BIO: William H. Bretz, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
______________________________________________________________________ 

History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
______________________________________________________________________ 

                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                            CHAPTER XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

371   BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

  WILLIAM H. BRETZ, proprietor of the livery stables, Carlisle, is a 
native of Cumberland County, born in Carlisle, September 2, 1832, a son 
of Jacob and Mary (Dipple) Bretz, former born in Harrisburg, in 1806.  
Jacob Bretz, who was a coachmaker, came to Carlisle when a young man, 
was there married, and soon after went to Gettysburg, where he remained 
two years; then returned to Carlisle and engaged in the manufacture of 
coaches, which business engaged his attention until 1855 or 1856, and 
subsequently he was engaged in the manufacture of brick.  He held the 
office of register of Cumberland County one term, and is now the court 
crier of that county.  His wife was born in Carlisle, in 1809, and died 
December 25, 1883, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  They 
were the parents of eight children, who lived to be men and women, 
seven living:  Eliza J., widow of Dr. J. F. Frelchler; William H.; Mary 
A., wife of William H. Cornman, liveryman, Carlisle; Margaret A., wife 
of George G. Boyer, superintendent of car works of Harrisburg, and 
president of Harrisburg & Steelton Railway Company; George M., 
photographer, of Pottsville, Penn.; Laura C., widow of John T. Crozier, 
formerly chief clerk of Mount Holly Paper Mills; Fanny G., wife of 
Sylvester Garwood, manager for the Western Union Telegraph Company, 
Philadelphia.  The subject of this sketch received instruction in the 
common schools of Carlisle and the preparatory department of Dickinson 
College, from which institution he withdrew, after having passed the 
examination for college, to enter a drug store, which business he 
learned, subsequently purchasing the store, which he carried on until 
1856.  In 1857 he went to Kansas, and there cast a vote to make that a 
free State; eight months later he returned to Carlisle, and for a 
period was engaged in the butcher's business.  In 1866, he embarked in 
the livery business, with his brother-in-law, William H. Cornman, and 
four years later purchased Mr. Hilton's stable, on the corner Church 
Alley and Pitt Street.  In 1874 he bought his present property on the 
corner of Main and Pitt Streets, where he has a building 90x60 feet, 
which he built, and where are kept twenty fine horses, a full line of 
buggies, carriages, omnibuses, coaches, sleighs, etc., and where he is 
fully prepared to accommodate the public.  May 22, 1868, Mr. Bretz 
married Miss Martha Stumbaugh, who was born near Cashtown, Adams 
County, a daughter of Peter and Barbara (Keffer) Stumbaugh.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Bretz are members of St. John's Episcopal Church.  Mr. Bretz is 
identified with St. John's Blue Lodge, No. 260, Chapter 173, and 
Commandery No. 8, K. T.  He started in life dependent on his own 
resources, and by industry and good management has acquired a 
competency, possessing, in addition to his stables, a farm of 104 acres 
in North Middleton Township, a nice residence on North Street, and 
other property in Carlisle.