Cambria County Pioneers, 1910, by James L. Swank, Cambria County, PA - John Fritz, Ironmaster

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                             CAMBRIA COUNTY PIONEERS

                              HON. CYRUS L. PERSHING

              A Collection of Brief Biographical and other Sketches
          Relating to the Early History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

                                 by JAMES M. SWANK

                 PHILADELPHIA: No. 261 SOUTH FOURTH STREET, 1910.

JOHN FRITZ, IRONMASTER.  131

                              JOHN FRITZ, IRONMASTER.

               READ AT THE DINNER TO MR. FRITZ, ON NOVEMBER 17, 1910,
                       BY THE MANUFACTURERS OF PHILADELPHIA.

  MY acquaintance with Mr. Fritz began in 1855, fifty-five years ago, when he 
came to Johnstown as the general superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works, which 
had been leased on May 15 of that year for a term of five years by the firm of 
Wood, Morrell & Co. These works had been built in 1853 and 1854 by the Cambria 
Iron Company as an iron rail mill, with several blast furnaces. They made their 
first rail on July 27, 1854. Only iron rails were made in this country for 
several years afterwards. The lease was extended in 1860 for one year and 
terminated in 1861.
  A great problem confronted Mr. Fritz. He had to so manage the works as to make 
them a financial as well as a mechanical success. He succeeded in both 
undertakings. In 1856, the year following his assumption of this difficult task, 
the Cambria Iron Works rolled 13,206 tons of rails, and their annual production 
was thereafter increased under Mr. Fritz's management. The production in 1856 
was only 5,386 tons less than the largest production of any rail mill in the 
country in that year - the mill of the Phoenix Iron Company rolling 18,592 tons. 
Those were the days of comparatively small outputs at iron and steel works.
  When Mr. Fritz took charge of the Cambria Iron Works he soon discovered that 
good rails could not be made from pig iron that had been made entirely from 
Cambria ores; so, after much tribulation, he introduced a mixture of Cambria and 
other pig iron which worked well and produced good results.
  But Mr. Fritz was not satisfied with the results he was accomplishing. The 
Cambria rail mill was equipped with two-high rolls, and as these could not be 
operated as satisfactorily as was desirable, and besides often invited acci-

132  CAMBRIA COUNTY PIONEERS.

dents, Mr. Fritz conceived the idea of introducing three-high rolls, which had 
never before been used in any country in the manufacture of rails. This was 
done, and on July 3, 1857, the innovation proved to be a great success. Mr. 
Fritz had conspicuously shown his skill as an engineer. Soon there were three-
high trains of rolls in all the rail mills of the country.
  But a great trial came to Mr. Fritz the day after his successful use of three-
high rolls. On July 4 the Cambria Iron Works burned down. We well remember that 
catastrophe. All but the stoutest hearts were appalled. But Mr. Fritz was equal 
to the emergency. He infused courage into the breasts of all his men, and at 
once began the work of clearing away the debris and rebuilding the works. In 
precisely four weeks the new works were running, and they made 30,000 tons of 
rails before any interruption occurred from any cause whatever.
  Mr. Fritz was surrounded at Johnstown by a remarkably bright collection of 
engineers and mechanics, all young men, who gave him loyal support but who also 
learned much from him. They were long known as John Fritz's "boys." We can 
mention only a few of them: Jacob M. Campbell, Alexander Hamilton, George Fritz, 
William R. Jones, Daniel N. Jones, William Canam, James Bell, and Thomas H. 
Lapsley. They are all gone. Robert W. Hunt, the first chemist of the Cambria 
Iron Works, who is with us to-night, came to Johnstown just as Mr. Fritz left 
for Bethlehem.
  Mr. Fritz's connection with the Cambria Iron Works continued until July, 1860, 
when he resigned to superintend the erection and operation of the Bethlehem Iron 
Works, to embrace a number of blast furnaces and a rolling mill to roll iron 
rails. The rolling mill was successfully started in 1863. In 1873 Mr. Fritz 
introduced at these works the manufacture of Bessemer steel and Bessemer steel 
rails, and in 1890 he made for the Navy Department at the works of the Bethlehem 
Steel Company the first heavy armor plate that had ever been made in this 
country. The armor plate plant of this company had been built under Mr. Fritz's 
direction.
  A few years ago Mr. Fritz retired from all active par-

JOHN FRITZ, IRONMASTER.  133

ticipation in the management of iron and steel works, after more than fifty 
years of unbroken success, which success has brought him many honors. Included 
in these honors we may mention honorary membership in the British Iron and Steel 
Institute, which has conferred upon Mr. Fritz the Bessemer gold medal. We may 
also mention a magnificent banquet which was tendered to Mr. Fritz by a large 
number of prominent engineers and iron and steel manufacturers at the Waldorf-
Astoria in New York in October, 1902, in celebration of his 80th birthday 
anniversary.
  But we feel sure that no honor that has ever come to Mr. Fritz has given him 
more heartfelt pleasure than the testimonial which he received at Johnstown on 
July 4, 1860, immediately prior to his departure for his new field of labor at 
Bethlehem. On that day a superb set of silverware was presented to Mr. Fritz at 
the rolling mill of the Cambria Iron Works by the employes of Wood, Morrell & 
Co. Between 1,500 and 2,000 persons were present at the presentation, including 
many ladies. The presence of this army of workmen and citizens testified to the 
esteem in which Mr. Fritz was held by the whole community. The set of silverware 
included a remarkably handsome water pitcher. On it were inscribed these words: 
"To John Fritz, Esq., General Superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works, as a 
Testimonial, by the Employees. July 4, 1860." This pitcher was exhibited at the 
New York crystal palace during the World's Fair in 1853, and it took the first 
premium as the finest piece of silverware among many specimens that had been 
collected from all parts of the world. Several addresses were delivered, Mr. 
Fritz thanking the donors, as the Cambria Tribune said, "in a very feeling, 
frank, and earnest speech."
  The Tribune devoted much space to an account of the testimonial to Mr. Fritz, 
remarking at the close of the account that "the gift is but properly in keeping 
with the measure of the man," and that "in Mr. Fritz the company and this 
community lose a man and citizen whose place is not easily filled." Mr. Fritz 
was then 38 years old. He had been general superintendent of the Cambria Iron 
Works for five years. He was succeeded by his brother, George Fritz.

134  CAMBRIA COUNTY PIONEERS.

  There is one trait in Mr. Fritz's character which does him especial honor - 
his readiness on all occasions to give credit to the thousands of men subject to 
his orders who have contributed by their skill and loyalty to his remarkable 
success. In an address by Mr. Fritz on the 75th anniversary of the Franklin 
Institute of Philadelphia on October 4, 1899, he said: "Here I wish to say that 
I should commit an act of ingratitude should I fail to give credit to the brave 
and noble workmen who throughout my long connection with the business have ever 
stood ready to meet any emergency, no matter what the danger or difficulty might 
be. For the kind and generous manner in which I was always treated by them they 
ever have a green spot in my memory." This is a gracious compliment from Mr. 
Fritz to his old companions in many a bitter struggle with engineering and 
mechanical problems that tested the skill and manhood of all of them, and it is 
most gracefully expressed.
  In the same address, embodying a note of strenuous personal experience, Mr. 
Fritz also said: "How little do the younger men who have charge of the great 
iron and steel industries know or even think of the severe mental strain, the 
great amount of bodily labor, the vexation, the surprises, and the 
disappointments that the men in charge experienced during the perfecting and 
erection of these vast establishments that are now engaged in the manufacture of 
iron and steel."
  We are all glad to see Mr. Fritz looking so well tonight. He has hosts of 
absent friends who would share this pleasure if they were here.* I know of no 
man in the iron trade who has been so universally respected and loved as John 
Fritz. His personal qualities have been as lovable as his engineering 
achievements have been notable.
_____ 

* In a letter to the president of the Manufacturers' Club expressing his regret 
that he could not participate in the testimonial to his old friend Mr. Carnegie 
said: "Pray convey to dear Uncle John my warmest regards and congratulations 
upon his honored old age. Many are the men who on this occasion would join in 
giving three cheers for Uncle John! I am sure he has not an enemy in the world 
and he has given to all of us a noble example."