A native of Barnes County, Ludwig John Morth was born April 11, 1908 to Isidore and Theresia Morth. He attended school in Fingal and as a young man became interested in the printing business, where he served under an apprenticeship.
In 1928 he became Editor and Publisher of the Fingal Herald, which at one time, was the official paper of Barnes County. It discontinued publication in 1942 because of World War II.
During the War "Spitz" was employed by the Federal Government in the building of dormitories for Japanese-Americans. One of these relocation camps was located west of Cody, Wyoming.
Early in 1943 he came back to Barnes County and on June 6, 1943 married Miss Leota Jones, of Enderlin, North Dakota, who had come to the community as High School principal, English and Music instructor in the Fingal School. Miss Jones organized boys' and girls' glee clubs and the Fingal School Band. Along with other music educators she helped develop and organize the Barnes County Music Festival which held its first contest in April of 1938. This is an event which continues to serve as a training ground for young musicians.
Throughout the years Leota Morth has continued to give piano, organ and voice lessons in the community, as well as directing the choir for many years, at Messiah Lutheran Church. For ten years she was a 4-H club leader and is now serving as Eastern North Dakota District Treasurer of the American Lutheran Church Women.
In 1944 Spitz began selling gas, oil and his services as a mechanic in the town. It wasn't long before he added nails, bolts and nuts as a sideline. When this hardware business outgrew its location in the former Fingal Herald building, it was moved to the former Olson Drug Company building in 1956.
Spitz's hobby was the raising of fruit and spruce trees as well as ornamentals and roses on the adjoining acreage of his home. Like his mother, Mrs. Isidore Morth, he had a green thumb which turned his property into a garden paradise.
His leadership in the Fingal Community was always evident. He was a school bus driver in the days when the individual had to furnish the bus, make the repairs and provide the fuel. Spitz was also the Village Marshall for a time.
On June 3, 1968 L. J. Morth passed away, leaving his widow and two daughters, Mary Jean, (Mrs. Stephen J. Burkhart) and Grace Morth. As of October 1975, there are two grandchildren, Matthew and Sarah Burkhart.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 164