Ralph A Fritz

Photographer:
Eskelsen & Fritz of Mt. Carroll Ills.
(Also spelled Eskelson in some examples)
This example from LOST GALLERY

Ralph A. Fritz (1865-1946)

Ralph A. Fritz was found in the 1900 US Census listed as a photographer working in Waterloo, IA. In the 1880 US Census he was just 16 and still living with his parents. In the 1901 Waterloo city directory he is listed as photographer. He was 36 at that time.

By 1905 he had moved to South Dakota. In the US Census of 1910 he is listed as a carpenter in Oregon and no records after that indicate he ever returned to photography or Mount Carroll, IL. Roughly then, he was a photographer from about 1885 to about 1905. Exactly when he was working in Mount Carroll, IL, is still unknown. Waterloo is less than 30 miles from Mount Carroll.

In 1900 Christian L. Eskelsen, his wife and three sons lived in Jackson, Iowa, less than 30 miles from Mount Carroll and Waterloo. Any one of the five could have been that short term partner of Fritz.

This quote from the Find-A-Grave website may offer a clue:
“Henry C. Eskelsen, a young man came here about a week ago took suddenly ill at the home of Ralph Fritz on Gales Crest and died in a few hours Tuesday afternoon. Born July 25, 1887 in Iowa and came here from Portland. He leaves a brother Arnold Eskelson at Reedly, Calif.; and father, C. L. Eskelson, Sabula, Iowa. TB was the cause of death.

[Washington County News, 22 Jul 1909]
Coroner's inquest states Mr. Eskelsen died July 20, 1909 at the house of Ralph Fritz of Forest Grove of natural causes, suffering from tuberculosis. He was six foot tall, medium complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. The remains were delivered to V R Limber for burial. A brother, Arnold Eskelsen lives on a ranch at Mount Campbell, Ca. Testimony of Mr. Fritz states he knew the deceased at Mount Carroll, Ill. His mother died about three years ago at Sebula, Iowa of TB”

photographer: Eskelsen and Fritz
Mount Carroll, IL
example from Getz Genealogy Site
(very poor scan)

photographer: Eskleson and Bros
Mt Carroll, IL
example from auction site

The cabinet card at the right is stamped Esklesen of Mount Carroll, IL, AND Lanark, IL.

This ties together the photographer with the two cities.

photographer: Eskelsen
Lanark, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Fritz
Sedalia. MO and Quincy, IL
Example from auction site

The cabinet card at the left looks very modern and Is probably a different Fritz altogether.

Following are some examples from J S Fritz of Reading, PA. This is not the same Fritz of Eskelsen and Fritz of Mt Carroll, IL.

John S Fritz of Reading, PA

photographer: Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from auction site

photographer: Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from pinterest

photographer: Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from pinterest

photographer: J S Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from auction site

photographer: J S Fritz
852 Penn Street, Reading, PA
Example from auction site

photographer: Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from auction site

photographer: Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from auction site

photographer: Fritz
418 North Sixth Street, Reading, PA
Example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of card at left

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.

New examples and additional information are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made. All submissions should be free of glare and shadows. Do not crop. Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.