Minnie's property over to Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, Wisconsin. Minnie remained there until her death in 1954, and was the last surviving child of Frederich and Christina Fritz.

In 1920, Mary and Frank Orthwein purchased a farm near Malinta, Ohio and a house directly across the road from the farm. The farm house was torn down and the other moved to a new location on the Orthwein farm. The Orthwein children were Edwin, Paul, Walter, Hildegard, and Lorena.

Edwin married Matilda Rettig of Holgate. They are the parents of Geraldine who married Stanley Openlander; Kenneth married Helen Vance; Robert married Alma Godeke; Dorothy married Kenneth Fundum; James Richard died soon after birth; and Margaret married William Straley. Edwin died age fifty-three years.

Paul married Freida Kurtz and they have Mary who married Earl Carlson; and Helen who married Charles Fisher.

Walter married Myra Geist and had Barbara who died soon after birth.

Hildegard married Willis Degler and they had Rosemary who married Theodore Redlich; and Virginia, who married Charles Kruse; and Daniel married Marilyn Hornbeck.

Lorena married Arthur Badenhop and they have Arthur F. who married Suzanne Bratton; and John M. who married Helen Dickman.

Mary and Frank Orthwein are buried in the St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery, Flatrock Township, Henry County, Ohio.

Submitted by: Lorena Orthwein Badenhop