He returned for his sophomore year at UND in 1909, and played an integral role in the Sock and Buskin Club's production of Twelfth Night. He was successful in Billings, and this experience gave him confidence and a desire to travel more. He made extra income selling tourist-tickets to Wyoming for commission. Following his freshman year, he jumped a freight train to Billings, Montana and worked at the Grand Hotel in exchange for his board. While at the University, Fritz practiced declamation and debate with the Ad Altoria Literary Society and pledged the Varsity Bachelor's Club. Fritz graduated as valedictorian of his class at Lidgerwood High School in June 1908 and enrolled at UND that fall. He won this contest as well, which carried a prize of $12. In May 1908, Fritz won the fifth annual Lidgerwood High School Declamatory Contest, which qualified him to represent the town in the statewide contest, held at the University of North Dakota. In his biography, he states, 'I have been self-supporting since I was 12 years old.'įritz credited his intellectual and competitive spirit to the influence of the Macdonalds. Chester Fritz worked on the Pagel farm west of town, earning $1 a day. During summers he went to Chaffee, North Dakota to visit his father. While in Lidgerwood, he paid $8 a month for board and worked odd jobs as well as attending school. They provided an active and scholastic environment for Chester. Macdonald, who was Superintendent of Schools in Lidgerwood. This prompted Chester Fritz to move to Lidgerwood, North Dakota, to live with his mother's sister, Kathrine (Belanger) Macdonald, who was Principal of Lidgerwood High School, and her husband Neil C. These tales of success attained through self-discipline and virtue instilled a belief that he could be prosperous through his own determination, despite undesirable living conditions or circumstances.Īnne Fritz left the family in February 1905 and was never seen nor heard from again.

In January 1903, when the Fargo Carnegie Public Library opened, Chester Fritz began visiting daily, reading history and war novels, but also the novels of Horatio Alger.

A farming accident in 1902 that left Charles permanently disabled forced Anne to take on work as a clerk and bookkeeper, and circumstances for the family were meager. The family moved to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1898, where Charles worked intermittently. He was the first and only surviving child of Charles and Anne (Belanger) Fritz. Chester Fritz was born March 25, 1892, in Buxton, North Dakota.

Chester and fritz chess