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(We found the following information about John Fritz before we discovered he was not related to Elizabeth Emiline Kirby. We have included it here in the hopes it will help some other researchers.)
John Fritz was born about 1824, in Pennsylvania according to census records.
John married Minerva (last name unknown) prior to about 1842, probably in Ohio. Minerva was born about 1824, in Ohio according to census.
John and Minerva's children were born in Ohio. Around 1855, John moved his family to Keokuk County, Iowa.
The 1860 Keokuk County, Iowa census, Richland Township, shows John Fritz, 38, a day laborer, personal property valued at $400, born in Pennsylvania; Minerva, 36, born in Ohio; Catharine, 17; Jacob, 14; Daniel, 12; Mary, 8 and Edward R., 6 years old. The census shows the five children were all born in Ohio.
During the 1860's there were many changes to the Fritz household. Their oldest daughter Catharine left the household. Their sons Jacob and Daniel joined the Union Army and fought in the Civil War. Daniel died before the war ended.
The 1870 Keokuk County, Iowa census, Jackson Township, shows John Fritz, 42, a farmer with real property valued at $2000 and personal property valued at $1150; M., 46; Mary 19 and Edward, 16. Living with the family was Emeline Kerby, 7 years old.
Living next door to John was another Fritz family. We are unsure of the exact relationship. The census shows Abraham Fritz, 32, a farmer, born in Ohio; Catharine, 28, born in Ohio; Mary, 9; M. (female), 7; Christopher, 6; John H., 4; David (or Daniel), 3 and Jacob, 8 months old. The six children were all born in Iowa.
Living just a short distance from the John Fritz family in 1870 was the family of Joseph Abel. Joseph Abel's son, Christopher Columbus Abel married Elizabeth Emiline Kirby a few years later.
We do not know what became of John and Minerva Fritz. We have been unable to locate them after 1870. We are unsure how many children were born to John and Minerva. We have record of five children.
Children of John Fritz and Minerva
1. Catharine Fritz, b. abt 1843, OH
2. Jacob S. Fritz, b. abt 1846, OH
3. Daniel Fritz, b. abt 1848, OH; enlisted as a Private in Co I, 40th Infantry Regiment Iowa on Feb 27, 1864 at Muscatine, IA; d. "of disease" on Oct 20, 1864, at Richland, IA
4. Mary Fritz, b. abt 1852, OH
5. Edward R. Fritz, b. abt 1854, OH