Christian Fritzinger

Christian Fritzinger was born on either April 21 or April 28, 1803 in Heidelberg, Pennsylvania.  (Church records conflict as to which date is correct.)  At that time, Heidelberg Township was located in a part of Northampton County that later became Lehigh County. He was apparently a member of the Lutheran congregation of the Heidelberg Union Church (where his one daughter and son were baptised), and continued to live in this area until sometime in the 1840s.  He married Mary (aka Polly) Walp.  Mary was born in October 1812.

Not much is known about Christian's life in Heidelberg.  His parents are not known (there is a probability that he is decended from Ernst Fritzinger, who came to the US in 1772, but the documentation is not conclusive).  His name and association with the Union Church infer that he was of German descent.  Early German settlers to this area are known to have come from the Palatinate region of Germany, escaping religious persecution and severe economic hardship caused by years of war and bad weather. 

The German Reformed and Lutherans shared their church facilities and called it the Union Church. Built in 1744 along with a parish school building, it was located near Saegersville.  Due to fire, it was rebuilt in 1756 and again in 1849. 

The population of Heidelberg Township grew from 1,900 in 1820 to 2,354 in 1840 and the primary industry in this part of the Lehigh Valley was agriculture well into the 1880s.  Specifically, there were grist and saw mills located in Heidelberg Township.  It was also home to a rifle factory between 1832 to 1844. There were two stores in the early 1800s, one in Germansville and the other near Saegersville.  By 1845, Sagersville had twenty homes, a store, and a tavern.

In the meantime, farther north and west of Heidelberg, a frontier was being settled.  An area of Luzerne County, the Butler Valley, was settled by John Balliet in 1784.  And he was followed by large numbers of Germans who migrated to the area from Schuykill, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, according to local historians.  Christian apparently learned of this and, about 1846, moved his family to what is now Butler Township.  Other Fritzingers lived in close proximity and "Fritzingertown" still exists to this day a mile or two south of the village of Drums along Old Turnpike Road.

In 1850, the US Census lists Christian living in Butler Township with Mary and their chilldren, Fianna, Owen, and Mary.  His occupation is given as Wagonmaker. He only lives until 1859 and dies on May 19 of that year of "Gravel" (possibly gallbladder disease), having been ill for two months.  Mary continued to live in the house, raising the family, as evidenced by her listing in the 1860 census.  At this point in time, son Owen has married and had one child, his wife dying less than a year after giving birth.  He is listed on the census with his mother, sisters, and child.  The land, however, is apparently held by Owen , who sells it in 1867 to Josiah Drum.  The location of the residence can be seen on an 1873 map of the area.  It is labeled, "J. Drum" on the west side of the road.  The residences of M. Fritzinger, A. Fritzinger, H. Fritzinger, and G. Sigler are seen on the east side of the road and north of the mountain and border of Hazle Township.

 According to the 1870 Census, Mary (Polly) still lived in Butler Township along with Fianna and her husband Wiliber Doughty, their children Urias, Larry J., Henry M., Owen E., and Alvin.  The name Doughty does not appear on the 1873 map, so it is not known where the residence is located.  But Owen has moved to Eckley with his second wife.  Mary (Polly) dies in September 1875.  Both Christian and Mary (Polly) are buried in the St. Johns Cemetary in Butler Township.  They share one tombstone with Christian's name on the front and Polly's on the reverse.  The graves are located just east of Interstate 81 in the row of the cemetary closest to the Interstate.

Children of Christian and Mary (Polly) Fritzinger

Pauline Fritzinger, born about 1841 in Slatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.  Died September 26, 1902 in Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  Married to John Walck.

In the Hazleton Daily Standard, September 27, 1902:  "Yesterday Mrs. John Walck, Pauline, died on South Laurel Street.  She was born at Slatington and moved to Butler Valley when 5 years old.  In 1860 she was married to John Walck.  Besides her husband, she is survived by one brother, Owen Fritzinger, and one sister, Mrs. Doud Bith of Freeland.  She is survived by the following children:  Mrs. Thomas Dickerson, Albert, Mary, Elmer, and Calvin and John, and Irwin of Easton."

Elizabeth Fritzinger , born 1846.

Owen Fritzinger

Owen Fritzinger	Sarah Hess

Owen Fritzinger, son of Christian Fritzinger and Mary (Polly) Walp, was born on September 11, 1837 in Heidelberg, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.  He was baptised in the Heidelberg Union Church near Saegersville, on October 8, 1837 with Andreas Fritzinger and Lea Lauchnor as sponsors.  About 1846, his parents moved their family to Butler Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

His Hazleton Standard Sentinal obituary, though containing a few errors, better tells the story of his life:

"Owen Fritzinger

  Born at Heidelburg, Lehigh Co., Penn., September 11, 1837.  When Owen Fritzinger had arrived at the age of 18 years, in 1855 his father Christian Fritzinger, with the mother and family, consisting of three daughters and one son, Owen, the subject of our sketch, removed to Butler Valley, Luzerne Co., in what was then and is still known as Fritzingertown, situated west of the present Kis-Lyn, at the foot of the Mountain House, so called because of the large number of families named Fritzinger residing there, relatives of his father Christian Fritzinger.
  Here, the father, Christian, opened a wheel-wright shop, he being a wheelwright, and Owen as apprentice, assisted him.  At his father's death, Owen Fritzinger conducted the business.  He was married to Miss Rebecca Woodring in 1857, two years after his arrival at Fritzingertown, at the age of 20 years.
  In 1858 he quit the wheelwright business and secured a position with Sharpe Weiss & Co., at the Eckley collieries, as carpenter foreman.  He walked from his old home in Fritzingertown, a distance of nine miles, to his place of employment each Monday morning, beginning work at 6 a.m. and quitting at 6 p.m., the hours then being worked, and returned in the same manner each Saturday evening to Fritzingertown.
  At Eckley he had a contract with the Sharpe Weiss Co.  constructing mine cars, nights, after the conclusion of his daily duties, and also made all the necessary coffins for people in that region, Eckley and Buck Mountain.  Once when three men met their death in the mines, he worked an entire night making their coffins - plain boards covered with velvet or black cloth.  This same service for the Jeddo section was performed by the late Henry Hemsath, the carpenter of the Jeddo collieries, later contracter for the erection of mine houses at Upper Lehigh and who later purchased the Pond Creek property, which is operated by the East Point Coal Co.
  The fruit of his first marriage was one child, a girl, Mrs. Maria Tosh, who resides at Reading with her children.  The first wife died in 1859, at Fritzingertown.
 In 1860 he was again married to Miss Sarah Hess, of Pond Hill.  He removed to Eckley this year, where he continued as carpenter boss.  Here all the children by this union were born, four boys and three girls, all of whom are living except the two sons, the youngest and the eldest, Urias Wesley and Milton Eli.
  About 1876 he secured the contract with the Coxe Bros. & Co. for the construction of the fences about the company house lots, and was made carpenter foreman at the Drifton collieries in No. 1 shops.  In 1877 he removed his family to North Center street, where Peter Marticella now resides, the late Sheeman property, then a Donop property.  While resideing there, he built the house where he later lived and in which he resided until his death, Friday, March 3rd, at 4.15 p.m.
  In February, 1878, Mr. Fritzinger was elected to borough council for a period of three years.  He resigned in 1879 when elected as school director.  He was again elected to council in the 90's, when he served faithfully for his entire term.
  He was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. of Drums.  He was also a charter member of Freeland P.O.C. of A. Camp No. 147 and Washington Hall Association.
  With Mr. Wm. Williamson and others, he was one of the originators and directors of the original Freeland Water Company.
  When he was tax collector for Foster Township in the sixties, before the law authorizing coal companies to collect taxes through the company offices, deducting them from the payrolls, Mr. Fritzinger, as did all collectors of taxes, was compelled to walk throughout the entire district and collect the taxes from all the assessed individuals.  On account of the labor and difficulties of making collections by this method, the law now in force, was enacted.
  Mr. Fritzinger is survived by the following children:  Wm. Fritzinger, of Coxe Addition; Jeremiah Fritzinger, of Scotch Hill, Drifton; Mrs. Maria Tosh, of Reading; Mrs. D.F. Shellhammer, of Wilkes-Barre; Mrs. Wm. Birkbeck, of town, and Mrs. Geo. Jacquot, of Scale Siding.  He had twenty-four grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.
  Interment took place yesterday at 2 p.m. March 6th, in the Freeland cemetary.  Bachman Bros., undertakers.  Rev. Harner, of the Reformed church, officiated at the funeral."

The History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties, Pa with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers (New York:  W.W. Munsell & Co., 1880) says:  "Owen Fritzinger of Freeland, was born in Heidelberg, Pa Sep 11, 1937.  He is a carpenter for Coxe Bros. of Drifton.  He was elected in Feb 1878, as one of the town councimen for three years, and also school director in 1879.  His first wife, Rebecca Woodring, of Butler, and his present wife Sarah Hess, of Hollenbach Twp."

It should be noted that Owen is listed in the 1850 U.S. Census as living with his parents in Butler Township. In 1860, the Census lists him as living in Drums, Butler Township and that his occupation is Wheelwright; in 1870, he's listed as living in Eckley, Foster Township; in 1880 his is listed as living in Freeland. 

He married Rebecca Woodring in 1857 in Butler Township.  She was born May 10. 1836 and died March 1860 of consumption, having been ill for six months.

He married Sarah Ann Hess on November 25, 1860 in Cunningham (now Conyngham), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  Another source lists the date as November 22, 1869 (although, probably intended to be 1860), and that they were married by Rev. Wagner of Cunningham.  A record of churches of Luzerne County (PA State Library, Harrisburg) lists a Rev. R.S. Wagner as pastor of the Lutheran congregation of Sugarloaf Township Reformed and Lutheran Church.  The above mentioned History by Munsell lists Rev. R.S.Wagner as pastor of the Lutheran congregation from 1859 to 1864.  It futher notes that the pastors of both the Reformed and Lutheran congregations also served as pastors of the Reformed an Lutheran congregations at (St. Peter's) Hollenback Township and at Walpwallopen.

Sarah Ann Hess was born July 4, 1839 in Pond Hill, Hollenbach Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  She was the daughter of Jeremiah Hess and Sarah Walp.

Owen Fritzinger died March 3, 1922. Sarah Ann Hess died May 24, 1912.  Both are buried in the Freeland Cemetary, in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylavnia.

Children of Owen Fritzinger

Anna Marie Fritzinger , born April 24, 1859, in Butler Township, Luzerne County Pennsylvania (mother:  Rebecca Woodring); died December 29, 1931 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  Buried December 31,     1931 in Freeland Cemetary, Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Married Thomas Tosh; who was born 1852. Uriah Wesley Fritzinger, born May 12, 1861; died July 12, 1892, in Foster Township, Luzerne County Pennsylvania. 

Married to Mary L., born April 18, 1865; died April 24, 1889. 

Louise Alice Fritzinger , born July 26, 1862, died October 28, 1936 in Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  Buried October 31, 1936 in Freeland Cemetary, Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Married to Daniel F Shellhammer, December 24, 1881 in Conyngham, Luzerne County, Pennslyvania.  He was born August 11, 1859, Nescopeck, Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylavnia.

William Edwin Fritzinger , born January 1866, in Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; died September 7, 1937 in Laurytown, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.  Buried September 10, 1937 in Freeland.

Married Elizabeth Becker on August 21, 1886.  She was born February 26, 1866, in Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.

Jeremiah Elmer Fritzinger , born August 23, 1868 in Eckley, Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; died June 6, 1960 in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Married to Hattie Pettit on April 16, 1890. born in 1870; died December 26, 1921 in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Milton Eli Fritzinger , born August 26, 1871; died June 5, 1899.

Catherine May Fritzinger , born November 25, 1873 in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; died December 16, 1943 in Jacksonville, Florida.  She was buried in Freeland on December 21, 1943.

Married William S. Birkbeck on August 1, 1891 in Freeland.  He was born in 1870.

Sarah Amanda Fritzinger , born July 11, 1876 in Eckley, Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; died April 1964 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

Hannah Maria Fritzinger , born December 5, 1901; died October 26, 1973 in Hazleton and buried in Freeland Cemetary.

Married Thomas Ketner, Jr ., born May 5, 1898 in Philadelphia; died May 6, 1959 at sea.  Then married Francis Doolittle and then Joseph Bartholdi, born August 6, 1892 and died July 18, 1974.

Revilo Charles Fritzinger , born March 8, 1904 in Drifton and was christened April 2, 1904; died November 22, 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland and buried November 26, 1962 in Freeland Cemetary.  He worked at the Maryland Drydock Company in Baltimore, Maryland.

Married Susan Horwath on December 2, 1924 in Freeland.  She was born in 1908 in Upper Lehigh, Foster Township, Luzerne County, PA; died April 1964.

Sara Ann Fritzinger , born September 14, 1906 in Drifton, christened October 15, 1906 in Freeland; died August 2, 1981 and buried in Freeland Cemetary on August 6, 1981.  She worked at the JJ Newberry store in Freeland.

Married Walter G. Haueisen on November 17, 1926 in Edwardsville, Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, PA.  He was born in 1902 in McAdoo, Kline Township, Schuylkill County, PA.  She later married John D. Dreisbach, born December 8, 1897; died December 26, 1975.

Hazel Margaret Fritzinger , born July 14, 1909 in Freeland, christened September 23, 1909 in Freeland; died May 5, 1996 in Hazleton and buried May 8, 1996 in Skyview Memorial Park, Hometown, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Married Harold C. Kramer, who was born in Hazleton and owned Kramer Jewelers.

Edith V. Fritzinger , born February 23, 1916; died June 21, 1984 in Muhlenberg, Berks County, Pennsylvania and buried June 25, 1984 in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Married George Gicking, then later married John Spearko.