Martha Zimmerman 
 
the place chosen for the ferries would have been used as a 
common crossing by the Native Americans. Common rates in 
the late 1800's were five cents for a foot passenger, twenty five 
cents for a horse or mule without a rider, forty cents for a team 
of horses or oxen. Rates doubled after dark, but young people 
still went over to Castle Rock in Juneau County for dances. 
Edward and Sarah (Smith) Feldman of Quincy went to 
Mauston for supplies and to catch the train since the railroad 
had not yet come to Adams. 
In the early 1900's Charles was working in Illinois. He 
joined the National Guard during the Spanish American War. 
In 1902 Charles came back to Adams County to marry 
Martha Zimmerman. The Zimmerman family lived on the 
farm on Fern Avenue and County Trunk Z that would later be 
known as the Fritz farm. Charles and Martha were married in 
that farmhouse on February 4, 1902 at 8:30 pm. Reverend 
Martin Hasz of the Quincy Lutheran Church officiated. 
Martha Amelia (Zimmerman) Fritz was born in Danzig, 
Prussia, now a part of Poland, on October 19, 1884 to Louisa 
(Suchland) Zimmerman (1857-1937) and Julius Zimmerman 
(1854-1922). They came to America in 1886. They lived in 
Chicago for five years, then came to Adams County to 
purchase the farm on Fern Avenue and County Trunk Z. In 
1902 Charles and Martha purchased the farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
Zimmerman moved to the Juneau County area. 
Martha and Charles lived on that farm and raised their 
family: Arnold Julius (1903-1976), Olive Mary (1904-1915), 
 
Agnes Elizabeth (1905-1993), Carl Anton (1908-1964), and 
Clifford John (1916-1920). They farmed in the Town of 
Springville until 1925. They then moved to Church Street in 
Wisconsin Dells to semi-retire. Martha worked in the Dells 
Laundry while Charles did carpenter work and continued to 
thresh for the farmers in Springville and Quincy with his steam 
engine and threshing machine. He threshed for Ernest Heitman, 
John Dehmlow, Willie Anklam, and John Avery in the Town of 
Quincy and Chris Byers and John Zentner in the Town of 
Springville. They were very active in the Trinity Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Dells. Charles died April 19, 
1953 at the age of 89 and Martha died March 28, 1966 at 81. 
Olive and Clifford died as children. 
Agnes Elizabeth married Marvin Kite June 22, 1929. They 
had one daughter Carol Ann Kite born April 15, 1945. They 
lived in Madison. 
Carl Anton married Doris Ellenor Thoren on June 9, 1934. 
They had six children. Wayne Carl (May 31, 1935); Nesta 
Karen (April 21, 1937); Neil Thoren (June 26, 1940); Bruce 
Donald (January 4, 1945); Gary Thomas (March 9, 1952); and 
Wyatt Jon (January 1, 1956). Carl and Doris lived in Milwaukee 
most of their lives. They were both killed in an auto accident 
October 24, 1964. 
Arnold Fritz, the oldest son of Charles and Martha Fritz, 
attended Point Bluff School. He worked at various jobs as well 
as working on the farm. On October 18, 1925, at St. John's 
Lutheran in Quincy, he married Anna Marie Christensen, 
daughter of Dusine (Hansen) Christensen (1875-1936) and 
Andrew Christensen (1870-1950). Arnold and Anna now own 
the farm on Fern Avenue and County Trunk Z. Arnold often 
hired Hiram Maxey to work by the day. The Maxey's were 
among the first colored families to come to Adams County. 
Three children were, born into this marriage. Arnold A. 
Fritz Jr. (1926); Wilbur H. Fritz (1928); and Adeline Christina 
(1930-1987). 
Arnold and Anna left the farm in 1955. They moved to 
Adams. Arnold worked as a custodian at the Adams-Friendship 
High School until 1967. He was active in the Credit Union, the 
Farmer's Union, and the Immanuel Lutheran Church. In later 
years he made the daily trip to get the mail, but first he enjoyed 
a game of Pinochle at the round table in the back of Rank's bar. 
Anna was a Grey Lady at the Tomah VA Hospital. She was 
always busy catering to her beautiful violets, crocheting, or 
making her famous buttermilk doughnuts. 
Arnold died June 18, 1976 and Anna passed away on 
November 30, 1978. 
Adeline Fritz married Louis Harding on December 11, 
1949 in St. John's Lutheran Church in Quincy. They had three 
sons. Gary (1951); Bryan (1953); and Larry (1961). They live 
near Gurnee, Illinois. Adeline died May 10, 1987. 
Arnold A. Fritz (Arnie) married Jean R. Kiesling on 
August 6, 1949. They have one son, Steve (1957). They added 
their Godson, Wyatt Fritz, son of Carl and Doris Fritz, to their 
family in 1967 after the death of his parents. Arnold and Jean 
live in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Arnie retired after 37 
years with the Wood County Highway Department. Jean retired 
 
from teaching after 42 years. They are enjoying their three 
grandsons and have traveled extensively since retiring. 
 
216