BIO: Capt. J. Elliott KRATZER, 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 763 - 765.
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  CAPT. J. ELLIOTT KRATZER, justice of the peace at Curwensville, Pa., and a 
representative citizen of Pike township, is also an honored veteran of the Civil 
war, during which stormy period he experienced some of the greatest hardships of 
a soldier's life but also gained distinction and promotion for unusual bravery.  
Captain Kratzer was born in Pike township, Clearfield county, Pa., January 14, 
1837, and is a son of Anthony and Rachel (Hoover) Kratzer.
  Anthony Kratzer was born in Blair county, Pa., but from early manhood his life 
was passed in Clearfield county.  He engaged in lumbering and lived at 
Curwensville until after his marriage and the birth of six children, when he 
moved on his farm in Pike township, where he engaged in farming and milling.  He 
was a man of more than ordinary business capacity and although he died at the 
comparatively early age of forty-six years, he had accumulated 600 acres of land 
in Pike township.  By trade he was a shoemaker and at one time he also conducted 
a hotel at Curwensville, on the present site of the Park House.  He was a 
Democrat in his political views but never consented to hold office.  His ashes 
rest in Oak Grove cemetery.  Anthony Kratzer married Rachel Hoover, who was born 
in Clearfield county.  She survived her husband for a long period, her death 
occurring at the age of eighty-five years and her burial being in the State of 
California.  The children born to Anthony and Rachel Kratzer were as follows:  
Jane Ann, who died in California, was the wife of James Addleman; J. Elliott; 
James, who is a resident of Wisconsin, married Susan Leech; William, who was 
killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, during the Civil war, was a member of 
a  Pennsylvania regiment; Louella, who is the wife of John Bacher, of 
California; Sarah Ann, who is a resident of California; John, who was killed at 
Bull Run, during the Civil war, was a member of Co. K, 42nd Pa. Vol. Inf.; and 
Edward, who is a resident of Punxsutawney, Pa.  The parents of the above family 
were members of the Presbyterian church.
  J. Elliott Kratzer attended school at Vlearfield, where he had academic 
advantages, after which he engaged in business as a clerk in a store at 
Curwensville and then went west to Iowa where, for two years, he served as 
bookkeeper in a business house.  It is probable that homesickness brought him 
back to Curwensville and after reaching home he took charge of his father's mill 
and operated it until the outbreak of the Rebellion.  He was one of the first to 
offer himself when the famous "Bucktail" Regiment, the 42nd Pa. Vol. Inf., was 
organized, becoming sergeant of Co. K, of which he later was made second 
lieutenant.  He served one and one-half years with that rank and later was 
commissioned captain of Co. H, 190th P. V.  It was while serving as second 
lieutenant of Co. K, that he was wounded at Gettysburg, in the right arm, just 
above the elbow.  After he was commissioned captain and was inspecting the 3rd 
Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps, of which he was inspector general, he daringly 
galloped his horse within the enemy's lines and before he could escape was 
captured by the Confederate pickets.  He was sent to Libby Prison and from there 
was transferred to Salisbury and later to Danville, each bastile being a little 
worse than the previous one, and in the succeeding February was returned to 
Libby Prison where he was finally paroled and was given then a leave of absence.  
After the surrender of General Lee, Captain Kratzer was ordered back and was 
detailed on court martial service and was finally honorably discharged and 
mustered out in 1865.  Capt. Kratzer's army record, from the beginning to the 
close, reflects credit on a brave soldier.  He is a valued member of the Grand 
Army Post at Curwensville, of which he has been commander several times.
  From the army Captain Kratzer returned to Curwensville, where he has resided 
ever since.  In March, 1865, he was first married to Miss Kate Goodwin, of 
Clarion county, Pa., who died in 1892, aged forty-six years, and her burial was 
in Oak Grove cemetery.  Eight children were born to them, namely:  May, who is 
the wife of William Jackson and they reside in California; Joseph, who lives in 
Wisconsin; Elliott, who is deceased, is survived by his widow, formerly a Miss 
Blackburn; Alice, who died in infancy; Kate, who is deceased, was the wife of 
John McDermit; C. Fred and Bessie, who both reside at Spokane, Wash.; and John, 
who is a linotype operator and printer.  In June, 1906, Capt. Kratzer was 
married to Amanda A. Carlisle, of Luthersburg, Clearfield county.
  In politics, Capt. Kratzer is a Republican.  For five years he has been 
serving acceptably in the office of justice of the peace and very seldom have 
any of his decisions been referred to another court.  He is identified 
fraternally with the Masonic order and also with the Odd Fellows.  He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.