Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 65

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 > Part 65

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EMANUEL REITZ, son of Leonard, was born Jan. 11, 1860, in Washington township, attended the local distriet schools and spent his youthful days on the home place, working for his parents until he was twenty-one. After he attained his majority he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for fifteen years, in 1896 settling down to farming upon the place where he now lives, in his native township. He takes his produce to Shamokin. Mr. Reitz is a thoroughly progressive farmer and in- terested in the public affairs of his locality as well as in furthering his own prosperity. For twelve years he served as auditor of his township, elected to that office on the Democratic tieket. He is well informed on the early history of his family.

On Jan. 9, 1896, Mr. Reitz married Jane Drum- heller, daughter of Milton and Salome (Reitz). Drumheller, and they have become the parents of five children : One daughter that died in infancy ; Harry Milton ; Katie Susanna and Annie Salome, twins ; and Walter Daniel.

Michael Smith, and she preceded him to the grave, dying Aug. 13, 1874, aged fifty-one years, five months, fifteen days. They are buried at Him- mel's Church, which Mr. Reitz served as deacon. Their family consisted of three children: Eliza- beth married D. S. Reitz and they made their home at White Church, Wyandotte Co., Kans .; Emma inarried Tobias Snyder and they are prosperous farming people of Upper Mahanoy township; James S. married Sarah Snyder.

JAMES S. REITZ, son of Jonas, merchant and postmaster at Greenbrier, Northumberland coun- ty, was born June 10, 1860, in Washington town- ship, was educated in the public schools there and spent his boyhood and youth assisting his father about the tannery. In the spring of 1874 he be- gan farming in Washington township, following that pursuit for seventeen years in his native lo- cality, for two years cultivating his grandfather's homestead and for fifteen years living on the farm now owned by Lewis Snyder in Upper Mahanoy township. In 1902 he engaged in the mercantile business at Greenbrier, succeeding S. S. Smith, and he has since operated his general store and also a

:son that died in infancy ; Lydia, who married John . weekly huckster route to Shamokin, where he mar- Brosius; Emanuel ; one daughter that died in in- kets his produce. This mercantile stand is one of fancy ; John, of Washington township; and Ed- the oldest established in the lower section of the ward, of Washington township.

county, and under Mr. Reitz's management its pat- ronage has grown steadily, his affability and oblig- ing disposition winning him customers and friends from near and far. He has been postmaster since 1902. For six years he served as school director of Upper Mahanoy township, and for three years as assessor of the same township, and he has long been prominent in the local activities of the Dem- ocratie party, having served as delegate to various county conventions. He and his family are Luth- eran members of Himmel's Church, which he has served as deacon and trustee. During the residence of the family in Upper Mahanoy township he was for fifteen years connected with St. John's Church, there, and served as deacon, taking part in the various enterprises and .movements of the church. In fact, he has been thoroughly identified with all the phases of the life of the community as a cit- izen who is willing to give of his time and efforts for the general good.

In 1880 Mr. Reitz married Sarah Snyder, daugh- ter of John and Judith (Diehl) Snyder, of Upper Mahanoy township, and five children have been born to them : Alice, wife of Jesse E. Geist ; John H., who married Minnie A. Falck; Charles E., as-

Jonas Reitz, son of Michael and Magdalena (Eister), was born June 30, 1825, in Washington township, on his father's homestead, and died. sistant postmaster at Greenbrier and also his fa- .April 5, 1902, at Greenbrier, to which place he had ther's assistant in the mercantile business; James moved upon his retirement from active life. He W .; and Flossie J.

long owned and operated a tannery upon the farm now owned by Frank Adam, and was a thrifty Peter Reitz, son of Michael and Magdalena and prosperous man, standing high among his fel- . (Eister), was the grandfather of Daniel N. Reitz, low citizens for his upright and conscientious walk of Lower Augusta township. He was a native of in life. He married Luzetta Smith, daughter of Schwabian Creek, Washington township, spent his

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earlier manhood in Upper Mahanoy township, and up-to-date in all his methods and thrifty in all his later moved to Richfield, Snyder county, where he undertakings. died and is buried. He owned a farm and devoted On June 26, 1886, Mr. Reitz was married to himself to agriculture. Like the family generally, Clara A. Gass, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Dunkelberger) Gass and granddaughter of Peter Dunkelberger, of Little Mahanoy township. They have had three children : Domer A., Clan A. and Ora M. Mr. Reitz and his family are Lutheran members of the Wolf's Cross Road Church in Rock- efeller township. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

he was a Lutheran in religious faith. Mr. Reitz was twice married, and by his first wife had chil- dren as follows: William ; Mrs. William Billig, of Forreston, Ogle Co., Ill .; Ellen, wife of Daniel Crelig (they moved out to Ohio by wagon, and still live in that State) ; Mrs. Michael Schollen- berger, who lived in Snyder county; Mrs. Jacob Bohner, of Uniontown : Mrs. Isaac Fenstermacher, of Georgetown ; Benneville, of Ohio ; and Peter M. To the second marriage were born four children : Elias, late of Sunbury; Mrs. Solomon Banner, of Snyder county; Tobias, of Adamsburg, Pa .; and

Peter M. Reitz, son of Peter, learned. the trade of miller in the original old log mill at Sunbury, this county, eommeneing that work when he was sixteen and following it until he was about thirty- eight years old. During all this time he was at Sunbury, operating what is now known as the Haas mill, one of the early mills of the section. Then he took to farming, owning a place of 100 acres in Rockefeller township, where he was a substantial and respected citizen, deacon, elder and trustee of the Lutheran Church there. He is buried at Eman- uel Evangelical Lutheran Church, known as the Wolf's Cross Road Church.

Mr. Reitz was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Deppen, who is buried at the Lantz Church in Rockefeller township. Two children were born to this union : William Morris, of Irish Valley; and Elizabeth, who married George Dun- kelberger. By his seeond union, to Catharine J. Weiser, daugliter of Peter Weiser, of Mckees Half Falls, Pa., he had seven children: Urias P., now of Rockefeller township : David C., of Sioux City, Iowa ; Jonathan E., of Rockefeller township; Dan- iel N. ; Annie R., married to Frazer Wolf; Katie J., married to' H. E. Miller ; and Laura A., mar- ried to Bert Witmer. The mother of this family, born April 18, 1837, died Oct. 19, 1909.

DANIEL N. REITZ, son of Peter M., was born Nov. 21, 1864, in Rockefeller (then Lower Au- gusta) township. Until he attained his majority he worked for his parents on the farm in his na- tive township, and then learned the carpenter's trade with Daniel Fasold, following that line of work for about fifteen years, in Sunbury. Sha- mokin, and the adjacent portions of Northumber- land eounty. In the spring of 1901 he began to farm in Lower Augusta township, working his own place until 1910, when he sold it and became farm- er for Dr. B. E. Wilkinson, who has one of the best farms in Lower Angusta township. As may be judged from his present responsibilities, Mr. Reitz is an intelligent, modern farmer, enterprising and

Michael Reitz, great-grandfather of Alvin P. Reitz, of Shamokin borough, and of William H. Reitz, of Little Mahanoy township, was a native of Berks county, Pa., and settled in Washington town- Mrs. Simon Schollenberger, late of Snyder county, ship, Northumberland county, in 1790. He died Pa. All this family were born at Swabian Creek. there. Among his children were: Daniel, Jona- than, Michael, Peter, Henry and Samuel.

Henry Reitz, son of Michael, was born in Swabian Creek, Washington township, and there passed his earlier life. later moving to Lower Au- gusta township, where he owned a large farm. After a residence of twenty-two years in that town- ship he returned to Swabian Creek, where he had a small farm, and there he remained until his death, which occurred when he was past ninety. He was a gunsmith as well as farmer and well known in his time. He was a member of the Luth- eran congregation of Himmel's Church, and is buried at that church. One of the progressive eit- izens of his day, he served as inember of the town- ship school board and took an active part in all movements intended for the advancement of the general good.

Mr. Reitz was married four times, his first wife being a Bechtel, his second Maria Dunkelberger (born Dec. 23, 1803, died Jan. 3, 1863), his third a Tschupp and his fourth an Engel (from George- town, this eounty). One daughter was born to the first union, Lovina, who first married a Mr. Eister, later a Mr. Hayes. By his second union there were three children : Sarah, Adam D. and Joseph. There were no children of the third and fourth marriages.

Adam D. Reitz, son of Henry, was born May 6, 1836, in Lower Augusta township, and died Mareh 22, 1885. He is buried at the Union Church in Hollowing Run, in Lower Augusta township. The greater part of the time he was engaged as a la- borer, though he owned a traet of land for some vears. He married Mary Raker, daughter of Wil- liam and Kate (Zartman) Raker, and she survives him, now making her home at Trevorton. She has reached the age of sixty-nine years (1910). Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adam D. Reitz: William H., Dennis and Galen.

WILLIAM H. REITZ, a resident of Little Mahanoy township, was born March 12, 1862. in Lower Au- gusta township, where he was reared, living there

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until he reached the age of sixteen. Little Mahanoy, he worked among farmers until he was twenty-one years old, when he was married and went to Shamokin. There he drove a wagon for Seiler, Zimmerman & Co., for whom he worked seven years and three months. For some months he was fireman for an electric light company, then drove a team for Acker, Schleyman & Co., until his return to Little Mahanoy township, where he purchased a tract of ten acres upon which he built a house and settled .. He raised garden truck and luckstered to Shamokin for eight years, at the end of which time he began working for the Trevorton Coal Land Company, in whose employ he has since continued. He sold his property just mentioned to that company and has since purchased a 126-acre tract near by.

On Feb. 11, 1883, Mr. Reitz married Miranda Peifer, daughter of George Peifer, and they have three children : Sylvan, Victor and Jennie. He and his family are members of Einanuel Lutheran Church in Little Mahanoy. Mr. Reitz has served some years as a school director of that township. He is a Democrat in political faith.

Lutheran Church in Little Mahanoy township. Mr. of Michael, and great-grandson of George, the pi-

Joseph Reitz, son of Henry and brother of Adam D., was born in 1843 at Fisher's Ferry, and died Jan. 21, 1908. He is buried at Emanuel Reitz was a prominent citizen of that township. He was engaged in business as a merchant at Dornsife, and also followed farming, retiring from active work a few years before his death. His effi- cient service in various township offices made him a well known figure in local public affairs, he hav- ing served as member of the school board, over- seer of the poor and supervisor. In religious mat- ters he was a Lutheran. He married Catharine Peifer, daughter of George Peifer, of Little Ma- hanoy township, and she still survives, making her home at Dornsife. Six children were born to this marriage: Daniel P. (who died Aug. 29, 1900, aged thirty-six years, one month). Alvin P., George (of Dornsife), Edward (of Dornsife), Joseph (who is connected with the East End Lumber Com- pany, of Shamokin) and Gertrude (at home).

ALVIN P. REITZ, general manager of the East End Inmber Company of Shamokin, was born in 1867 at Mine Run, in Lower Augusta township, and obtained his early education in the schools of the home locality. Later he studied at Muhlen- berg College, Allentown, Pa. He has since made his home in Shamokin. For a time he was em- ployed as brakeman on a passenger train, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which was the beginning of his present interest in the contracting and building line. . In 1892 he commenced con- tracting, and in 1903 formed a partnership with John D. Hilbush, with whom he is still associated. They did a prosperous business under the firm name of Reitz & Hilbush until 1906, when they

Coming to formed what is now known as the East End Lum- ber Company, incorporating with a capital of $75,- 000. In addition to contracting and building they conduct an extensive planing mill business and re- tail lumber, giving employment in these various lines to a force of eiglity men. The company has its office and business headquarters at No. 301 Franklin street, Shamokin, and is one of the lead- ing concerns of the kind in this section of Penn- sylvania. Its reputation for high-class and thor- oughly up-to-date work is firmly established, and the standing of the individual members of the company is sufficient guarantee for its standards and responsibility. The officers of the company are: F. D. Raker, president; E. Raker, secretary ; J. D. Hilbush, treasurer ; and A. P. Reitz, general manager. Mr. Reitz devotes the greater part of his time and attention to the business of the com- pany, but he is interested in the general business prosperity of the borough, and is a member of the Merchants' Association. Socially he unites with the local lodge of Elks and with the Red Men.

Mr. Reitz married a daughter of Jacob Zartman, of Shamokin, and they have one son, Harry El- wood, who was born in 1901.

David Reitz, son of (Johann) Michael, grandson oneer of the family in Northumberland county, was the grandfather of John L., David W. and Charles J. Reitz, brothers, the first named a busi- ness man of Mount Carmel, the second a resident of Pillow, near Lower Mahanoy township, the last named a resident of Little Mahanoy township.

William Reitz, son of David, has always lived at Greenbrier, in Washington township, in which township his father also lived. William Reitz was a well known merchant of that place during his active years, and is now living retired. He mar- ried Susanna Raker, and to them were born four children : Katie, John L., David W. and Charles J.

JOHN L. REITZ, son of William and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, was born in 1876 near Greenbrier and received his education in the schools of that locality. He was engaged with his father until he came to Mount Carmel, driving a huckster wagon for some time. On March 15, 1900, he settled in Mount Carmel, which has since been his home. Several years later he engaged in the produce business there in partnership with E. R. Reitz, under the firm name of E. R. & J. L. Reitz, later buying out his partner's interest. He has since continued the business on his own account as a wholesale produce dealer, having now the lead- ing trade of the kind in the borongh. Mr. Reitz is located in a fine building near the Reading sta- tion, which he erected in 1902. He is one of the substantial and respected yonng business men of the place, where he has gained high standing and

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the esteein of his fellow citizens by his upright children: Anna C., Lewis (who died in infancy), Katie S. and Edna C.

methods and earnest efforts to cater to the wants of a large and growing patronage. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows and K. of M.

Mr. Reitz married Elizabeth Swalm (also writ- · ten Schwalm), and to them have been born five children : William, Charles, Grace. Katie and Bes- sie. The family are identified with the Reformed Church.

DAVID W. REITZ, son of William and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, was born May 23, 1880. He was reared in the vicinity of Rebuck, and received his education in the schools of that locality. After his service in the Spanish war he began work as a clerk in the store of E. R. Reitz, who was then doing business at Rebuck, remaining with him for six years. He then married and moved to Mount Carmel, where for one year he was employed by his brother John L. Reitz, in the produce business. The next year he and his younger brother, Charles J. Reitz, bought the stock, fixtures and good-will of his former employer, E. R. Reitz, continuing the business at Rebuck for about three years. David W. Reitz was next engaged as proprietor of the "Glenn House," at Lykens, which he bought from Galen & Bingaman, conducting that place for two years, at the end of which time he settled in Uniontown (Pillow), which is just across the Northumberland county line in Dauphin county. Here he became proprietor of the "National Hotel," buying the stock and fixtures from his brother, Charles J. Reitz, and the hotel from Wil- liam H. Deibler. It is one of the old established stands in this section, and draws an excellent pat- ronage from the surrounding territory. Mr. Reitz has gained the confidence and respect of his neigh- bors and patrons by obliging service and upright business methods. During his residence in Wash- ington township he took considerable interest in public affairs, serving as treasurer of the town- ship and as treasurer for the road supervisors, and he was quite active in the work of the Democratic party. He is a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 194, F. & A. M., of Selinsgrove, and of Lodge No. 551, I. O. O. F., of Mahanoy, Pa., which latter organization he joined May 30, 1900. He and his family are Lutheran members of Himmel's Church.

During the Spanish-American war Mr. Reitz enlisted in Company A, 21st Infantry, Regular Army, July 23, 1898, at Shamokin. He served for a time at Fort McPherson, and was returned to that point after being taken ill with typhoid at Lithia Springs, Ga., being eventually granted a furlough until his recovery. After regaining his health he reported at Fort Monroe, thence went to Plattsburg, to rejoin his command, and in Feb- ruary, 1899, received an honorable discharge.

In 1901 Mr. Reitz married Dora Schreffler, daughter of John and Caroline ( Keaffer) Schref- - fler, of Washington township. They have had four

CHARLES J. REITZ, of Dornsife, merchant and proprietor of the "Dornsife Hotel," was born April 30, 1884, at Rebuck, in Washington township, son of William and Susanna ( Raker) Reitz. He was educated in the local schools and when fourteen years old began clerking, his first position being with Samuel Hetrich, at Leck Kill. After two years' employment there he went to Allentown and clerked in several stores there, remaining in that city for several years. Returning to Rebuck hc clerked there two years for E. R. Reitz, until he and his brother David W. formed a partnership under the firm name of Reitz Brothers, and pur- chased the goodwill, stock and fixtures of E. R. Reitz (the lower store). Three years later Charles J. Reitz bought his brother's interest and for one years continued the store alone. The next year he was at Pillow, where he conducted the "National Hotel" for one year, and then purchased the stock, good-will and fixtures of Fred R. Dornsife at Dornsife, where he is now doing a thriving mer- cantile business. He carries a comprehensive gen- eral stock, and employs two clerks. His hotel business is also prospering, and he is considered one of the rising young business men of the place.

On March 17, 1903, Mr. Reitz married Bertha M. Hetrich, daughter of Charles and Alice (Lat- sha) Hetrich, and they have had one child, IIar- old W. The family arc Lutheran members of Hin- mel's Church. Mr. Reitz is well known in the fra- ternities as a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 194, F. & A. M., of Selinsgrove; of Mahanoy Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F .; of Livingston Castle, No. 258, K. G. E., of Allentown; and of the State Grange at Greenbrier. He is a Democrat in politics and has taken some part in local affairs, having served as treasurer for the road supervisors and overseers of the poor of Washington township.

Jacob Reitz, grandfather of Daniel Z. Reitz, of Little Mahanoy township, was born in Washing- ton township in the Himmel Church neighbor- hood, son of Andraes Reitz. He lived on the farm now owned by Andrew Bueher, near St. Peter's Church, followed agricultural pursuits, and died there; he is buried. at St. Peter's Church at Ma- hanoy: He and his wife, Mary ( Hepler), had children as follows: Jacob, Benjamin, Daniel H., Samuel, Isaac (married Lydia Lenker, born July 18, 1825, died March 5, 1852), Joseph, Zetic (1829-1855), Catharine (married John Fegley), Maricha (married George Miller), Lydia (mar- ried Henry Dressler) and Mrs. Seiler.

Daniel H. Reitz, son of Jacob, was born in Washington township, and lived on the place in Little Mahanoy now owned and occupied by his son Daniel. Ile cultivated that place, a tract of 100 acres, but he was best known as a carpenter,

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which trade he followed practically all his life. In No services have been held there since 1905. Rev. this capacity he built inany houses and barns in Ralph Deibert was the last pastor.

his earlier manhood, later doing shop work, mak- ing chairs and other furniture, and as he was a

SHAFFER OR SCHAFFER. The Northum- very skillful workman he also made coffins, which berland county family bearing this name, in the was a great advantage, as he had considerable busi- Mahanoy region and in Jordan township, was es- ness in the undertaking' line; he was called upon tablished in that section before the organization to bury many people. He was also active in local of the county, in 1772, and was founded in Amer- ica by Frantz Schäffer. The first two or three generations in this country lived about the Stone

public matters, serving as supervisor and as over- seer of the poor, and he and his family were lead- ing members of St. John's United Evangelical Valley Church, and the valley to this day is known .Church in Little Mahanoy township, which he to the older residents as "Schaffersdale." Nearly served as class-leader and exhorter. In politics he all the land in one section of Lower Mahanoy town- was a Democrat until the breaking out of the Civil ship was owned by members of this family. The war, after which he joined the Republican party. name is found with various spellings, the most

Mr. Reitz married Harriet Zartman, daughter common forms being Shaffer, Shafer, Schaffer and Schafer. This family has no connection, so far as is known, with the Schaeffer family of Berks of William Zartman (whose wife was a Herb), and .she survived him, dying Jan. 21, 1899, aged eighty- three years, four months, nineteen days. Mr. county, Pa., of which Rev. Nathan C. Schaeffer, Reitz died May 13, 1889, aged seventy-five years, Ph. D., D. D., superintendent of public instruc- nine months, twelve days, and they are buried tion of Pennsylvania, is a member; nor with the' at the church above mentioned. They were the Schaffers well represented across the Susquehanna parents of thirteen children: One son died in river, in Snyder county.

infancy ; Amanda died young; Eliza died young ; Elemina is unmarried ; Harriet married Jeremiah Wagner; Isaac is a resident of Uniontown, Pa .; Sarah married Isaac Baddorf; Abby married Jer- emiah Weaver : Daniel Z. is mentioned below ; Lu- cinda married Reily Heckert ; Mary Ann died aged thirteen years; Rebecca married Alfred Baker; one son died in infancy. Frantz Schäffer and his wife Elisabetha, of Ger- many, had two sons, Jacob Conrad and Wilhelm. Frantz Schäffer determined to try his fortunes in America, but his wife was steadfastly resolved to remain in the Fatherland. So settled was each in the conviction of right that they divided their worldly effects with the idea of separating, the father to have the elder son to accompany him to DANIEL Z. REITZ was born Nov. 28, 1851, on the farm in Little Mahanoy township where he still makes his home. He received his education in the local schools and was reared to farming, after he was twenty-one receiving pay for his services until the New World, the mother to keep the younger boy, Wilhelm. The wife and son Wilhelm accom- panied the father and elder son to the port of embarkation. The vessel was receiving its pas- sengers. But when the time came to say good- he reached the age of twenty-six, when he took bye the wife weakened. The memories of happy charge of the place, running it ten years for his and pleasant days in the past could not be shaken father. After his father's death he cultivated it off so casily. She concluded that if her husband ten years for his widowed mother, and since about could support himself and one son he could, also 1899 he lias farmed it on his own account, being support her and the other son, with her help, and she joined him in the journey at the last moment. now the owner of the property. He is a progress- ive agriculturist, and has made a number of im- They landed at Philadelphia, before the opening provements on the place, which is in excellent con- of the Revolutionary war, and before 1800 they dition. Mr. Reitz has proved himself an intelli- were settled in what is now Lower Mahanoy town- gent and useful citizen, and has served in the ship, Northumberland Co ... Pa., in the vicinity of various offices of school director, supervisor and Zion's Church in Stone Valley, in the graveyard of auditor with satisfaction to all concerned.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 65

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co. Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1024