Hired himself out as farm laborer at age 13, attending school in winter. He was converted in 1865, during the great revival at Newton, New Jersey. He united with the Presbyterian Church and soon after, at the age of 16, felt called to preach the Gospel.

He accordingly entered the Newton Collegiate Institute January 3, 1867 with preparation for ministry in Presbyterian church in his life work plan. Taught school in winter of 1868 at Mount Benevolence, Sussex County, New Jersey. Due to differences and disagreements with the doctrines of the Presbyterian church, he subsequently united with the Methodist Episcopal church, July 4, 1868. He was licensed an exhorter October 18, 1869, and a local preacher March 7, 1870. In September 1870 he went to Ohio and attended the Mennonite Seminary at Wadsworth for a year.

After visiting friends in Canada, he returned east in the fall of 1872. In the spring of 1872 he was appointed pastor of Middle Smithville charge, in Monroe and Pike Counties, Pennsylvania, by Rev. N. Vansant, P. E. His labors as pastor of this charge were attended with great spiritual success. He conducted several revival meetings and received into the churches under his care 121 souls.

His pastorates included: Middle Smithville, Monroe and Pike County, Pa. 1872, Stockholm, New Jersey 1873, Libertyville and Coleville 1874, Unionville and Westtown, New York 1875.

In the fall of 1876 he attended Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania. Other ministries included Hamburgh and Ogdensburg 1877. Hurdtown and Hopatcong 1878-1879.

In 1880 he built a home and went to farming along with ministry at other parishes including Longwood, Dodge Mine, and West Milton, New Jersey. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop John F. Hurst, April 2, 1882, and Elder by Bishop Charles H. Fowler, April 1, 1888.

Rev. A.J. Fretz had many other interests. In August 1890 he was appointed Township Clerk and later Assessor to fill vacancies. In the spring of 1891 he received the Republican nomination for Township clerkm and was elected, receiving every Republican vote except one, and several Democratic votes, and was re-elected Township Clerk by the unanimous vote of his party, March 8, 1892. He continued in this office until 1902 when he became Justice of the Peace. He served for over 30 years as official capacity in Sunday School work in Methodist Church association and other leadership roles in his denomination.

A most important contribution he made to many was through his interest in genealogy and he became a recognized professional in this effort. In the Summer of 1888 he began compiling family histories and during the period from this date to 1909, Rev. Fretz completed no less than 14 such family histories listed as follows (with Library of Congress number and the date published):

#2399 - 1890 - FRETZ, John and Christian of Bucks County, Pa.
#3635 - 1892 - KRATZ, John Valentine
#6830 - 1893 - WISMER, Jacob
#4449 - 1896 - MOYER (MEYER-MYER[S]), Christian and Hans
#2423 - 1899 - FUNCK (FUNK)
#5884 - 1899 - STOVER (STAUFFER), Henry of Pa.
# 489 - 1903 - BEIDLER (BEITLER), Jacob of Milford Township, Pa.
#4480 - 1903 - NASH, William of Bucks County, Pa.
#4571 - 1903 - OBERHOLTZER, Martin
#3013 - 1905 - HEADLEY, Leonard of Elizabethtown, New Jersey
#5281 - 1906 - ROSENBERGER, Henry of Franconia, Montgomery County, Pa.
#5966 - 1906 - SWARTLEY FAMILY of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pa.
#1185 - 1907 - CHAMBERLAIN, Benjamin of Sussex County, New Jersey
#4506 - 1908 - NEWBAKER, Andrew of Hardwick Township, Warren County, New Jersey
#4450 - 1909 - MOYER FAMILY (Supplement?)


from Meyer book of 1896 (page 482 - 484)

At the age of 13 years he left home and served as farm laborer, attending school in Winter.

He was converted in 1865 during the great revival at Newton, N. J. He united with the Presbyterian church, and soon after felt called upon to preach the Gospel. Accordingly he entered the Newton Collegiate Institute January 3, 1867, with the ministry of the Presbyterian church in view. In the Winter of 1868 he taught school at Mount Benevolence, Sussex county, N. J.

Disagreeing with the doctrines of the Presbyterian church subsequently united with the Methodist Episcopal church July 4, 1868. He was licensed an exhorter October 18, 1869, and a local preacher March 7, 1870. In September 1870 he went to Ohio and attended the Mennonite Seminary at Wadsworth for one year. After visiting friends in Canada, he returned east in the Fall of 1872. In the Spring of this year (1872) he was appointed pastor of Middle Smithfield charge, in Monroe and Pike counties, Pa., by Rev. N. Vansant, P. E. His labors as pastor of this charge were attended with great spiritual success. He conducted several revival meetings and received into the churches under his care 121 converts. Since then he has served as pastor of the following charges: Stockholm, N. J., 1873; Libertyville and Coleville, 1874; Unionville and Westown, N. Y., 1875.

In the Fall of 1876 he attended Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pa. He was appointed to Hamburg and Ogdensburgh in 1877; Hurdtown and Hopatcong, 1878-79. In 1880 he built a house and engaged in farming, which he has since followed in connection with the ministry. He has since served as pastor at the following places: Longwood and Berkshire, 1881; Longwood, 1882-83; Dodge Mine, 1884-87; Dodge Mine and Longwood, 1888; West Milford, 1889-90; Longwood and Dodge Mine, 1891. He was ordained deacon by Bishop John F. Hurst April 2, 1882, and elder by Bishop Charles H. Fowler April 1, 1888.

He was mrd. to Elizabeth C. Headley, (*) daughter of Joseph and Almeda Headley, of Milton, N. J., November 14, 1877. In August 1890 he was appointed Township Clerk and later Assessor to fill vacancies. In the Spring of 1891 he received the Republican nomination for Township Clerk, was elected and re-elected at subsequent town meetings, serving in that office up to the present time. He is the author of the Fretz, Kratz, Wismer, Funk, and other family histories.

• Married: 14 NOV 1877 ³

1. Mary Headley Fretz b: 13 DEC 1878 in Morris County, New Jersey
2. Joseph Martin Fretz b: 27 SEP 1881
3. Ervin Kratz Fretz b: 19 DEC 1883

1. Title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Harleysville, Pennsylvania: News Printing House. 1896.
   Note: full title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers Together with Historical and Biographical Sketches, Illustrated with Eighty-seven Portraits and Other Illustrations
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: page 482
2. Title: A Brief History of John Valentine KRATZ and a Complete Genealogical Family Register with Biographies of his Descendants
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Elkhart, Indiana: Mennonite Publishing Co., 1892.
   Note: full title: A Brief History of John Valentine Kratz, and a complete genealogical register with biographies of his descendants from the earliest available record to the present time. With portraits and other illustrations.
   Repository:
   Media: Book
3. Title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Harleysville, Pennsylvania: News Printing House. 1896.
   Note: full title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers Together with Historical and Biographical Sketches, Illustrated with Eighty-seven Portraits and Other Illustrations
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: page 484