BIO: Reuben B. 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 887 & 888.
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  REUBEN B. KANTZ, a prosperous farmer and lumberman of Burnside township, was 
born in Indiana county, Pa., October 7, 1848, a son of John and Sarah (Baker) 
Kantz.  He is a grandson of John Kantz, Sr., a native of Germany, who died in 
Indiana county, Pa.
  John Kantz, Jr., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., August, 1818.  He removed 
to Indiana county in 1847, and to Burnside township, Clearfield county in 1851, 
finding employment at the old Patchin mill, in the locality called Slabtown, and 
he was subsequently engaged in lumbering and saw-mill work for a part of his 
time each year, farming during the summer.  His wife Sarah was a daughter of 
Philip Baker of that part of Snyder county then known as Union county.  She 
survived her husband, dying in 1892, while his death occurred in 1894.  Their 
family consisted of six children, namely:  Philip, formerly a soldier, but now 
living retired at Clearfield, Pa.; Susanna, who is deceased; Reuben B., the 
subject of this sketch; Emma, who is the widow of John Irwin; Anna, wife of S. 
Heilman; both living in Tacoma, Wash.; and George D., who resides on the old 
homestead.
  Reuben B. Kantz, after obtaining some elementary schooling, began to make 
himself useful on the parental homestead, assisting his father by teaming and 
helping to cut logs, and this work he began when but eight years old.  Marrying 
at the age of 20, he bought a piece of wooded land which he cleared, living in 
his present residence, which he built in 1873, and working in the woods during 
the winter and spring.  He spent much time on the river also, in rafting the 
acting as raft pilot until the decline of that industry.  In more recent years 
he has been occupied in building both barns and houses throughout this section.  
He is a Republican politically and has served on the school board and in other 
offices.  He is a member of the United Brethren church.
  Mr. Kantz married Sue A. Bowder, who was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 
1850, a daughter of Jacob Bowder, a farmer of that locality, who was a Civil war 
veteran, serving as wagon master.  He was killed with three others, near 
Cresson, by being struck by a train during a sow storm in 1874.  His wife in 
maidenhood was Margaret Jane Bennerd, a native of Ireland.  Mrs. Kantz was 
reared from the age of nine years by Charles and Elizabeth Eden, going to live 
with him from the time of her mother's death and father's enlistment in the 
army.  Her paternal grandparents were John and Anna (Frankfort) Bowder, the 
former a shoemaker and farmer by occupation, and the father of seven sons; six 
of them were in the war at one time, also a grandson.
  Our subject and wife have been the parents of children as follows:  Pearl, who 
is now deceased; Charles, a dentist practicing in Philadelphia, who married 
Lillian Sparks; Howard, of Burnside, who married Marie Fishel; Edwin E., a 
prominent coal operator of Burnside, who married Sarah Elizabeth Bellis, 
daughter of the late Thomas Bellis; Milton Leroy, who married Beyrl Duke, 
resides in Oklahoma, and has three children; Paul S., who graduated at 
Valparaiso, Ind., in the classic and scientific course and is now superintendent 
of schools at Spirit Lake, Ida.; Guy V., who is a Valparaiso graduate and 
engaged in teaching school in the state of Washington; Violet E., who attended 
school at Valparaiso, Ind., and is now teaching in her native township; and 
Geneva, who is attending school.  It will be seen from the above family record 
that the members of Mr. Kantz's family are ambitions and enterprising, and is 
may be further said that they have a habit of "making good" in whatever position 
they may find themselves.