He was the eighth child in a family of eleven children born to John and Susan (Linn) Fritchman.

A student at public school in Andrew County, Fritchman learned to read from McGuffey Readers, and he studied Ray's Arithmetic.

He became a commercial traveler selling wholesale merchandise for Nave & McCord, later for various employers, and his work brought him to Idaho in 1888.

[3] Fritchman built a 2-story warehouse in 1910 and operated a wholesale merchandise and grocery company, acting as agent for 30 manufacturers.

The new firm operated briefly under the name, Fritchman-Atkinson Co.,[6] then as Reilly Atkinson & Co.[7] The Boise Stone Company at Table Rock was organized in 1912 with Fritchman as general manager.