Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/606

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

years, meantime assisting his father on the farm summers. He went to several institu­ tions o f learning and acquired a th o ro ^ h academic education at the Orangeville (C o­ lumbia county) and New Columbia (Luzerne county) Academics* and Bloomsburg State N ornu l School, l i e was a laborious student. In 1B75 he began to study law with ex-United States Senator C. K. Buckalew, and w as in active practice at lilooinsburg after his ad ­ mission to the bar of Lackawanna county* at Scranton* but settled in his native county, and had a large practice in Columbia und the ad­ joining territor}*, being called to try* cases be­ fore the Supreme and Superior courts in his State. When a law student he was appointed deputy* and held the office by ap|>ointnient under three sheriffs in succession* having charge of the sheriff's office o f Columbia county in the ab5^ncc of the sheriff until his practice ma<k* it necessary for him to give up the position. He w as receiver o f taxes in 1879 (refusing the position in 1880). town auditor, solicitor of the Kloomsburg poor district* and counsel for a number o f munici|xilitics, and he was secretary of the town council for a num­ ber o f years, until he re sid e d. Though these (lositions* and by his obliging disposition, he made many friends and Uxrame well ac­ quainted With the people o f his section of the Stale. In 1884 M r. Fritz was elected to the Penn­ sylvania House o f RepresenUitives* receiving the highest vote on the Democratic ticket. In i88f> he w as renominated without opposition and was elected* running ahead o f his ticket at the general election. In 1891 he w as elected as a nieml>er of the proposed Constitutional convention from the .Senatorial district com­ posed of the counties o f Columbia* Montour* Lycoming and Sullivan. He was elected a member u f the House of Representatives for the session o f 1893. and w as renominated without opposition and reelected in Novem­ ber, I S i m * ft fourth term, which had never before licen given to a person in this section of the State. l>tiring his last term he ser*cd on the W ays and Means* Appropriation an<l Jud iciary General committees* an honor given to no other mcmlier o f that session* that of serving on the three most important com­ mittees of the House. Tie w as a member of the Judiciary General committee <luring his four terms of office. In the session o f he w as the Democratic caucus nominee for speaker of the House. In and also in iK<j8, he received the nomination for Con­ gress from Columbia county* but a l the Con­

gressional conference* composed o f four coun­ ties* he was defeated for the district nomina­ tion on the cb im that his county was not then entitled to it. M r. Fritz w as a good speaker and he car­ ried into public life the same indomitable will, and honesty and industry* that characterized him in the conduct o f his private affairs. As a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature he made a reputation that few have equaled. During the session o f 1887, on a bill to “ equaltizc taxation,” he made a memorable s|>ecch. His death occurred Aug. 22* 19 13, at Blooms­ burg* where he is buried. In 1879 M r. Fritz married Dora E. Kvans, daughter o f A. J. Evans, o f Bloomsburg* and they had two children, F. Herman F ritz and Q iarles C. Fritz. S A M U E L H. H A R M A N * proprietor of the Guernscydalc Stock Farm at Bloomsburg, Columbia county* and president of the newly organized Columbia County Breeders’ A sso ­ ciation* is practically a recruit in the line of business which is now receiving the principal share o f his attention. But he has already proved himself a valuable acquisition to the dair)*ing interests of the county, lieing among those who arc laboring faithfully to improve the cattle of the locality and to im press the farm ers o f this region with the profit and ad ­ vantages to be realized from high-grade stock. 'J'his Harman family lias long hccn settled in i'etinsylvania. and is o f German extraction. Jacob I lamian* the great-grandfather, w as bom in Alsace. w*hence he came to A m erica in 1770 with his brother Conrad, o f whom wc have no further record. He Landed at I'hiLadclphia, and proceeded to Kutztown. B erks Co.* Pa.* later moving to Mifflin township* Columbia Co.* Pa., where he died M ay 12* 1823. He served in the w ar of the R e v o lu ­ tion a l various times, between 1777 and 178 2. taking fiart in the battles o f Brandywine and (icrmantown. H is enlistments ivcrc from Northampton. Hy occupation he w*as a farm er and a tanner. Me married F.liz4abcth, daughter o f Conrad Lysingring. o f White Hall tow n­ ship. Northampton county* and 1 i.ad two sons. Samuel and George. Samuel Harman, grandfather o f Sam uel I I. Hamuin. was born Dec. 2, 1789. at K iiiztow n. and W'hen a young man came to Mifflinville. Columbia county, where he w as a pioneer m er­ chant. He livetl eighteen vears at the H a lf­ w ay house lictwcen likioms^iurg and Berw ick, and there died Ju n e 18, 1859. in his seventieth year. He was a veteran of the w ar o f 1812*