The autobiography of John Fritz

Front matter

JOHNRFREEMAN

Fig. I.

{Frontispiece)

Preface

In this short preface I wish to tell my friends who read this book how it was that I came to write it. My undertaking it came about wholly through the persistent urging of a number of old friends, who insisted on my writing out for them, in my own words, an account of my life struggles ; and the publication of my autobiography before my death is again owing to the fact that, against my wishes, these good friends would not wait for it, but insisted on having it now. And so I have jotted down the record of my life, and it is given to you as I wrote it. You must not expect fine language nor eloquent periods, but only the honest record of the hard-working life of one who loves his country and his fellow men, and who has tried to serve both.

Table Of Contents

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Forewords from Old Friends xi

Chaptbr

Chapter I. Family History

I WAS born August 21, 1822, in Londonderry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and was the oldest child of a family of seven children, three brothers and four sisters.

I was born of parents of exemplary character, my father being a man of high moral standards; he fully impressed upon my mind the importance of absolute integrity, energy, and economy. My mother was a true Christian woman, and early taught me to read and revere that book of books, the Holy Bible, and to trust in the Supreme Being; and that to respect and obey His laws was a duty which mankind should not disregard. At this distant day, to my mind, the moral and rehgious training received from my parents was the most important training I could possibly have received; and I have ever thought the highest honor I could pay to their memory was to endeavor to follow their noble example.

My father, George Fritz, was born July 26, 1792, in Cassel, Hesse Cassel, Germany, and came to this country, landing in Philadelphia August 26, 1802, with his father and mother, Johannes and Gertrude Meinhard Fritzius, and their children, Conrad, Margaret, John, and Henry (Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary were bom in this country).

They were accompanied to this country by my grand-father's brother, J. (ieorge Fritzius, and his wife, Eva Catherine. My great-uncle and his wife immediately went West and were never afterwards heard of.

My mother, Mary Meharg, was born June i8, 1799, in Londonderry, Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of William and Hannah Connor Meharg. My Grandfather Meharg emigrated from Tobermore, Londonderry Coimty, Ireland, about 1787. He was of Scotch- Lish Presbyterian stock.

My father and mother were married July 26, 1821, at Hepzibah Church, East Fallowfield, Chester County, Pennsylvania, by the Rev. Jethro Johnson, a famous Baptist minister of that day. They had seven children. John, the subject of this sketch, married Ellen W. Maxwell and had one daughter, Gertrude, who died at the age of seven years; Hannah Ann married B. Frank Stroud; Catherine married Isaac E. Chandler; George married EUa Maclay; Sarah married Robert Russell; Elizabeth married Hiram E. Russell; and William married Eleanora Paddington, of Baltimore, Maryland.

My brother George was born December 15, 1828, in Chester County. He early displayed a proclivity for mechanical pursuits, a talent which he certainly inherited from his father. When about the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to one of the leading master builders of Philadelphia, to learn the carpenter's trade. He became a first-class workman, but I could see no great outlook for him in that line of business and believing he had much mechanical ability, I made up my mind to get him, if possible, into the mechanical engineering line. I was at that time in the employ of Messrs. Moore & Hooven of the Norristown Iron Works, Norristown, Pennsylvania. Fortunately for both George and myself, there was quite a good machine shop in Norristown, and a highly esteemed friend of mine, Mr. Archibald Johnston, was financially interested in and also the manager of the shop and was an able mechanical engineer. I told him about my brother George being a good carpenter and that I wanted to get him in the engineering Hne, and said to him, " Sometime when you are in want of a man to do the coarser work in the shop, I should be pleased if you would give him a trial." He said, " Send for him at once; I am in want at this time of just such a man." This I did, and inside of three months George was on the best work in the shop and soon proved to be a first-class pattern maker, an important person about a manufacturing plant. When I went to Catasauqua I took him with me and also to Cambria. There I found him apt in any place I put him and he soon became useful to me and learned the business rapidly. When I left Cambria in i860 he succeeded me as Engineer and Superintendent of the Cambria Works and remained in that position until his death.

When the War broke out he was connected with a volunteer company and at once offered his services. The company was accepted and he was in his place ready to fulfill his duty. The Cambria Company requested him to remain at home and upon his refusing to desert his comrades in arms, Mr. Morrell, the General Manager, appealed to the men, showing them that if George went with them the rolling mill would be compelled to stop. It was only at the earnest request of his fellow soldiers that he reluctantly consented to remain at home. Later when drafted, although exempted through the loss of part of all the fingers of his right hand, he refused to claim his right under the law and contributed to the support of the Government by paying the exemption money. Not satisfied with this, he subsequently furnished a representative recruit. While making no profession of religion, he contributed largely to the building of the Methodist church at Johnstown, as well as looking after its erection. He died August 5, 1873.

William was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1841. When fourteen years old he followed us to Johnstown and apprenticed himself to the Cambria Iron Company as a machinist. He remained in this capacity until i860, when he went to Bethlehem. At the outbreak of the War, he responded to his country's first call and enlisted in the three months' service in the First Pennsylvania Infantry, and after his first term had expired he enhsted in a cavalry regiment and served for three years. While thus engaged, he was seriously wounded and was granted a furlough. When the Government erected its rail mill at Chattanooga, according to plans I prepared at the Government's request, he was placed in charge of it, and ran it successfully until the War was over. He then accepted the superintendency of the Abbott Iron Company of Baltimore and remained there several years. Later he entered into partnership with Horace Brooke in the blast furnace business in Baltimore, Maryland. About five years before his death he was obliged to give up work on account of failing health. He died March 20, 1884.

Chapter II. Early Farm Life

At this distant day I look back to my early boyhood, when I hved on the farm, as the most pleasant period of my life. In the summer we waded in the brook, caught butterflies, and, as we grew older, had the more exciting sport of fighting and destroying the bumblebee and hornets' nests, which required both skill and daring, and we often came out of the encounter somewhat wiser, but many times not so good-looking.

The most innocent, interesting, and instrucrive pleasure that we, as youths, so much enjoyed was the time we spent with the young stock in the fields, — the colts, calves, and lambs; and it would, to the people of to-day, who know nothing of farm life, be a great surprise to know how tame and companionable they can be taught to be, — the colts, of course, first, as the noble horse is always in the lead; they could be taught to rear up, and lie down. We would twist straw into ropes and make what we called straw harness and dress them up in the most fantastic style, and march them around for hours at a time, they seeming to enjoy themselves as much as we did.

The calves would follow us all around and were very tame and gentle, but seemingly had some object in view and generally wanted something to eat. They were not susceptible of being taught like the colt, but at times were quite playful.

The lamb became very domestic and playful, and there was one trick that he would readily learn and that was to butt; unfortunately, however, he would never forget it and often became troublesome and at times vicious, frequentlypracticing his early learned tricks on people, much to their annoyance and sometimes to their detriment, which caused timid people to give him a wide berth. At times some of his butting was amusing to spectators, but annoying to his victims.

Children on a farm also get a correct knowledge of all domestic animals, such as learning how to take care of the noble horse — to handle, harness, and drive him. They also learn about the forests, — the names of the various trees, and their peculiar properties, the character of the wood, and the various purposes it is used for. They have an excellent opportunity to study botany, learning the names of flowers and plants and how to cultivate them. They visit the orchard, and in season pluck the ripe and delicious fruit from the trees with their own Httle hands and eat it with a relish that they will never experience in after Hfe. They hear the birds sing and admire their beautiful plumage, and learn their manner of building their nests and rearing their young. They learn a useful and instructive lesson from the industrious ant and the busy bee. The study of the habits of the bee is an exceedingly interesting one, not only to naturalists, but to all people who take an interest in the habits of the more intelligent insects, amongst which the bee ranks high. They visit the sweet Httle brook and see the small fish darting through the water; they wade and dabble in the stream, which is as clear and fine as their own dear little hearts. Where can children have such an opportunity to commime with nature as on the well-regulated farm? Moreover, the information gained in early youth is frequently retained in the mind, when that which is gained in after years is forgotten.

Between the ages of six and seven years my farm labors commenced by dropping corn, in grains to the hill. When the corn was about three inches high, I rode the horse, attached to the harrow, to guide him between the rows. Next the com had to be kept clear of weeds, which had to be pulled up and hoed out. By this time the hay harvest was on and mowing commenced, and it was my duty to carry drink to the harvest men in the field. This consisted of fine old rye whiskey and fine water fresh from the spring near by.

About the time the hay was secured the wheat was quite ready for the sickle, and in addition to seeing that the men had all they wanted to drink and water quite fresh from the spring, I gathered sheaves between drinks, — which were quite frequent. Shortly after the wheat was housed the oats were ready for the cradle if erect; if down, the scythe was frequently used; the oats harvest is generally easier and more quickly over than the hay, wheat, or r}'e. My duty continued the same until the crop was all in the barn, and as I now remember I was not at all sorry the harvest was over.

I now supposed that my duty as grog boss and gathering sheaves was ended, and I began wondering what would turn up next, but did not have long to wait. The next morning after the completing of the harvest, I was called as usual at about four o'clock. I walked down two pair of stairs, as I slept next to the shingles, rubbing my eyes, feeling somewhat tired, but more sleepy. I went out and took down the tin wash basin which was hanging by the side of the house, filled it with water, and gave my face, neck, and eyes a good washing, which refreshed me very much. About this time my father came up from the barn and said, " Good morning, John. This promises to be a fine day. We will raise the potatoes; the ground being dry no soil will adhere to them, and they will go in the cellar clean and dry, lO AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN FRITZ

which is important, they being much more likely to keep well than if put away wet and dirty. After you have driven up the cows, come to the field."

It was the custom on the farm to go to work at sunrise, the women doing the milking, properly putting the milk in place, and feeding the young stock and chickens before breakfast, which was taken at seven o'clock. After breakfast we again went to the field, all having been previously arranged for the plow. It was started and a furrow was made as close to the potatoes as possible without injury to them. Then spades or shovels were used to turn them out. There was no use for old rye in digging potatoes, consequently not so much water was used. My duties were, therefore, changed to that of picking potatoes, a task which did not to me savor much of a promotion, as it required neither technical nor practical knowledge; but being a private, it was my duty to obey commands and to faithfully do as ordered. My father being a particular man and at times exacting (at least as a boy I often thought so), everything had to be done in the best possible and most careful manner, consequently the potatoes were put in a basket and gently placed in the cart or wagon without a bruise or an abrasion of even the outer skin. ^

I mention this fact as an illustration not only of how I was taught to pick potatoes, but also of how I was taught to do everything, for all I was called on to do had to be done in a like manner, to the best of my ability. And I unhesitatingly say that much of the success that I may have attained in life is largely due to the careful and exacting training received in early youth from a kind and exacting father.

It was early in the hot month of August and a hot day. In picking potatoes you can neither stand erect, sit, nor lie down, but must be in a stooping position, and as the hot sun was shining on my back I fully made up my mind that I would rather be grog boss and gather sheaves in the harvest field than pick potatoes. But it was a duty and had to be done, so I stuck to it, saying nothing, but my mind was active. I was next sandwiched into school for a short time, imtil the time to get ready for the fall seeding was on.

Being now in my eighth year and large for my age, and healthy, I was able to do a considerable amount of work in the way of getting the ground ready for the plow. I assisted in loading and spreading the manure on the field, which my father told me was very healthy work and not as hard as carr>'ing sheaves and drink to the harvest men, so I was happy. By the time seeding was completed the corn was ready to cut and stack and in a short time was ready to husk. When this work was finished and the corn and fodder had been taken care of, the time for threshing out and winnowing the grain had come; this work was at once commenced and soon completed. Both grain and straw were put in their proper places.

It was now November and next in order was to prepare for the winter. As coal at that time was not used, at least not in the farming districts, wood had to be cut and so placed that it could be easily secured during the winter. The cattle of all kinds were housed and made comfortable, the farming implements looked up and put in their proper places, under cover. The leather had come from the tanners and the shoemaker was in the house, as was the custom at that time, ready to make each member of the family a pair of shoes, which were calculated to last a year. Our dear mother furnished all the family with a good supply of woolen stockings, much better and more servdceable than can be gotten to-day, knit out of yarn, that was spun oflf the distaff, by her own hands, from wool sheared from the sheep that were raised under her fostering care. Society was then more economical and simpler in habits than it is to-day, it being the custom for people to raise wool and flax, to spin, knit, and weave, and largely make their own apparel. The people were industrious, contented, and happy, and full of sympathy for the poor and imfortunate.

CHAPTER m.

SCHOOL LIFE.

My father, having attained celebrity in his trade as millwright and machinist, and being pressed by people who were greatly in want of his services, decided to devote his time wholly to his caUing. Doubtless thinking I was rather fresh to become a full-fledged farmer, he concluded to put the farm, or rather lot, in some other hands to work it for a time.

I was then over eight years old and as I had had but little schooling my parents were both anxious to get where I could have the benefit of six months' schooling in a year. This was a number of years before the time of free or public schools, and the only opportunity of securing an education was limited to three months in the summer and the same in the winter. It was before pedagogy had become a science, and the teachers were not so well qualified for the discharge of their duties as they are at the present time.

We moved to a place much nearer the school than where we had formerly Uved, so near that I could attend in all kinds of weather. For three months of the rime in summer I was very fortunate in attending a school kept by a lady, Miss Rebecca Clark, who was educated at the Friends' School, at West Town, Chester County, She was a born teacher, and I am sure that I learned more in the three months that I attended school with her, as teacher, than in three rimes three months with any other teacher I was ever with. She was a lovely woman with a magnetic and commanding presence, kind-hearted, and gentle, yet possessing a moral firmness, which she skillfully applied, always reproving with kindness and in the most gentle manner, endeavoring at all times to command the confidence and respect of the children, which is so essential for the success of both teacher and pupil; this she accomplished in an .eminent degree, not only with the children of the school, but also with aU who knew her.

The winter school was some two and one-half miles from where we lived; the snows were much deeper than those we have now, and the roads were generally so badly drifted that it was scarcely possible for one of my age to attend regularly. The next summer Miss Clark failed to get a sufficient nimiber of scholars to warrant her enough compensation for her labor. This was owing to the establishment of a school at the other end of the district, which I was compelled to attend, in consequence of Miss Clark's failure to secure a school. I was disappointed, and, as the teacher was incompetent, I learned but little. Probably it was much my own fault. Miss Clark was an ideal teacher, greatly loved and respected by aU her scholars. As I was compelled to go to an indifferent teacher who was not liked, satisfactory results were not likely to be fully reahzed. As one of the objects my father had for leaving the farm (that of giving me an opportunity for an education) was in a measure a failure, as his business required him to be from home so much of his time that he grew weary of it, and as he was fond of his family and all were happy when he was with them, it was agreed all round that it would be best for him to go back to the farm.

I was now nearly ten years of age, stout and healthy, and was able to do much of the farm work. The farm or lot we had formerly lived on was small, and as quite a family of children were growing up, both father and mother thought it very desirable to have more land. Consequently, they sold the farm and bought a larger one, of about fifty acres, about one and a half miles from a school. This enabled the girls to attend the summer quarter and the boys the winter.

It was here in an old country log house that I took my scholastic degrees. The building was under the jurisdiction of the Society of Friends, generally known at that time as Quakers. They held ser^dce in their meeting house twice a week, first-day and fifth-day meetings as they were called, which were attended regularly whether in seedtime or harvest. They also had what were called quarterly meetings, which took place every three months, and which it was the custom for all the school, when in session, to attend; all walked over to the meeting in a body under the eye of the teacher, and remained until it was over. I have been informed that I heard Elias Hicks speak, and I have no doubt it is so, but I cannot remember him. He was an able man, and a great leader of the Friends, and it was his views on the Divinity of Christ that caused the separation of the Society into two parts, now known as Hicksite and Orthodox. The Friends were a most excellent people, good neighbors, charitable, peace-loving, and peace-making; in early life I was much amongst them, and I have no doubt that I profited by association with them.

In order that the present generation may fully comprehend the difficulty of securing an education when I was a boy, some eighty odd years ago, it will be quite in place to state, very briefly, the condition of the schools, as they existed at that date. It was a number of years prior to the time when the great commoner, Thaddeus Stevens, made his eloquent and farseeing appeal to our State legislature, sixty odd years since, in favor of our common school system. The predictions he made in that memorable address when the bill was under discussion have been fully verified. The benefits the youth have derived and are deriving from the free school system, viewed alone from a social and economic standpoint, are incalculable, and the impetus public schools have given to agriculture, manufacture, and commerce is of great importance to both state and nation.

Well, we were on the new farm and were pleased with the change and with the new farm also. My father was from home but little the first summer, leaving only for some important work and then only for a few days at a time. My duties were practically the same as those of my two former years on the farm. As the farm was large, the work was somewhat harder and the harvest season longer. When the seeding was done, the corn all in, and all fall work completed, I was next gotten in order for my three months' schooling, which generally commenced in the latter part of November or early in December. I was then over ten years of age, and had only about one and a half miles to walk. I attended school every day it was in session, up to the latter part of February, or the first of March, when the winter term closed.

The teacher was a Mr. Baker, who was considered a very competent person. He had succeeded in obtaining subscriptions for about forty scholars, which was quite a good number for that time. He was a stern, resolute person, qualifications that many people at that day thought essential, especially for the winter term, when only boys attended. As a great many of the boys were from fourteen to twenty years of age, people were of the opinion that to insure proper control it was necessary for the teacher to know how to handle the rod. In this fine Mr. Baker was an expert, ever looking for an excuse to use it. An opportunity one day occurred in the most imexpected manner. The older boys took delight in plaguing the kids, as they called the younger boys, by breaking up the plays, whatever they were, and annoying them in any way they could. One day when there was snow, the younger boys, I being one of them, were passing by the end of the Friends' meeting house. I spied a knothole in the shutter of the gable-end window, and ha\'ing a snowball in my hand I inadvertently threw it to see how near I could come to striking the hole. Of course all the rest, boylike, must see how near they could come to striking the mark. About the time we were getting our best work in, we received such a volley of snowballs from the older boys that we were compelled to make a hasty retreat, much to our chagrin. But we did not have to wait long for revenge and it came in a most unexpected manner. The older boys at once took the cue to see if they could put a ball through the hole, but they threw such a volley against the time-worn shutter that it went to pieces. About this time we younger boys saw our teacher coming up the road. We stepped out of the way, but where we could have an eye on him. He halted a short distance from the older boys and took in the situation. As he was in the rear of them, they did not see him until he was quite close. Then, of course, they began snowballing each other. He passed them seemingly without taking notice of what had happened, but knowing the pleasure he seemed to take in the use of the rod, and that he was always on the lookout for an opportunity to use it, we could see danger ahead. But, as the larger boys had done the damage, we consoled ourselves with the thought that they would get the worst of it, and we would have the satisfaction of seeing them severely chastised for the rude treatment we ever received from them.

We did not have long to wait to see what was going to happen. As soon as school was called to order and all had taken their seats, Mr. Baker called the older boys whom he had seen snowballing the shutter and ordered them to stand in line. He then took down one of his choice rods, of which he kept a number on a couple of pins in the logs back of his desk, stepped to the front, and addressed them. I do not remember the words, but their substance is clear in my mind, and knowing him well as a man and neighbor, and being familiar with his disposition and his manner of talking to the boys, I think I can give quite a clear idea of what he said, but probably more certainly of what he thought. He at all times greatly magnified any offense the boys were so unfortunate as to commit. He said, " You seem to be possessed of a malignant spirit and prone to do evil. The defacement of property used as a place of worship by a God-fearing and unassuming people, to whom you are indebted for the use of this building for a schoolhouse (in which I yet hope to teach you all to see the evil of your ways), is not only a great outrage against the Society of Friends, but also against the community, for which offense you must be punished. While I greatly regret that you have committed this outrage, it gives me some pleasure to administer to you the chastisement you so richly deserve." He began at one end of the Hne, and gave every boy a severe whipping, sending each one to his seat as he completed the punishment. He then returned to his desk with a benignant smile on his face, as though he had done his duty, but somewhat exhausted.

Being looked on as rather a leader of the younger boys, I must confess this was an anxious period for me. As I was not sure that the teacher had not seen the younger boys in the same act and that some questions might not be asked who commenced it, I quite naturally supposed that I might be called on to answer that question. Had I been asked I should have promptly said, as we had entire confidence in each other, that I was the one, and that would have been all I knew about it. There was no fear of squeaUng among the boys so long as no disgraceful or wicked act was committed. There were, however, no questions asked, much to the relief of the younger boys, myself included.