Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Kratz, Harvey, Dr
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
New Britain Township


   HARVEY KRATZ physician and surgeon, P.O. New Britain, was 
born in Plumstead township, Bucks county, September 2, 1838, 
and is a son of Jacob S. and Elizabeth (Fretz) Kratz, 
natives of this county.  The Kratz family came from 
Switzerland and located in this county in the latter part of 
the seventeenth century.  Philip Kratz, grandfather of 
Harvey, resided in Plumstead township, where he was a farmer 
and owned a large tract of land.  He died in 1846, aged 66 
years.  He was the father of seven children, three now 
living.  Our subject's father was born in 1803 in Plumstead 
township, where he resided the greater part of his life.  He 
was a farmer and died at Collegeville, Montgomery county, 
November 22, 1885.  He was the father of six children, four 
of whom are living:  Margaret, Emma, Laura (deceased), 
Harvey, William H. and Jacob T. (deceased).  Doctor Harvey, 
our subject, was reared on a farm until 16 years of age, 
when he entered the high school at Collegeville and was 
afterward for several terms a student at Carverville.  In 
1860 he took up the study of medicine under Doctor I. S. 
Moyer.  In the fall of the same year he attended lectures at 
the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia and graduated 
in 1862, after which he began to practice at Mount Pleasant, 
Hilltown township, where he remained until 1884.  Although 
enjoying a good practice he was desirous of a new location, 
and consequently came to New Britain, where he has since 
built up a large practice.  He has a fine residence, which 
he has remodeled since coming here.  In March, 1864, he 
married Sarah, daughter of Francis Rinker.  They have eleven 
children, ten of whom are living:  Lizzie, Bertha V., 
Rebecca M., Anna W., Charles S., Sarah, Margaret, Hannah, 
Esther and Emma.  Doctor Kratz is a director of the 
Doylestown First National bank, president of the Hilltown 
turnpike and also president of the Self-Defense horse 
company.  He is also a member of the State Medical society, 
the American Medical association and the Bucks County 
Medical society, of which he is the secretary.  He is 
regarded by all as a prominent and influential citizen.  His 
wife is a member of the Lutheran church.