HISTORY: Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia, Chapter 7, Umholtz, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 149. _______________________________________________________________ THE UMHOLTZ FAMILY. We are not entirely satisfied as to the orthography of this surname. Many of the old records have it Imholtz, some Omholtz, and others Umholtz. We are of the opinion that the former is the correct orthography. As the present members of the family adhere to the latter it is this nomenclature we shall also employ. HENRY UMHOLTZ, with a younger brother, came to this country from Switzerland prior to the Revolution and located in what is now Lykens township, Dauphin county, along the base of Short mountain, about two miles from Gratztown, where John Umholtz now resides. Here they took up quite a large tract of land and commenced farming. The brothers entered the army at the outset of the war of the Revolution, in Capt. William Hendrick's company, and fell in the assault on Quebec. Henry was also in service during the war, as appears by the rolls of Captains Hoffman's and Weaver's companies. Henry Umholtz married about 1769 his first wife, who was a Miss Rouch. Sometime after her death he married Magdalena Seidensticker, daughter of Philip Seidensticker, of Bethel township, now Lebanon county. Mr. Umholtz died at an advanced age, and with his two wives are buried at Hoffman's church. His children were as follows: i. John, b. August 11, 1770; was a farmer and resided near Berrysburg. He married Catharine Harman and had a large family. Of these John-Jacob was a major in the Pennsylvania militia, and father of Joseph and Jacob now living near Gratz. The latter served as director of the poor a few years ago. ii. Barnhart, b. October 22, 1772; d. August, 1829; was a farmer and resided above Gratztown. He married Catharine Rissinger, and had Michael, Solomon, who resides on or near his father's place, Philip, Susan, m. Jacob Walborn, Anna-Margaret, m. George Holloback, Catharine, m. Michael Fisher, and Esther, m. Daniel Emanuel. iii. Michael, b. August 31, 1776; removed to what is now Perry county, where he married and raised a family. iv. John-Philip, b. September 14, 1779. He purchased his father's farm, followed farming and died April, 1838. He married Anna Maria Willard, daughter of Peter Willard, and had Matthias, who settled in Stark county, O.; Johhn, m. Mollie Shoffstall, resided on the old homestead; Samuel, resided near Gratz; Christian, removed to Mercer county, Pa.; Susan, m. Daniel Loudenslager; Catharine, m. Isaac Henninger, of Stark county, O., and Elizabeth, m. John P. Hoffman. v. Henry, b. September 17, 1783; d. December 1829; was a soldier of the war of 1812, followed farming and owned a farm near Isaac Zitlinger's. He married Susan Hoover, daughter of Jacob Hoover, of Hoover's Mill. They had Rebecca, m. Benjamin Gise, father of Capt. Joseph D., Leah, m. George W. Ferree, Polly, m. John Henninger, and Henry, Jr., who for many years was a distinguished teacher in the "Upper End." vi. Anna-Maria, b. July 12, 1781; m. Peter Yartz. The family of Umholtz have alal been substantial and representative farmers of the valley.