BIO:  J. A. KITZMILLER, Gettysburg, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 361

J. A. KITZMILLER, attorney at law, Gettysburg, was born in that place October 
14, 1842, son of Samuel and Jane (Harper) Kitzmiller, natives of this county, 
and of German and Scotch-Irish extraction.  The birth of Samuel Kitzmiller 
occurred in 1806, and in youth he learned the harness-maker’s trade, which 
vocation he followed for many years.  He is still living, at the advanced age of 
eighty years, and well cared for by his son, J. A.  Of his nine children, six 
grew to maturity, one of whom, John, was a member of Company B, One Hundred and 
Thirty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the 
battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.  J. A. Kitzmiller was reared in Gettysburg, 
and left the high school to learn the trade of blacksmithing.  In 1862 he 
enlisted in the United States service, joining the same company and regiment as 
his brother John.  He participated in several hard-fought battles, and while in 
an engagement at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, 1864, he lost his left 
arm.  In 1865 he was elected prothonotary of Adams County, and subsequently was 
appointed postmaster of Gettysburg under both terms of President Grant’s 
administration.  He has served twelve years as school director of the board of 
Gettysburg, of which he was president for seven years.  In 1879 he was elected 
burgess of Gettysburg, and in 1877 was appointed notary public, and served six 
years in that capacity.  In 1869 he commenced the study of law under Hon. David 
Wills, of Gettysburg, and was admitted to the bar in 1871, and has since been 
engaged in the practice of his profession.  He is manager of the I.O.O.F., 
and is identified with the O. of R. M. and G. A. R.  He is the only surviving 
soldier who enlisted at Gettysburg that lost a limb in any battle.  In 1866 Mr. 
Kitzmiller was married to Anna G., daughter of J. Henry Garlach, of German 
lineage, and to the marriage were born Ida M. and Lulie.  The parents are 
members of the Lutheran Church at Gettysburg.  Mr. Kitzmiller is indeed a self-
made man.  He takes a deep interest in local and national politics, and was a 
delegate to the national convention which nominated James G. Blaine for 
president.  He is one of the subjects of the famous Curtis-Kitzmiller letter 
during the Blaine and Cleveland campaign.