Francis Luther Fritz, a well known and successful farmer and stock-raiser of section 20, Prussia township, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, on the 2d of July, 1858. His parents, Ludwick and Sarah (Wert) Fritz, were born respectively in Pennsylvania of German ancestry and in Ohio of Yankee stock. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Cedar county, Iowa, in the early ‘50s and there purchased land, which he cultivated until he removed with his family to Madison county, where he continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his demise, which occurred on Christmas Day, 1892. His wife passed away in that county in June, 1895. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Francis Luther; David W., deceased; John, a resident of Cass county, Iowa; Joseph, who is living in South Dakota; Mary, who resides in Colorado; Edmund, of Winterset, Iowa; Allie, a resident of Nebraska; and Clarence, who lives near Menlo, Iowa.
Francis Luther Fritz was educated in the common schools of Cedar and Madison counties, this state, and remained at home, assisting with the work of the farm until he was twenty-two years of age. He then rented land in Madison county which he operated on his own account until 1882. In that year he removed to Adair county and rented land here until 1894, when he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Prussia township. He has since resided upon that place and has made all the improvements thereon, remodeling the residence, building barns and outbuildings and planting trees, all of which has greatly enhanced the value of the place. He carries on general farming and is meeting with gratifying success in that connection. He also breeds full blooded Poland China hogs and high grade cattle and horses and each year feeds many head of hogs which he sells to the shippers.
Mr. Fritz was married in March, 1892, to Miss Sarah Pope, a daughter of Eliphalet and Prudence (Shaver) Pope, natives, respectively of New York and of Pennsylvania. The father removed to Wisconsin in an early day in the history of that state and there taught school for a number of years. Subsequently he went to Henry County, Illinois, locating at Oxford, where he continued to follow the profession of teaching until 1883. In that year he came to Adair county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land in Prussia township. During the first two winters after his arrival here he taught country school but at the end of that time concentrated his entire attention upon the cultivation of his land. In 1907 he retired from active life and removed to Fontanelle, where he resided until his demise in March, 1910. His widow is now living in California. To Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have been born the following children: Ethel Z., whose birth occurred June 14, 1893, and who will graduate in music from Grinnell College at Grinnell in 1916; Earl, born August 26, 1894, who is at home; Albert, born July 19, 1899, who graduated from the eighth grade from district No. 4, of Prussia township, with the class of 1914 and who is at home; and Frances, who died when eleven months old.
Mr. Fritz, who is a republican, takes an active interest in both local and national politics and at the last two elections served as a member of the election board. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, which indicates the principles which govern their lives. Both are highly esteemed in their community and have many warm personal friends.
