Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Kreitzer, John H. 1858 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 6, 2005, 5:11 am Author: Biographical Publishing Co. JOHN H. KREITZER, wholesale and retail grocer, of Milton, Pa., is virtually a self-made man. He was born in Milton, Pa., October 24, 1858, attended the, public schools of his native place, and when fourteen years of age became a driver on the tow-path. At the close of the season he found employment at William Price Hull's grain and coal office for two years, after which he attended school until 1877. In choosing a vocation he preferred mercantile pursuits for his active mind. Accordingly, he was a clerk for Albert Cadwalder from April 1, 1877, until August 12, 1879, when he was appointed superintendent of James Buoy's grocery store on Mahanoy street, where he remained until January n, 1881. At that time he purchased a half-interest in the business, and it was conducted under the firm name of Buoy & Kreitzer, and operated under that name until May, 1883. Mr. Kreitzer then purchased his partner's interest, and conducted the business alone. Our subject's career has been one of progress. Starting out, a young man with no cash but a large amount of energy and upright principles, he has risen to the topmost round of the ladder and is now the largest wholesale and retail grocer in his section of the state. He now owns a fine brick block. Mr. Kreitzer has improved arid enlarged this building and has built a three-story warehouse attached to it. The warehouse was built in 1891, and since its erection Mr. Kreitzer has dealt in groceries, provisions, crockery, wooden and willow ware, grain, hay and feed. Adjoining his grocery store he built a wholesale confectionery store. The confectionery business is operated under the firm name of The Kreitzer Wholesale Candy Company, and the firm is composed of the following members: J. H. Kreitzer, president and treasurer; M. C. Kreitzer, assistant treasurer; and M. E. Kreitzer, secretary, and they are wholesale dealers of confectionery, fruits and nuts. Mr. Kreitzer deals largely in country produce and ships to nearby markets, employing ten men to assist him. He is the owner of a fine stable and keeps six fine horses for general use. John H. Kreitzer is a son of Washington and Catherine (Lore) Kreitzer and a grandson of Bal-sar and Mary (Zimmerman) Kreitzer. Balsar Kreitzer was born in Myerstown and was a direct descendant of Peter Kreitzer, who came from Germany and settled in Tulpehocken, Berks County, Pa., in 1762. About 1826-27 Balsar Kreitzer went to Milton, Pa., and was largely interested for many years as contractor for lumber jobs, cleared off most of the heavy timber around Milton, and rafted most of it to market. His principal business was lumbering. He purchased the old Lutheran Church on Mahanoy street and remodeled it into a dwelling, which is now the residence of Samuel Fletcher. Mr. Kreitzer was a Whig and later a Republican. He held minor offices in the township and was a member of the Lutheran Church. He died in 1878 at the age of seventy-eight; his good wife survived him until 1884, when she, too, laid down the burden of life, at the advanced age of eighty-two. Their children were as follows: Washington, our subject's father; John; Sarah; Jacob; Reuben; William; Adam; and Moses, who died in early childhood. Washington Kreitzer, father of our subject, was born at Milton, Pa. At the age of ten years he drove a canal team and considered himself a man. He was very energetic and quite handy with horses. Later he drove a packet team and in winter a stage coach, also carrying the mail up and down the river for many years. Thus in various ways he accumulated in the course of a few years money enough to try a business venture for himself. He associated himself with Conrad Cares, under the firm name of Kreitzer & Cares, and engaged in the butchering business in Milton. Later he was associated with Charles Hoye in the same business. After a short time he sold out his interest and served as assistant for William P. Hall, dealer in coal and grain. He subsequently carried on the dairy business. He served two terms as street commissioner. During his last years he assisted his son, the subject of this sketch, in the grocery business. He possessed a strong constitution and was a hard worker; previous to the illness which caused his death he had often remarked that he had not paid twenty-five dollars for medicine during his lifetime. On June 17, 1898, in his seventieth year, he died with dropsy. Catherine Lore, daughter of J. Lore of lola, Pa., became his wife and survives her husband. She resides in Milton, aged sixty-six years. The following are their children: Mary Catherine, who married John Byres, of South Milton; John H., our subject; Elizabeth, who became the wife of William Cowles, of Muncy, Pa.; Abraham, who died young; Addie, who married Augustus Berger, of Watsontown; William Washington, now deceased. February 11, 1886, our subject was united in marriage with Mary Catherine Ettla, a daughter of Capt. George H. and Amanda C. Ettla. One daughter now blesses the home of our subject, Mary Elizabeth. Both he and his family are of the Presbyterian faith. Mr. Kreitzer, besides being an active man in business circles, has done much to advance the interests of Milton. From 1893 to 1896 he served as chief burgess of Milton; for three years as councilman of the borough; for three years as auditor; as judge of election for two terms, and in other minor offices. He is a director of the Milton board of trade, and is financially associated with the Milton Knitting Company and the Milton Driving Park & Fair Association. He is also a stockholder in the Milton Trust & Safe Deposit Company. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and has served as secretary and treasurer of the Baptist Church and Sunday School for nine years. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/pafiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb