reitz documents

documents/reitz-history-and-record-book.md

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+# THE REITZ FAMILY HISTORY AND RECORD BOOK
+compiled by the Rev. J. J. Reitz
+
+THE AUTHOR.
+(Rev. J. J. Reitz, A.B., M.D.)
+
+Walnutport, Pa.
+1930
+REITZ NATIVE LAND
+
+It has long been a foremost question among the many Reitz people, especially of the present
+generation, from what land or country their ancestors came. Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz, the
+progenitor of most of the Reitzes in Lehigh Co., Pa. and adjacent parts elsewhere, who landed at
+Philadelphia, Pa. Sept. 7, 1748, came from the southwestern part of Germany. We consider
+ourselves very fortunate in having secured copies of the official records tracing the Reitz lineage
+completely back to 1690, some of which will be presented in this book. Johan Friedrich Reitz
+emigrated in 1748 from Florsbach, at that time in the principality of Hanau, but now (1930) in the
+District of Gelnhausen, Reg. Bez. Kassel, Province of Hessen-Nassau, belonging to Prussia,
+Germany; and from thence he came to Philadelphia, Pa. The location is several miles east of the city
+of Hanau and about 40 miles east of the large city of Frankfurt-on-the-Main, Germany. The
+Germans kept very complete and satisfactory records for centuries, especially in their churches where
+clergymen were paid state officials whose duty, among other things, was to make and preserve careful
+complete family records.
+
+1690 GENEALOGY
+
+The ancestors of the Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz, who came to Philadelphia Sept. 7, 1748,
+as taken from the official records of the Florsbach and Kempfenbrunn Lutheran Church Parish, in
+the District of Gelnhausen, Hessen-Nassau, Germany.
+JOHANNES REITZ, was the great-grandfather of Johan Friedrich Reitz, and lived at 1690
+at Rohrig, in the Biebergrund parish, District of Gelnhausen, and not far from Florsbach, which is
+several miles east of the city of Hanau, Germany.
+JOHANNES REITZ, son of Johannes Reitz of Rohrig, now belonging to the Bieber
+Lutheran Church, in the district of Gelnhausen, and Anna Barbara Friedrich, daughter of Stoffel
+Friedrich of Lohrhaupten, Seulbach, held their engagement services Jan. 15, 1690, and their
+marriage ceremony Feb. 11, 1690. They were the grandparents of Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz.
+JOHANNES PETER REITZ, (also called Hans Peter, Johann Peter, or only Peter), son
+of Johannes and Anna Barbara (Friedrich) Reitz, of Rohrig (now Bieber Luth. Church) Gelnhausen,
+born Dec. 3, 1690, baptized the same day, the sponsor being Peter Freund, son of Hans Freund (a
+smith or tailor). Married Jan. 4, 1715 Magdalena Weygand, born on the day of Simonis and Judae,
+1687, daughter of Niclas Weygand, of Lohrhaupten, baptized on the same day, the sponsor being
+Magdalena, housewife of Peter Kesler. Johannes Peter Reitz died and was buried Dec. 2, 1732, aged
+41 years. His wife Magdalena (Weygand) Reitz died and was buried A.D. 1740, aged 53 years.
+They lived at Lohrhaupten and were the parents of Johan Friedrich Reitz.
+JOHANN FRIEDRICH REITZ, (the Pioneer) son of Johannes Peter and Magdalena
+(Weygand) Reitz of Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, born and baptized Aug. 22, 1721, the sponsor was
+Joh. Friedenberger, single; married Nov. 29, 1746, during public service in the church, Anna
+Margaretha Steigerwalt of Florsbach; she was born and baptized Feb. 20, 1719, the sponsor being
+Anna Margaretha, the wife of Henrich Samers of Florsbach. He was a mason by occupation. They
+lived at Florsbach til they emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1748.
+Rev. George Maldfeld, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran parish of the churches of
+Kempfenbrunn and Florsbach, writes as follows: "Florsbach, Kempfenbrunn , Lohrhaupten in former
+times belonged together as one parish. These places and Bieber (with Gassen and Rohrig-
+Biebergrund) are the only Evangelical Lutheran Parishes in Spessart in this part of the country; they
+belonged formerly to the Earldom, of Hanau, while now they belong to the District of Gelnhausen.
+In Lohrhaupten the name Reitz has all died out, while in Florsbach it appears manifoldly yet at this
+day. The name was also brought over from Rohrig to Lohrhaupten only through the marriage of Joh.
+Reitz to that place, while it has remained in Florsbach, even though it is not found there before
+1745."
+From the church records at this place it is clearly established that the emigrant Johann
+Friedrich Reitz emigrated from Florsbach in 1748 with his wife and only one child. This child, a
+little son (Johann Henrich?) as verified by the church record was born Feb. 12, 1747, only one year
+before their emigration. The church records also show that Johann Friedrich Reitz, son of Johannes
+Peter (also called Hans Peter, Johann Peter, or only Peter) and Magdalena (Weygand or Weigandt)
+Reitz, had yet four brothers of whom the name of one was Johann George Reitz, born Feb. 5, 1726.
+The official church records of Kempfenbrunn and Florsbach also state that "In the years
+1748 to 1754 and in 1766, 167 persons emigrated to Pennsylvania from Florsbach and
+Kempfenbrunn, or from 1748 to 1754, 90 persons (1748, 22 persons; 1749, 2; 1750, 24; 1751,
+32; 1752, 2 and 1754, 8), and in 1766, 77 persons." This reduced the population of these two
+towns about 20 percent. The list of emigrants for the aforenamed years follows:
+
+1748, FROM FLORSBACH:
+Hans Kunkle with wife and 6 children.
+George Steigerwald with wife and 3 children.
+FRIEDRICH REITZ WITH WIFE AND 1 CHILD
+Eberhard Kunkle.
+Catharina Keyserin with 1 child.
+
+FROM KEMPFENBRUNN:
+Johann Adam Dietrich.
+Peter Kohler.
+Margaretha Uhlin.
+
+1749, FROM FLORSBACH:
+Peter Steigerwald, son Johannes Steigerwald.
+Johannes Steigerwald, son of Melchior Steigerald.
+
+1750, FROM FLORSBACH:
+George Kunkle with wife and 3 children.
+Johannes Huth with wife and 4 children.
+Elisabeth Kleinfellerin with 1 child.
+Andreas Schuster, Wehl, son of George Schuster.
+Melchior Kleinfeller, son of Hans Peter Kleinfeller.
+Eberhard Steigerwald, stepson of Melchior Kunkle.
+FROM KEMPFENBRUNN:
+Peter Hartman with wife and 4 children.
+Anna Maria Fischerin, daughter of Henrich Fischer.
+Friedrich Steinberger, son of Casper Steinberger.
+
+1751, FROM FLORSBACH:
+Lorenz Kunkle with wife and 1 child.
+Hans Peter Klienfeller with wife and 1 child.
+Magdalena Kayserin with 1 child.
+Regina Kayserin with 1 child.
+Hans Adam Koch with 1 wife and 5 children.
+Anna Maria Dietrichin, daughter of Peter Dietrich.
+
+FROM KEMPFENBRUNN:
+Michael Fischer, Jr., with wife and 3 children.
+Peter Herr with wife and 2 children.
+Philipp Dill.
+
+1752, FROM KEMPFENBRUNN:
+Johannes Hartman and his wife.
+
+1754, FROM FLORSBACH:
+Johannes Schuster.
+
+FROM KEMPFENBRUNN:
+Nicolaus Keppler with wife and 2 children.
+Philipp Lindenberger's sons, Adam and Michel.
+Magdalena, daughter of Casper Steinberger.
+
+DEPARTED FOR PENNSYLVANIA IN 1766
+FROM KEMPFENBRUNN:
+Michael Kohler with woman and 2 children.
+Johannes steingerger with wife and 4 children.
+Henrich Heuser with wife and 1 child.
+Margareta Kohlerin and Johannes Koholer, children of Michel Kohler.
+Lipps Linneberger's W and son.
+Peter Kohler's W and 1 daughter.
+
+FROM FLORSBACH:
+Henrich Kunkle with woman and 2 children, Melchior Kunkle's W.
+Casper Dietrich with woman and 4 children.
+Johannes Hens with woman and 2 children.
+Melchior Schuster's W with 3 sons.
+Johannes Bauer with wife and 7 children.
+Friedrich steigerwald with wife and 4 children.
+Magdalena, a born Herr from Ulrick.
+Schoolmaster Bach's W with 4 children.
+Johannes Kleinfeller with wife and 1 son.
+Johannes Steigerwald with wife and 3 children.
+Johannes Kunkle with wife and 1 child.
+Catharina _utin, a single maid and Adam Steigerwald's W.
+Hanns Michel Kunkle, smith, son of Melchior Kunkle.
+Margaretha Dietrichin, daughter of Herm Schulther's Dietrich.
+
+YET FROM FLORSBACH:
+Catharina Heuserin, a single maid with 1 son.
+Margaretha Uhlin, daughter of Johannes Uhl, miller.
+
+CONDITION OR DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIVE HOME
+
+Of the Reitz Ancestors in Europe. A few words on the subject may be appreciated. The
+country in Europe where many of the immediate Reitz Ancestors lived two to three centuries ago, was
+mostly a country of farming district with small towns or villages like Florsbach, Kempfenbrunn,
+Rohrig, Lohrhaupten, Bieber, etc. situate several miles east of the city of Hanau, in Gelnhausen
+District, Province of Hessen-Nassau, Germany. A description of their country verifies the tradition
+among their descendants here in Pennsylvania, that they came from a hilly and mountainous country
+just like many parts here in Pennsylvania. There were many hills and beautiful narrow valleys, good
+springs and many delightful creeks like the Florsbach Creek (the name implying flowery brook) and
+also some high mountains. At some places the soil described sandy and naturally not very fertile.
+There dense forests on the mountains, where there were berries much like we find on our mountains.
+The people had small houses, often built with stone, with a simple fireplace of stone (hearth)
+leading up a chimney, where they cooked on a tripot or with iron kettles hung on a hook above the
+fire. They had small fields and their cultivating tools were primitive. The inhabitants were generally
+poor. It is related that in the Spring many of the men would go away to cities and other industrial
+places to earn some money while the women and children attended to the work at home on their
+small farms during the Summer. Their taxes were often exorbitant, and frequently royal decrees
+restricted their free and reasonable pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Regardless of all hardships,
+they prospered, and some had evidently saved enough money to emigrate and make the long and
+hazardous journey to Pennsylvania. It is no wonder that such sturdy energetic laborious people made
+so many prosperous homes here in Pennsylvania and promoted a numerous frugal industrious worthy
+progeny. The description tells us they were a very religious people, had for centuries everywhere their
+church and a schoolhouse aside it, where a thorough education, especially morally, was strictly carried
+on. A picture of the little church at Florsbach is presented in this book, a little Lutheran Church,
+which is said to be standing already for about 500 years, being renewed from time to time as in 1728
+and 1928. It is the same church building which our ancestor Johan Friedrich Reitz and family
+attended before they came to Pennsylvania and where they were married Nov. 19, 1746. The Reitz
+ancestors seem to have dwelled for centuries in that District of Gelnhausen, as called now, to the
+East of the city of Hanau of which principality it was formerly a part. They generally adhered to the
+Evan. Lutheran church. Evidently not all the Reitz people in olden times lived in the hilly country
+to the east of the city of Hanau. Some lived in other places like in Fulda. Persons who visited
+recently over there report that many with the name Reitz are living at this day in the cities of Hanau
+and Frankfurt-on-the-Main. History informs us that in olden times the Reitz people in Europe were
+a noble people, regardless of the fact that some were poor. Some were poor. Some were university
+professors, clergymen, physicians, state officials and princes. They had their Reitz Knights. They had
+their "Coat-of-Arms", and armorial insignia, of which several are mentioned in old European records
+and histories. A picture of one of them is presented herewith. From their original habitation near the
+city of Hanau they scattered to all parts of the earth.
+
+ORIGIN OF THE NAME REITZ. The Reitz people living over there in the city of Hanau,
+Germany, have a tradition as to how the name REITZ originated. It is given herewith for what it is
+worth. The tradition runs as follows: In olden times there were no surnames, and persons were known
+by only one name, like in the time of Christ we speak of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But in the
+course of time surnames were acquired in addition to the first names for better designation.
+Frequently the father's names was used. The tradition has it that several centuries ago there appeared
+near the city of Hanau and old man with a long white beard riding a noble horse, who had escapes
+from somewhere in the East, might have been last from Saxony, on account of religious persecution,
+and who rode on his horse about the country, advocating especial freedom of religion and admonished
+the people everywhere in religious assemblies in their free country. They knew him as the
+"Reitczaronitsch" or the riding czarewitch, that is the riding son of the czar or prince, or a rider of
+noble birth. His children were known as John or Jacob, etc. von Reit-czaronitsch, or Reit-czargeburt,
+of noble birth. Some time later the hind part of czaronitsch or czargeburt was dropped and only the
+"z" was retained and pronounced in addition to the "Reitz", leaving the name "Reitz", which
+thereafter became the common adopted surname of the Reitz clan.
+
+REITZ. This is a name now numerously represented in Washington,Little Mahanoy and Lower Augusta townships, as well as in various otherportions of Northumberland county, founded in that section in the middleof the eighteenth century by one George Reitz, who settled in Washingtontownship among the earliest pioneers of that region. The members of thefamily from that time to the present have been ranked among thesubstantial, respected, public-spirited and altogether desirable citizensof this favored community, prospering by industry, supporting thechurches and all enterprises which have for their object the uplifting oftheir fellow men and the advancement of the general welfare, and in theirindividual lives upholding the best traditions of the
+forefathers who helped to found the best institutions of this part ofPennsylvania.
+George Reitz, the pioneer of this family in Northumberland county,settled in Washington township among its earliest residents and was alarge landowner there, his original tract including the land now embracedin the farms of Luther Rebuck, William Rebuck, Harvey Rothermel, CharlesB. Hetrich and A. C. Adams. He is buried in an unmarked grave near afence, in the orchard on the farm now owned by C. B. Hetrich. Among hischildren were sons Andraes and Michael. Floyd, p269 and 787
+The first members of the Reitz family to come to America - came toPennsylvania, settling in what was then Tulpehocken township, Berkscounty. Among these were the families of George, Peter and JohannesReitz, supposed to have been brothers. In 1759 we find one Daniel Reitz,Sr., paid 20 pounds tax, and another Daniel Reitz paid 2 pounds tax, inTulpehocken township. Floyd, p463
+
+PIONEER JOHAN GEORGE REITZ
+of near Rebuck, PA
+at the Swabian Creek
+Northumberland County, PA
+
+PIONEER JOHAN GEORGE REITZ, progenitor of most of the Reitz people of Northumberland
+and adjacent counties of Pennsylvania, was a brother of Johan Friedrich Reitz, the ancestor of most
+of the Reitzes of Lehigh and adjacent counties of Pennsylvania, of whose descendants this book is
+mostly written. Johan George Reitz was a son of Johannes Peter (also called Hans Peter, Johann
+Peter, or only Peter) and Magdalena (Weygand) Reitz, of Lohrhaupten, District of Gelnhausen, in
+the Province of Hessen-Nassau, Germany. The country district is several miles east of the city of
+Hanau, to which it formerly belonged, and about 40 miles east of the large city of Frankfurt-on-the-
+Main, Germany. For more description refer to the beginning of this book under the subjects "Native
+Land" and "Genealogy" of Johan Friedrich Reitz, which applies also to him. He was born at
+Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, Feb. 5, 1726, as the Lutheran Church
+records show at that place, and which also show that in addition to his brother Johan Friedrich Reitz,
+there were yet three other brothers. He also emigrated to Pennsylvania and sailed on the Ship Duke
+of Bedford, and landed at Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 14, 1751, as the Penn. Archives at Harrisburg,
+Pa., show; where an examination disclosed that in taking the Oath of Allegiance he made his mark
+to his name which the clerk misspelled "Ritz" instead of "Reitz". Some time later he settled on a
+large farm at the Swabian Creek, about half a mile east of what is now Himmels Church, near
+Rebuck, Northumberland Co., Pa. Penn. Archives show land warrants by George Reitz in
+Northumberland Co., Oct. 14, 1772, 200 acres; Sept. 16, 1773, 50 acres. He and his wife
+engaged in farming, and at death were buried on their farm. They had a family of sons and daughters.
+We have record of two:
+1. Andreas Reitz, b. Jan. 1, 1755; d. mar. 16, 1837.
+2. Michael Reitz, b. Jan. 1757; d. Dec. 17, 1825.
+They were Lutherans, and it is reported they were instrumental in organizing and building
+the original Himmels Church, near Rebuck, Pa. Evidence points to their influence and prominent
+religious character, because two large tombstones mark their graves in the first row near the Himmels
+church in the Church cemetery.
+
+[Transcription Note: At this point, Appendix II is divided into 2 sections, the first dealing with
+Andreas Reitz and his descendants, the second with Michael Reitz and his descendants. For our
+purposes, the second section will be transcribed here, leaving the first to be done at a later date.]
+Appendix II, Sec. 2.
+
+MICHAEL REITZ, SR., the other son of Pioneer George Reitz, at the Swabian Creek,
+Northumberland Co., Pa., b. Jan. 1757; d. Dec. 17, 1825; married Elizabeth Rebuck, b. 1766,
+d. Dec. 18, 1853. Both are buried at Himmels Church. They were devout Lutherans; he was the
+building master of the second or stone Himmels Church in 1818. Were farmers near Rebuck, Pa.,
+and had ten children:
+1. Michael, Jr.
+2. Peter, Juniata Co., Pa.
+3. William, Jefferson Co., Pa.
+4. Daniel, lived on the old homestead.
+5. Jonathan, lived on the old homestead.
+6. Henry, Washington Township.
+7. George, Jefferson Co., Pa.
+8. John, Jefferson Co., Pa.
+9. Bevvy, m. John George Reed.
+10. Christina, m. Michael Hetrick.
+
+MICHAEL REITZ, JR., (also called Johan Michael), son of Michael Reitz, Sr. (Son of
+Johan George), b. in Washington Township, Northumberland Co., Pa., Aug. 12, 1785; d. July 28,
+1874; m. Magdalena Eister, b. July 1788, d. Oct. 12, 1846, both are buried at Himmels Church;
+were farmers in Washington Township, and had six children:
+1. Peter, Rockfeller Township.
+2. Abraham, Little Mahanoy Township.
+3. Christianna, m. Michael Hoch.
+4. David, Washington Township.
+5. Leonard, Washington Township.
+6. Jonas.
+
+DAVID REITZ, son of Michael Reitz, Jr., (son of Michael Reitz, Sr., son of Pioneer Johan
+George), of Washington Township, whose son William married Susanna Raker. He was a merchant
+at Greenbrier, Pa., and they had four children:
+1. Katie, m. G. M. Houghton, Shamokin, Pa.
+2. John Lewis, b. 1876.
+3. David W.
+4. Charles J., b. Apr. 30, 1884.
+
+DANIEL REITZ, son of Michael, Sr., son of Johan George, b. near Rebuck, Pa., Aug. 11,
+1804; d. Jan. 9, 1886; m. Susanna Burrell, b. June 10, 1810, d. Jan. 12, 1881. Both are buried
+at Himmels Church, were farmers on the old homestead and had ten children:
+1. Maria, m. Elias Rebuck.
+2. Jonathan B., d. in Missouri.
+3. Samuel B.
+4. Katie, m. 1st, Godfried Rebuck; 2nd, Andrew Rebuck.
+5. John B., Nebraska.
+6. Salome, m. Milton Drumheller.
+7. Elizabeth, m. Jared Snyder.
+8. Michael B., Washington Township.
+9. Leonard B., Nebraska.
+10. Daniel B., Mifflintown, Pa.
+
+SAMUEL B. REITZ, son of Daniel and Susanna (Burrell) Reitz, b. 1832; d. June 29,
+1906. Buried at Himmels Church; m. Eliza Reitz, daughter of Philip and Annie (Wagner) Reitz.
+He was a tailor and farmer of part of the old homestead. They had nine children:
+1. Nathan, d. young.
+2. John R., Nebraska.
+3. Elias R., Mt. Carmel, Pa.
+4. Henry M., Sunbury, Pa.
+5. Mary A., m. William Rebuck.
+6. Andrew D., Jefferson Co., Pa.
+7. Susan, m. George A. Floltz, Sunbury, Pa.
+8. George W., on the old homestead.
+9. Hannah A., unmarried, Sunbury, Pa.
+
+ELIAS R. REITZ, of Mt. Carmel, Pa., is the son of Samuel B. (Son of Daniel, son of
+Michael Sr., son of Pioneer Johan George) Reitz, and his wife Eliza Reitz, daughter of Philip and
+Annie (Wagner Reitz, born near Rebuck, Pa., Jan. 19, 1858; m. Lydia E. Kehres. He was a school
+teacher five years, a merchant and justice of the peace eleven years, at Rebuck, Pa., and merchant
+at Mt. Carmel, Pa. They were devout Christians and active members of the Lutheran Church at Mt.
+Carmel, Pa., where he was the Sunday school teacher for many years. He was president of the
+Sunbury Reitz Reunion of the descendants of Johan George Reitz, held annually at or near Sunbury,
+Pa. They had their home at 234 West Third Street, Mt. Carmel, Pa., and had three children:
+1. Bertha M. Reitz, b. Oct. 23, 1886, d. Aug. 4, 1904.
+2. Mabel G. Reitz, b. Sept. 16, 1889; d. Jan. 4, 1929; was graduate of Kutztown State
+Normal School.
+3. Charles H. Reitz, b. Dec. 1, 1894; was a graduate of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., and
+lived with his parents.
+
+GEORGE W. REITZ, of Rebuck, Pa., son of Samuel B. and Eliza (Reitz) Reitz, b. near
+Rebuck, Pa., Sept. 7, 1869; m. June 17, 1894, Polly Geist, b. Aug. 17, 1874, d. Apr. 27, 1920.
+He was a farmer, Lutheran, and occupied the old homestead near Rebuck, Pa. They had four
+children:
+1. Mazie Reitz, b. Dec. 25, 1895; m. Eston Scheib.
+2. Grace Reitz, b. Feb. 18, 1899; m. Francis Hepler.
+3. Carrie Reitz, b. Oct. 29, 1904.
+4. Alma Reitz, b. Mar. 29, 1910.
+
+JOHN LEWIS REITZ, of Lewisburg, Pa., son of William (son of David, son of Michael
+Jr., son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George) and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, b. near Greenbrier, Pa.,
+in 1876; m. Elizabeth Schwalm, daughter of Daniel E. and Fietta (Schlegel) Schwalm, of Hubley
+Township, Schuylkill Co., Pa. They lived near Lewisburg, Pa., where he conducts two large farms
+in up-to-date scientific methods, and generally grows around 25,000 bushels of potatoes and is
+familiarly known as the "Potato King of the Buffalo Valley". He had constructed three gigantic
+practical potato cellars, two 100 feet long and 40 feet wide, and the third 80 feet long and 40 feet
+wide; with a total capacity of over 35,000 bushels. He is favorably and well known for his practical
+agricultural methods, is an active and foremost participant in furthering many local community
+affairs, and is treasurer of the Sunbury Reitz Reunion. They are presbyterian, and had eight children:
+1. William D. Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; graduate from Bucknell and Columbia College.
+2. Charles David Reitz, b. Aug. 28, 1902.
+3. Grace V. Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.
+4. Kathryn Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; graduate from Penn State College.
+5. Bessie Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel; graduate from Penn State College.
+6. Alma M. Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; R.N. at University of Pennsylvania Hospital,
+Philadelphia, Pa.
+7. Robert Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; graduated from high school 1930.
+8. John Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.
+
+CHARLES DAVID REITZ, son of John Lewis and Elizabeth (Schwalm) Reitz, of
+Lewisburg, Pa., b. at Mt. Carmel, Pa., Aug. 28, 1902; m. Oct. 21, 1922, Margaret C. Moran.
+They lived near Lewisburg, Pa., assisting his father and had two children:
+1. Charles Reitz, b. Apr. 25, 1924.
+2. Cecilia Reitz, b. Apr. 25, 1925.
+
+CHARLES J. REITZ, of Sunbury, Pa., son of William (son of David, son of Michael Jr.,
+son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George) and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, b. at Rebuck, Pa., Apr. 30,
+1884; m. Mar. 17, 1903, Bertha M. Hetrick. He clerked a few years in stores at Allentown, Pa.,
+then engaged in store business at Rebuck; later in store and hotel business at Dornsife, Pa. He was
+also the warden of the Northumberland Co. Jail at Sunbury, Pa. He built a pleasant bungalow with
+spacious shady grounds surrounding it on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, a short distance
+below Sunbury, Pa. They had one son, Harold W.
+
+HENRY REITZ, son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George, b. at Swabian Creek, buried at
+Himmels Church, aged over 90 years; Lutheran, and a farmer in Lower Augusta and Washington
+Townships; m. 1st, Bechtel, and they had one child: Lovina. M. 2nd, Maria Dunkleberger, b. Dec.
+23, 1803, d. Jan. 3, 1863, and they had three children:
+1. Sarah Reitz.
+2. Adam D. Reitz, b. May 6, 1836; d. Mar. 22, 1885; m. Mary Raker, had three children:
+William H., Dennis, and Galen.
+3. Joseph Reitz, b. 1843, at Fishers Ferry, Pa.; d. Jan. 21, 1908, buried at Emmanuel
+Lutheran Church, little Mahanoy Township; was a farmer and merchant at Dornsife, Pa.; m.
+Catherine Pfeifer and had six children: Daniel (d. 1900); Alvin P., George, (Dornsife); Edward,
+(Dornsife); Joseph, (Shamokin); Gertrude.
+
+ALVIN P. REITZ, son of Joseph (son of Henry , son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George)
+and Catherine (Pfeifer) Reitz, b. at Mine Run, Pa., in 1867; attended Muhlenberg College,
+Allentown, Pa.; was engaged in contracting and building; was general manager of the East End
+Limber Co., a large business concern of Shamokin, Pa.; m. Tamie Zartman, daughter of Jacob
+Zartman of Shamokin, Pa. They lived at Shamokin, Pa., and had one son, Henry Elwood Reitz,
+b. 1901.
+
+GEORGE REITZ, son of Michael Sr. (Son of Johan George) and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz,
+of near Rebuck, Northumberland Co, Pa., lived in Jefferson Co., and had children: George, Godfrey,
+Jacob, and Daniel.
+
+JOHN REITZ, son of Michael Sr. (Son of Johan George) and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz,
+of near Rebuck, Pa., lived in Jefferson Co., Pa., and had children: Isaac, Peter R., Michael, and
+Harry. (and Walter?)
+
+WILLIAM REITZ, son of Michael Sr. and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz, of near Rebuck, Pa.,
+lived in Jefferson Co., Pa., and had nine children: Levi, Peter L., Daniel, Morris, Jonathan, Caroline
+(m. Howe), Margaret (m. Shaffer), Lydia (m. Spare), Susan (m. Swab).
+
+MORRIS REITZ, son of William Reitz, who was the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Rebuck)
+Reitz, lived at Brookville, Pa., and had eight children:
+1. Manerva Reitz, m. 1st, Frank Chles, had children: Flora and Pearl; m. 2nd, John
+Fenstermaker.
+2. Clara Reitz, m. J. C. Chles, had a son: Wilbur.
+3. Amanda Reitz.
+4. Turney Reitz.
+5. John Reitz, d. Mar. 16, 1927, had a daughter: Grace.
+6. Blair Reitz, had children: Ina and Dawson.
+7. Homer Reitz, of Brookville, Pa., had children: Mary, Paul, and Fred.
+
+An abstract and lineage has been presented here of Johan George Reitz' descendants who are
+also very numerous. The date and records are not now on hand for more description, all of which is
+left for a future and more complete edition. During the past years the descendants of the two brothers
+Johan Friedrich Reitz, of Lehigh Co., Pa., and Johan George Reitz, of Northumberland Co., Pa.,
+have very agreeably made the acquaintance and association of each other, and many of both clans
+attend joyfully both Reitz Reunions held annually at New Tripoli, Pa., and at Sunbury, Pa.
+[Change Date: 10 SEP 2002]
+
+Marriage 1 Anna Martha b: Cal 1733 in Lohrhaupten,Gelnhausen,Hesse-Nausau,Germany
+
+Child:
+1. Has Children Anna Maria REITZ b: 20 MAY 1761 in Berks Co.,PA';
+
+(rootsweb.com) "John Thompson Family" [2000] contact: Thompson (thompson_family@postmark.net): vital statistics, as in 'Johan George Reitz
+# Sex: M
+# Birth: 3 Feb 1726 in Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, Germany
+# Death: ABT. 1783 in Rebuck, Washington Twp., Northumberland Co., PA
+
+# Note:
+Facts about this person:
+
+Fact 1
+buried in unmarked grave on family farm
+
+Fact 2 September 14, 1751
+emigrated to Philadelphia, PA on ship "Duke of Bedford"
+
+Father: Johannes Peter Hans Reitz b: 3 Dec 1690 in Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, Germany
+Mother: Magdalena Weygang b: 1687 in Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, Germany
+
+Marriage 1 Anna Martha ? b: Est. 1714-1741
+
+* Married: Est. 1741-1771
+
+Children:
+1. Has No Children Heinrich Reitz b: Est. 1747-1775
+2. Has No Children Maria Elizabeth Reitz b: 1753
+3. Has Children Andreas Reitz b: 1 Jan 1755 in Swabian Creek, Washington Twp., Northumberland Co., PA
+4. Has Children Johann Michael Reitz , Sr. b: 30 Jan 1757 in Berks Co., PA
+5. Has Children Anna Maria Reitz b: 20 May 1761 in Lancaster Co., PA
+6. Has No Children Georg Leonhart Reitz b: 13 Nov 1766 in Berks Co., PA'
+Change Date: 29 OCT 2010