Peter A. FRITCHMAN is general agent for the
Girard Fire Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and Secretary of
and solicitor for the Freemansburg Building and Loan Association.
He is a Justice of the Peace and Conveyancer, and deals
extensively in real estate. In civic society he holds high rank,
and in political circles as well is favorably known in
Freemansburg, which is his home.
Mr. FRITCHMAN is a native of this borough, where his birth
occurred November 3, 1838. His father, William FRITCHMAN, was also
a native of Northampton County, while his grandfather was born in
this county. His great-grandfather was born in the Fatherland,
having emigrated to America previous to the Revolutionary War,
becoming one of the early settlers in the northern portion of
Northampton County. The father of our subject assisted in building
the Lehigh Canal, and was afterward made a Supervisor of the same.
The wife of William FRITCHMAN was in her maidenhood Christanna
Ehrhart, and her birth also occurred in this county.
Peter A. FRITCHMAN was educated in the Freemansburg public
schools and in the high school at Bethlehem. On the completion of
his studies he taught school for one year, and was only about
sixteen years of age when he engaged in the mercantile business on
a small scale in this borough. Year by year his trade increased
and he succeeded in building up a good business. This in time
became so large that he was obliged to secure more extensive
quarters, and in 1869 he retired from that business. Later he
superintended the building of the Northampton County Prison, and
also the erection of two bridges (one at Broad Street, Bethlehem,
and one at Coplay) for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. For a
time he was engaged in cutting rock, etc., to make way for the
double track of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
In 1875 Mr. FRITCHMAN was elected Justice of the Peace, and has
served as such up to the present time, nearly twenty years. For a
period extending over four years he was Auditor of Northampton
County, the duties of which responsible position he discharged to
the satisfaction of all. For six years he faithfully served as a
Councilman, and for nine years has been one of the School
Directors. In April, 1894, he resigned from his arduous position
as Secretary of the Town Council in which capacity he had acted
for a period of twenty-one years. Foremost in all public
enterprises, he has been a prominent and important factor in the
welfare and activity of Freemansburg, having aided greatly in its
upbuilding.
Fraternally Mr. FRITCHMAN has long been interested in secret
societies and holds membership with a number. He belongs to Huldah
Lodge No. 364, K. of P., of Freemansburg, and was one of the
principal organizers of the lodge in 1872, and since that was
effected has been its representative to the Grand Lodge of the
state. Since 1859 he has been a member of Cradle of Liberty
Council No. 124, O. U. A. M., of this place. He is also a charter
member of Washington Camp No. 429 P. O. S. of A., and a charter
member of Star Castle No. 108, Knights of the Golden Eagle. In
politics he votes with the Democratic party, and religiously is a
member of the Lutheran Church.
In May, 1857, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and
Miss Hannah A. Apple, daughter of ex-Judge Apple, of Bucks County,
Pa, who is now deceased. By their union were born two children,
one of whom is deceased; the other is W. Bion, who resides with
his parents, and is Postmaster of this town. Mr. FRITCHMAN is a
self-made man, having had to make his own way in the world from
early years. He always esteems it a privilege to assist by his
influence, and in all other possible ways, to promote the general
welfare, and has the good of his fellow-townsmen and borough
greatly at heart. When serving in public capacities he is always
faithful and true to all trusts reposed in him, and is greatly
esteemed by those who have had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh,
Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of
the Counties, Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co.,
1894; Pages 508-511.