Conrad Kritzer

Conrad Kritzer

CONRAD KRITZER, farmer, section 10, Ashland Township, was born in Germany, Jan. 26, 1838, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Moll) Kritzer, also natives of Germany. He was educated in his native land, and when 17 years old came to the United States and found employ as a farm laborer in Lisbon, Ottawa County. Two years later he went to Illinois, and after a ddelay there of some months' duration he returned to Michigan, and i 1865 located on 80 acres of finely timbered land, most of which he has already placed under good improvements, with unusually good farm buildings.

He enlisted June 10, 1861, in the 3d Mich. Inf. The regiment was assigned to the command of General Sigel, Corps commander of the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Kritzer was a participant in the first battle of Bull's Run, Fredericksburg and Fair Oaks, where he was captured, held some time and was finally exchanged. He was in the fights at Yorktown and at Chancellorsville. At the latter engagement he was injured by a fall from the breastworks and was transferred to the "Invalid Corps," to which he was attached until June 20, 1864, when he was discharged.

He was married June 4, 1868, in the City of Grand Rapids, to Elizabeth, daughter of Valentine and Catherine (Ritz) Shafer. She was born in Germany, April 15, 1846. She grew up and was educated in Neiderstoll, and at 20 years of age set out alone to the United Stats and became an inmate of the family of her uncle at Lowell, Mich. She remained there two years, when she came to Grand Rapids and resided there until her marriage. All the children, five in number, born to Mr. and Mrs. Kritzer, are living. They are Matilda, born March 25, 1867; John, Feb. 12, 1870; Charles H., April 12, 1873; Mary E., Jan. 12, 1876; Maggie, March 28, 1879. Both parents belong to the P.H., Lodge No. 545, Ashland Center. Mr. Kritzer is a member of Lodge No. 331, I.O.O.F., at Ashland Center, and is a Republican.

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