Thomas H. Fritts
THOMAS H. FRITTS, -- Well known in Grand Island, became interested in the electical business about a quarter century ago, and continues today. He is vice-president of the central Power Company of Grand Island. Thomas H. Fritts was born in Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska, November 3, 1872, a son of Gideon and Martha A. (Cockrell) Fritts. They were born and married in Ohio, moving from there to Burt County, Nebraska, in the early sixties. The father acquired land on which he lived until his death in 1912, which occurred at the age of eighty-four years. The mother still lives on the old home place. Of their seven children the following survive: William J., who lives on the old homestead in Burt County; Mary, the wife of F. O. Eckleen, a retired citizen of Lyons; Sylvia, the wife of E. B. Senter of Omaha; Thomas H., who has lived in Grand Island for the past thirteen years; and Arcelia, who lives with her mother in Burt County. Gideon Fritts was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Burt County and the first organized meeting was held in his house. He gave liberally for church purposes and was one of the largest donors to the church which yet stands on East Main street, Lyons. In his political convictions he was a Democrat. Before coming to Nebraska as a permanent resident, he has been a soldier in the Civil War and as long as he lived was a rigid supporter of temperance, law and order.
Thomas Fritts married in March, 1891, Miss Josephine Higley, who was born at Decatur, Nebraska, a daughter of Lewis D. Higley, who settled in the early eighties, in Burt County. They are the parents of two children; Victor, connected with the Western Electric Comany of Chicago, and Bernadine, the wife of Robert F. Pheiffer, who is manager of the Central Power Company in Kearney, Nebraska.
Submitted by Kaylynn <History of Hall County, Buechler, Barr and Stough, published 1916>