Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 537  

PROF. E. H. FRITCH is President of the Southwestern Business College, of Wichita. This institution justly ranks among the best of its kind in the West, and offers superior facilities to those desiring a thorough and practical business education. Prof. Fritch was born in Deerfield, Lake Co., Ill., Dec. 17, 1858, and is a son of Frederic and Barbara (Strublen) Fritch, natives of Elso, Germany, where the father's birth took place in 1819, and the mother's in 1810.

            Mr. Fritch crossed the waters to America in 1832, and first settled in Warren, Warren Co.; Pa., where he engaged in farming. In 1844 he removed with his family to Deerfield Township, Lake Co., Ill., where he purchased a farm, which he continued to manage there with good success until 1878. In due time he became, through his intelligence, honesty, and industry, one of the influential and wealthy citizens of the county, which high and honorable position he still maintains. In 1878 he removed with his wife and children to the village of Deerfield, where he has since been engaged in the loan and real-estate business. His worthy and devoted companion departed this life in 1880. She was a sincere Christian, and a member of the Evangelical Church, as is also her husband. To them had been born nine children, of whom six are living: Saloma, Mrs. M. Knapp; Mary, Mrs. G. Miller; Maggie, Mrs. R. Brush; Sarah, Mrs. H. Plagge; Carrie, Mrs. C. Kiest; and the subject of this sketch. The father gave to these children a fine education.

            Prof. Fritch remained on his father's farm until he was eighteen years of age, receiving in the meantime a substantial foundation for an education in the district school. At that age his father sent him to Naperville College for two years, and thence he was sent to the State Normal University at Normal, McLean Co., Ill., where he studied for over two years. Then, his superior scholarship gaining for him the approval of the authorities of the institution, he was asked to become a teacher in the College of Commerce, at that time connected with the university, while still continuing to be a student in the Normal Department. He availed himself of this privilege, taught there one year, and was also engaged in teaching in his vacations, and was graduated from the university in 1882. Subsequently he studied penmanship with Prof. D. L. Musselman at Quincy, Ill., in the Glen City Business College. He afterward went from Bloomington to the Quincy Business College, took a course in penmanship, was graduated in November, 1882, and continued there in charge of the Department of Penmanship until the last of February, 1883. From there he went to St. Louis to teach bookkeeping in Johnson's Commercial College three hours each day, and the remainder of the time he was engaged as an expert book-keeper in opening books and closing accounts for banking merchants and in railway offices. He remained in St. Louis until May 1, 1885, and then came to Wichita for the purpose of establishing a commercial school, and on the 8th of June opened the Southwestern Business College to the public. His success has been unequaled, and his school has steadily gained in favor; for the first year 230 pupils were enrolled, and the next year the number had increased to 452.

            Our subject was united in marriage, in 1887, to Miss Beulah M. Miller, of Philadelphia, Pa., a daughter of Daniel Miller. Their pleasant residence is on the corner of Hydraulic and Hunter avenues. The Professor's office is in Noble Block. He has also been financially successful since making his home in this metropolis, and is now a stockholder in the Texas Lumbering and Manufacturing Company, of Wichita, besides owning other property. In politics he is a Republican.

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