BIO: Simon GRATZ, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 84. __________________________________________________________ SIMON GRATZ Orbisonia, Pa. Retired: Simon Gratz was born at Orbisonia, Pa., March 29, 1880. His grandfather was a land owner; came from Philadelphia. The Gratz clan dates back to the Revolutionary War; they were among the financial backers of Washington's Army. Simon Gratz, of Philadelphia, was a cousin of his grandfather, Simon Gratz, Sr., who was for many years at the head of the school system of Philadelphia. Simon Gratz, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Harry Gratz, who was born in Orbisonia, Pa., March 26, 1855, and died in the house in which he was born on February 6, 1921, at the age of sixty-six years. He married Louisa Gorsuch, who died November 22, 1924, at the age of seventy years. Simon Gratz was engaged for years in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma in electrical work, with telephone and telegraph companies; was a painter and contract painter for fifteen years. Enlisted in the Spanish-American War at the age of eighteen years at Lewistown, Pa. He was a member of the National Guards located at Lewistown, Pa. He was mustered into service May 10, 1898, at Mount Gretna, in Co. G, 5th Penna. Vol. Inf. He was all throughout the campaign; went to Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, Georgia, to Lexington, Kentucky; was on thirty-day furlough, was in Peace Jubilee, Philadelphia, witnessed by President McKinley. Governor Hastings was War Governor; he was once commander of 5th Penna. Infantry; Company was down to nineteen in number with a war strength of 106 men. He belongs to Camp 45, U.S.W.V., Lewistown, Pa. A Republican. One brother, Marshall, of Pontiac, Mich. Two sisters, Mrs. Harry Zartman, Roaring Springs, Pa., and Mrs. Charles Miller, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Simon Gratz was married to Catherine Holden, a daughter of James and Jennie Holden, living at Orbisonia, Pa. Two sons, Marshall, thirteen years, and William, twelve years.