August Fritz moved to Freistatt from Wisconsin in the early 1870’s and was one of the founders of the Lutheran Church in Freistatt. August Fritz, John Fritz, and William Schoen, purchased 6.49 acres in the SW SW section 28, township 27 Range 27 from the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad on March 4 1875.

Among that large German element who have made Lawrence, county their home, probably no one name is more prominent, or more universally respected throughout the county, than that of Judge August Fritz. One of the first pioneers of the German settlement here; honored repeatedly by election as one of the county court, a leader in every respect; Judge Fritz has been a man who has left the impress of his work upon the community in ways which will endure many long years after he himself shall have ceased from his labors. August Fritz was born in Berlin, Germany, on the 17th of August, 1841. He was the son of David and Christina (Malzahn) Fritz, the father being also a native of Berlin, and born in 1805. In Germany David Fritz first followed the trade of a shepherd, but afterwards acted as the superintendent of a large plantation. In 1844, when his son August was two and a half years old, David Fritz brought his family to the United States and at first located near Niagra Falls, New York. Not long after they again moved, this time to Dodge county, Wisconsin. When August Fritz was fifteen another move took him to Minnesota. Here he grew to manhood, attended the German and English common schools for two years, and grew up on his father's farm. Here, too, he met and married Miss Anna Shoen, a daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Ilgner) Shoen, both of whom were also natives of Germany. The wedding took place in Winona county, Minnesota, in 1866. Mrs. Fritz was one of a family of seven children, all of whom are deceased, with the exception of Judge and Emilis Shoen of Peirce City. In 1873, when he was thirty-two years of age, August Fritz came to Lawrence county, and located in Friestatt township, one of the earliest of the German settlers in that part of Lawrence county. With him came his father, then sixty-eight years old, and who lived to the grand old age of eighty-five years, dying here in 1905. Always an active and consistent member of the Lutheran church, David Fritz was one of those who gave their time, their membership, and their money to establish the Lutheran church here in his new home. And here he sleeps in the cemetery at Friestatt. When he arrived in Lawrence county, Judge Fritz found a far different looking country from that which it is today. Tens of thousands of acres, which are today fine farms, were then stony prairie, or unsightly brushlands. Where are now thriving little cities was either vacant and unoccupied land, or in some cases straggling cross road hamlets, the roads were mostly mere cart tracks, and had but little care and attention; in a word it was a country that was still largely in the making. When he located in Lawrence county Judge Fritz at once began farming, and had altogether a farm of two hundred acres. He gave his entire attention to his place for fourteen years, and then, in 1897, he rented his land and built a flouring mill. He conducted this mill for ten years, and made a success of the business. Then, the town of Friestatt having come into existence with the building of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, he tore down the mill building, and put it up on a larger scale in the new town. Here it, unfortunately, burned down not long after. To Judge Fritz and wife there were born a family of eight children: Mrs. Martha Bierman, born June 7, 1867, who has five children: Martin, Mrs. Lydia Ruschkida, Alvin, Mollie and Clara. Mrs. Pauline Groh, deceased; born January 25, 1869, who left a family of five: Arthur, Irvin, Matta, Estis and George. Mrs. Laura Brockschmidt, born August 29, 1873, who has one child, Mrs. Elnora Aufdenbrink. Robert, born August 30, 1871, who died at the age of twenty- three. Mrs. Adelheid Rusch, born September 22, 1877. Benjamin, born March 14, 1880, married Gertrude Knaust, and has one child, a daughter, Lona. Joseph, born March 30, 1883, who married Ida Hoppe, and has two daughters, Lora, and Dela. David, born November 14, 1875, who passed away in infancy. In his long residence in Lawrence county Judge Fritz has been active in many affairs of great public benefit. Sixteen years ago he was appointed to fill an unexpired term of a judgeship in the county court. He performed the duties of this place so well that he was afterwards elected to fill a full term of two years. That strikingly successful Lawrence county institution, the Farmers' Mutual Insurance company, owes a large share of its success to the man of whom we write. He was one of those to whose foresight it owes its existence, and has served upon its board of directors from the first up to the present time, and is now the treasurer. This company started in a very modest and quiet way, but it has grown, by the care and energy of its directory, until it stands today for nearly four million dollars. The school district where he lives is also one of the communi- ties that owe much to Judge Fritz. He it was who led in its organi- zation, and he has served continuously for forty-two years upon the board since then, and with the exception of one year has been the president of the board. Like his father before him Judge Fritz has always been an active member of the Lutheran church. He was one of those who were charter members here in Friestatt and has been a deacon and chairman of the church board nearly the entire time since its or- ganization. In politics Judge Fritz is a member of the democracy, and has always done his full part towards the triumph of the party to which he belongs.