Bios: Spatz family: Berks Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marianne Wolfman marianne@ccnet.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ From: Morton L Montgomery, "Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1909. p. 1181. Surnames mentioned: Kauffman, Kline, Rothenberger, Schmaltz, Shartle, Spatz, Weaver Note: Surnames of related families have been capitalized, but are lower case in the original. SAMUEL K. SPATZ, who passed away at his home in Reading on the morning of March 26, 1909, was a man prominent in fraternal and social circles in the city of Reading. He was the proprietor of the Metropolitan Buffet, situated at No. 904 Penn street, that city. Valentine SPATZ, great-grandfather of Samuel K. SPATZ, owned farming land in Bern township, and he was a member of the Bern Union church of the Reformed faith. Both he and his wife were buried there. They had children: Jacob, Valentine and Benjamin, sons, all of whom settled in Bern township; and Betsey and Molly, daughters, who married, respectively, William WEAVER and John SCHMALTZ. Valentine SPATZ, grandfather of Samuel K., was born April 23, 1818, in Bern township, Berks county, and died April 1, 1879, aged 60 years, 11 months and 8 days. He was a farmer during all his active years, and owned 145 acres of land in Bern township. He married Elizabeth A. KAUFFMAN, daughter of David KAUFFMAN of Centre township, born Nov. 17, 1815, and died Nov. 14, 1888, aged 72 years, 11 months and 27 days. The children of Valentine and Elizabeth A. SPATZ were: Cyrus, born June 17, 1841; Jonathan K., Oct. 9, 1842; Levi, Sept. 21, 1844; William, Dec. 26, 1847; Lovina, June 12, 1848; Valentine, June 7, 1849; Susanna, in October, 1850 (died young); Helen Elizabeth, Sept. 23, 1854; Amelia, April 25, 1857; and Benjamin, Aug. 7, 1859. Jonathan K. SPATZ, father of Samuel K., was born in the old family home in Bern township and grew up on his father's farm. In 1867 he began farming for himself, and for 35 years he continued to farm in different sections of Berks county. In 1903 he became the proprietor of the "Cacoosing Hotel" in Spring township, which he conducted for one year. For a number of years he was known as a horseman in this section and at various times he owned fine animals. Since 1905 he has resided in Reading. In politics he is a Democrat, and when he lived in Maiden-creek township he was school director for three years and frequently was a delegate to county conventions. He is a member of the Castle No. 372, K.G.E. of Hyde Park. With his family he belongs to the Reformed congregation of the Bern Union church. On May 15, 1867, he was married to Sarah KAUFFMAN, born in 1846, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (SHARTLE) KAUFFMAN, of Centre township, and they had three children, namely: Harry, residing in Reading, m. to Mary KLINE; Kate, residing in Reading, m. to Calvin ROTHENBERGER; and Samuel K. Samuel K. SPATZ was born Aug. 1, 1879 in Penn township, Berks county, Pa., and was reared on his father's farm. His education was obtained at the schools of Muhlenberg township, Prof. D. B. Brunner's Business College, of Reading, and the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, graduating from the latter institution with the class of 1898. For five subsequent years he taught school in Spring township. In 1900 he entered the Dickinson School of Law, where he was graduated in 1902, and was admitted to the Bar in the same year. He was employed for a time with the Metropolitan Insurance Company, at Temple, and also worked for W. H. Boyd & Co., directory publishers, as solicitor. In 1906 Mr. Spatz opened the Metropolitan Buffet on Penn street, and carried on a successful business there. He was a great enthusiast in athletics, having been manager of the Reading football team, and was Berks County champion of 1906. Mr. Spatz was associated with many fraternal organizations. He was secretary of the Owls and held membership in the following: Lodge No. 62, F.& A.M., Reading; Reading Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree; Oley Lodge No. 218, I.O.O.F., of Reading; Manangy Tribe, No. 316, I.O.R.M.; Reading Aerie, No. 66, F.O.E.; Sinking Spring Camp, P.O.S. of A.; 1900 Beneficial Association; Friendship Fire Company; and the Twentieth Century Quakers, in which he was a charter member. He was a man who was very popular and he had a host of friends. He was buried at Hinnershitz Church.