BIO: George D. KANTZ, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 912 - 914.
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  GEORGE D. KANTZ, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Burnside 
township, where he is engaged in farming on 109 acres of land, and in lumbering, 
was born on the old Kantz homestead, at the locality known as Slabtown, this 
county, August 2, 1856, a son of John and Sarah (Baker) Kantz.  His paternal 
grandfather, John Kantz, Sr., was a native of Germany, who came to this country 
and died in Indiana county, Pa.
  John Kantz, Jr., father of our subject, was born in Columbia county, Pa., in 
1818.  He resided for a time in Lancaster county and afterwards in Indiana 
county, coming to Clearfield county about 1848.  Settling in Burnside township, 
he engaged here in lumbering, rafting his product to market.  He continued in 
this line of industry until 1857, at which time he settled on the present Kantz 
homestead, or rather on the site, which he cleared and developed in to a good 
farm.  His wife, Sarah Baker Kantz, was born in Snyder, Pa., in February, 1818, 
a daughter of Philip Baker, who was a pioneer of that county, the section in 
which he resided, however, being then known as Marion county.  She survived her 
husband, dying in 1892, while his death took place in 1884.  Their family 
consisted of six children, namely:  Philip, now living retired at Clearfield, 
Pa.; Susanna, who is deceased; Reuben B., a farmer residing in Burnside 
township; Emma, the widow of John Irwin, now residing in Tacoma, Wash.; Annie, 
wife of S. Hileman, residing in Tacoma, Wash.; and George Daniel, the subject of 
this sketch.
  George Daniel Kantz attended school but a short time in his boyhood, as there 
were but four months of free school a year at that time.  At the age of eleven 
years he began to help his father in lumbering, driving a team, making square 
timber, and cutting logs, and in the spring seasons helping to raft up this 
square timber and running it down the Susquehanna river to the markets of Lock 
Haven, Williamsport and Marietta, and in the summer time being engaged in 
farming.  At the age of seventeen he became a pilot on the Susquehanna river.  
He continued to work for his father in this way until he became of age, at the 
age of twenty-one becoming his father's partner, they working together in this 
way until 1882.  Mr. Kantz then bought the homestead of his father, the latter 
retiring and making his home with our subject, with whom he resided for the rest 
of his days, as did also our subject's mother.  George D. Kantz continued 
lumbering until 1903, but which time the virgin pine, hemlock and oak was all 
cut and run to market.  Since then he has been heavily interested in mining - 
timber, such as motor ties, bank ties and props, railroad ties and sawed lumber.
  Mr. Kantz married Marietta Lutz, of Lancaster county, Pa.  She was born 
September 20, 1855, a daughter of Samuel Parker and Jane (Scott) Lutz.  Her 
father, who was a cabinet maker by trade, later became superintendent of various 
manufacturing concerns.  He died January 21, 1910, at the age of eighty-two 
years.  His wife died in 1860, at the age of thirty-two.  She was a daughter of 
James and Sarah (Leader) Scott, of Lancaster county, the former of whom died in 
1858, at the age of seventy-five, and the latter in 1870 at the age of eighty 
years.  James Scott for many years was proprietor of an old inn on the Pike road 
in Lancaster county, known as the Brink Inn, he being also in charge of the toll 
gate there.  Grandfather Jacob Lutz died in 1856 at the age of seventy years.  
He was a carpenter by trade.
  Mrs. Kantz at the time of the Civil war, when her father was absent fighting 
for the Union, was brought with two other members of her parents' family to 
Clearfield county, and was reared at McGee's Mills by a family named Sunderland, 
their mother having died, as before mentioned, in 1860.  After the father's 
return from the war he found himself unable to locate his family, and it was not 
until several years afterwards that he finally found them.  Mrs. Kantz has one 
brother living, Carson Lutz, who is engaged in mining and truck farming at Glen 
Campbell.
  Mr. Kantz is an active, enterprising citizen.  He is a Republican in politics 
and has performed active service for his party.  He has held several local 
offices, having served as township treasurer and as a member of local 
committees.  He belongs to the United Brethren church.