Reitz Family History and Record Book Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Robert Reitz. RDReitz@worldnet.att.net USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. THE REITZ FAMILY HISTORY AND RECORD BOOK compiled by the Rev. J. J. Reitz PREFACE A Reitz Family History and Record Book has been desired for a long time. It had truly been regarded as a stupendous and laborious undertaking, and by some as too difficult for accomplishment. Several years ago, the Reitz Reunion decided to publish it, and the great task fell to the lot of the author. We have hopefully worked at it for years at our leisure, and cheerfully endeavored to gather the records of all dear and affectionate blood relatives, the descendants of Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz, to preserve their full names birth, death, burial place, marriage, parents, children, occupation and residence. After years of difficult research we have finally obtained many official records from Europe of the ancestors of our Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz, tracing completely back to near the middle of the 17th century, or about 1670. The Reitz people have scattered to all parts, the residence and even names of some are unknown to us, wherefore records are difficult to obtain, and in some cases not available. We have, however, tried and tried again to find them. In many cases surprising results rewarded the strenuous efforts. With great pleasure and affectionate feelings for one's own blood relations we have opened the many letters bringing the desired records and tabulated and written them out. We heartily acknowledge the general support and kind help and cooperation of many in the matter. Some have furnished very complete records, while others only meagre one, and the author had to accept and arrange what he had received. Mistakes are very apt to happen in such a work, but we have tried very hard to avoid any and all mistakes. During the many years while serving as pastor of congregations the author often noted the carelessness in keeping family records, which often became lost. Even tombstones, which were carefully created many years ago by loving hands to preserve the memory and records of their dear departed, were often found neglected and sometimes even carelessly cast a by, when unfortunately sometimes all available records were lost. In this book we try to preserve for all time, and especially for the coming generations, the Reitz Family Records, for the pleasure and information of all readers. We beg the reader to make allowance for incompleteness in this book and where co_e are not included, which is by no means intentional; all of which is left for a revised and more complete future edition. It should be remarked that the many Reitz people, regardless of their praiseworthy ancestral heritage, good qualities, accomplishments and achievements, are all human and have their faults just like others; but generally we feel very proud of them as the Reitz Clan, and let their faults alone. The most cordial and affectionate feelings for all Reitz Relatives, and the prayer for better and stronger family ties and mutual appreciation of one's own kin, accompany this book. THE AUTHOR. (Rev. J. J. Reitz, A.B., M.D.) Walnutport, Pa. 1930 REITZ NATIVE LAND It has long been a foremost question among the many Reitz people, especially of the present generation, from what land or country their ancestors came. Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz, the progenitor of most of the Reitzes in Lehigh Co., Pa. and adjacent parts elsewhere, who landed at Philadelphia, Pa. Sept. 7, 1748, came from the southwestern part of Germany. We consider ourselves very fortunate in having secured copies of the official records tracing the Reitz lineage completely back to 1690, some of which will be presented in this book. Johan Friedrich Reitz emigrated in 1748 from Florsbach, at that time in the principality of Hanau, but now (1930) in the District of Gelnhausen, Reg. Bez. Kassel, Province of Hessen-Nassau, belonging to Prussia, Germany; and from thence he came to Philadelphia, Pa. The location is several miles east of the city of Hanau and about 40 miles east of the large city of Frankfurt-on-the-Main, Germany. The Germans kept very complete and satisfactory records for centuries, especially in their churches where clergymen were paid state officials whose duty, among other things, was to make and preserve careful complete family records. 1690 GENEALOGY The ancestors of the Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz, who came to Philadelphia Sept. 7, 1748, as taken from the official records of the Florsbach and Kempfenbrunn Lutheran Church Parish, in the District of Gelnhausen, Hessen-Nassau, Germany. JOHANNES REITZ, was the great-grandfather of Johan Friedrich Reitz, and lived at 1690 at Rohrig, in the Biebergrund parish, District of Gelnhausen, and not far from Florsbach, which is several miles east of the city of Hanau, Germany. JOHANNES REITZ, son of Johannes Reitz of Rohrig, now belonging to the Bieber Lutheran Church, in the district of Gelnhausen, and Anna Barbara Friedrich, daughter of Stoffel Friedrich of Lohrhaupten, Seulbach, held their engagement services Jan. 15, 1690, and their marriage ceremony Feb. 11, 1690. They were the grandparents of Pioneer Johan Friedrich Reitz. JOHANNES PETER REITZ, (also called Hans Peter, Johann Peter, or only Peter), son of Johannes and Anna Barbara (Friedrich) Reitz, of Rohrig (now Bieber Luth. Church) Gelnhausen, born Dec. 3, 1690, baptized the same day, the sponsor being Peter Freund, son of Hans Freund (a smith or tailor). Married Jan. 4, 1715 Magdalena Weygand, born on the day of Simonis and Judae, 1687, daughter of Niclas Weygand, of Lohrhaupten, baptized on the same day, the sponsor being Magdalena, housewife of Peter Kesler. Johannes Peter Reitz died and was buried Dec. 2, 1732, aged 41« years. His wife Magdalena (Weygand) Reitz died and was buried A.D. 1740, aged 53 years. They lived at Lohrhaupten and were the parents of Johan Friedrich Reitz. JOHANN FRIEDRICH REITZ, (the Pioneer) son of Johannes Peter and Magdalena (Weygand) Reitz of Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, born and baptized Aug. 22, 1721, the sponsor was Joh. Friedenberger, single; married Nov. 29, 1746, during public service in the church, Anna Margaretha Steigerwalt of Florsbach; she was born and baptized Feb. 20, 1719, the sponsor being Anna Margaretha, the wife of Henrich Samers of Florsbach. He was a mason by occupation. They lived at Florsbach til they emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1748. Rev. George Maldfeld, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran parish of the churches of Kempfenbrunn and Florsbach, writes as follows: "Florsbach, Kempfenbrunn , Lohrhaupten in former times belonged together as one parish. These places and Bieber (with Gassen and Rohrig- Biebergrund) are the only Evangelical Lutheran Parishes in Spessart in this part of the country; they belonged formerly to the Earldom, of Hanau, while now they belong to the District of Gelnhausen. In Lohrhaupten the name Reitz has all died out, while in Florsbach it appears manifoldly yet at this day. The name was also brought over from Rohrig to Lohrhaupten only through the marriage of Joh. Reitz to that place, while it has remained in Florsbach, even though it is not found there before 1745." From the church records at this place it is clearly established that the emigrant Johann Friedrich Reitz emigrated from Florsbach in 1748 with his wife and only one child. This child, a little son (Johann Henrich?) as verified by the church record was born Feb. 12, 1747, only one year before their emigration. The church records also show that Johann Friedrich Reitz, son of Johannes Peter (also called Hans Peter, Johann Peter, or only Peter) and Magdalena (Weygand or Weigandt) Reitz, had yet four brothers of whom the name of one was Johann George Reitz, born Feb. 5, 1726. The official church records of Kempfenbrunn and Florsbach also state that "In the years 1748 to 1754 and in 1766, 167 persons emigrated to Pennsylvania from Florsbach and Kempfenbrunn, or from 1748 to 1754, 90 persons (1748, 22 persons; 1749, 2; 1750, 24; 1751, 32; 1752, 2 and 1754, 8), and in 1766, 77 persons." This reduced the population of these two towns about 20 percent. The list of emigrants for the aforenamed years follows: 1748, FROM FLORSBACH: Hans Kunkle with wife and 6 children. George Steigerwald with wife and 3 children. FRIEDRICH REITZ WITH WIFE AND 1 CHILD Eberhard Kunkle. Catharina Keyserin with 1 child. FROM KEMPFENBRUNN: Johann Adam Dietrich. Peter Kohler. Margaretha Uhlin. 1749, FROM FLORSBACH: Peter Steigerwald, son Johannes Steigerwald. Johannes Steigerwald, son of Melchior Steigerald. 1750, FROM FLORSBACH: George Kunkle with wife and 3 children. Johannes Huth with wife and 4 children. Elisabeth Kleinfellerin with 1 child. Andreas Schuster, Wehl, son of George Schuster. Melchior Kleinfeller, son of Hans Peter Kleinfeller. Eberhard Steigerwald, stepson of Melchior Kunkle. FROM KEMPFENBRUNN: Peter Hartman with wife and 4 children. Anna Maria Fischerin, daughter of Henrich Fischer. Friedrich Steinberger, son of Casper Steinberger. 1751, FROM FLORSBACH: Lorenz Kunkle with wife and 1 child. Hans Peter Klienfeller with wife and 1 child. Magdalena Kayserin with 1 child. Regina Kayserin with 1 child. Hans Adam Koch with 1 wife and 5 children. Anna Maria Dietrichin, daughter of Peter Dietrich. FROM KEMPFENBRUNN: Michael Fischer, Jr., with wife and 3 children. Peter Herr with wife and 2 children. Philipp Dill. 1752, FROM KEMPFENBRUNN: Johannes Hartman and his wife. 1754, FROM FLORSBACH: Johannes Schuster. FROM KEMPFENBRUNN: Nicolaus Keppler with wife and 2 children. Philipp Lindenberger's sons, Adam and Michel. Magdalena, daughter of Casper Steinberger. DEPARTED FOR PENNSYLVANIA IN 1766 FROM KEMPFENBRUNN: Michael Kohler with woman and 2 children. Johannes steingerger with wife and 4 children. Henrich Heuser with wife and 1 child. Margareta Kohlerin and Johannes Koholer, children of Michel Kohler. Lipps Linneberger's W and son. Peter Kohler's W and 1 daughter. FROM FLORSBACH: Henrich Kunkle with woman and 2 children, Melchior Kunkle's W. Casper Dietrich with woman and 4 children. Johannes Hens with woman and 2 children. Melchior Schuster's W with 3 sons. Johannes Bauer with wife and 7 children. Friedrich steigerwald with wife and 4 children. Magdalena, a born Herr from Ulrick. Schoolmaster Bach's W with 4 children. Johannes Kleinfeller with wife and 1 son. Johannes Steigerwald with wife and 3 children. Johannes Kunkle with wife and 1 child. Catharina _utin, a single maid and Adam Steigerwald's W. Hanns Michel Kunkle, smith, son of Melchior Kunkle. Margaretha Dietrichin, daughter of Herm Schulther's Dietrich. YET FROM FLORSBACH: Catharina Heuserin, a single maid with 1 son. Margaretha Uhlin, daughter of Johannes Uhl, miller. CONDITION OR DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIVE HOME Of the Reitz Ancestors in Europe. A few words on the subject may be appreciated. The country in Europe where many of the immediate Reitz Ancestors lived two to three centuries ago, was mostly a country of farming district with small towns or villages like Florsbach, Kempfenbrunn, Rohrig, Lohrhaupten, Bieber, etc. situate several miles east of the city of Hanau, in Gelnhausen District, Province of Hessen-Nassau, Germany. A description of their country verifies the tradition among their descendants here in Pennsylvania, that they came from a hilly and mountainous country just like many parts here in Pennsylvania. There were many hills and beautiful narrow valleys, good springs and many delightful creeks like the Florsbach Creek (the name implying flowery brook) and also some high mountains. At some places the soil described sandy and naturally not very fertile. There dense forests on the mountains, where there were berries much like we find on our mountains. The people had small houses, often built with stone, with a simple fireplace of stone (hearth) leading up a chimney, where they cooked on a tripot or with iron kettles hung on a hook above the fire. They had small fields and their cultivating tools were primitive. The inhabitants were generally poor. It is related that in the Spring many of the men would go away to cities and other industrial places to earn some money while the women and children attended to the work at home on their small farms during the Summer. Their taxes were often exorbitant, and frequently royal decrees restricted their free and reasonable pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Regardless of all hardships, they prospered, and some had evidently saved enough money to emigrate and make the long and hazardous journey to Pennsylvania. It is no wonder that such sturdy energetic laborious people made so many prosperous homes here in Pennsylvania and promoted a numerous frugal industrious worthy progeny. The description tells us they were a very religious people, had for centuries everywhere their church and a schoolhouse aside it, where a thorough education, especially morally, was strictly carried on. A picture of the little church at Florsbach is presented in this book, a little Lutheran Church, which is said to be standing already for about 500 years, being renewed from time to time as in 1728 and 1928. It is the same church building which our ancestor Johan Friedrich Reitz and family attended before they came to Pennsylvania and where they were married Nov. 19, 1746. The Reitz ancestors seem to have dwelled for centuries in that District of Gelnhausen, as called now, to the East of the city of Hanau of which principality it was formerly a part. They generally adhered to the Evan. Lutheran church. Evidently not all the Reitz people in olden times lived in the hilly country to the east of the city of Hanau. Some lived in other places like in Fulda. Persons who visited recently over there report that many with the name Reitz are living at this day in the cities of Hanau and Frankfurt-on-the-Main. History informs us that in olden times the Reitz people in Europe were a noble people, regardless of the fact that some were poor. Some were poor. Some were university professors, clergymen, physicians, state officials and princes. They had their Reitz Knights. They had their "Coat-of-Arms", and armorial insignia, of which several are mentioned in old European records and histories. A picture of one of them is presented herewith. From their original habitation near the city of Hanau they scattered to all parts of the earth. ORIGIN OF THE NAME REITZ. The Reitz people living over there in the city of Hanau, Germany, have a tradition as to how the name REITZ originated. It is given herewith for what it is worth. The tradition runs as follows: In olden times there were no surnames, and persons were known by only one name, like in the time of Christ we speak of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But in the course of time surnames were acquired in addition to the first names for better designation. Frequently the father's names was used. The tradition has it that several centuries ago there appeared near the city of Hanau and old man with a long white beard riding a noble horse, who had escapes from somewhere in the East, might have been last from Saxony, on account of religious persecution, and who rode on his horse about the country, advocating especial freedom of religion and admonished the people everywhere in religious assemblies in their free country. They knew him as the "Reitczaronitsch" or the riding czarewitch, that is the riding son of the czar or prince, or a rider of noble birth. His children were known as John or Jacob, etc. von Reit-czaronitsch, or Reit-czargeburt, of noble birth. Some time later the hind part of czaronitsch or czargeburt was dropped and only the "z" was retained and pronounced in addition to the "Reitz", leaving the name "Reitz", which thereafter became the common adopted surname of the Reitz clan. [Transcription Note: At this point, the book begins the account of Johan Friedrich Reitz and his descendants, primarily of Lehigh County, PA, of which I have only the first ten pages or so. The account of Johan George Reitz, who came to PA shortly after his brother, and his descendants, primarily of Northumberland County, PA, begins with Appendix II some 80 pages later, and which, for our purposes, is transcribed next.] APPENDIX II PIONEER JOHAN GEORGE REITZ of near Rebuck, PA at the Swabian Creek Northumberland County, PA PIONEER JOHAN GEORGE REITZ, progenitor of most of the Reitz people of Northumberland and adjacent counties of Pennsylvania, was a brother of Johan Friedrich Reitz, the ancestor of most of the Reitzes of Lehigh and adjacent counties of Pennsylvania, of whose descendants this book is mostly written. Johan George Reitz was a son of Johannes Peter (also called Hans Peter, Johann Peter, or only Peter) and Magdalena (Weygand) Reitz, of Lohrhaupten, District of Gelnhausen, in the Province of Hessen-Nassau, Germany. The country district is several miles east of the city of Hanau, to which it formerly belonged, and about 40 miles east of the large city of Frankfurt-on-the- Main, Germany. For more description refer to the beginning of this book under the subjects "Native Land" and "Genealogy" of Johan Friedrich Reitz, which applies also to him. He was born at Lohrhaupten, Gelnhausen, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, Feb. 5, 1726, as the Lutheran Church records show at that place, and which also show that in addition to his brother Johan Friedrich Reitz, there were yet three other brothers. He also emigrated to Pennsylvania and sailed on the Ship Duke of Bedford, and landed at Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 14, 1751, as the Penn. Archives at Harrisburg, Pa., show; where an examination disclosed that in taking the Oath of Allegiance he made his mark to his name which the clerk misspelled "Ritz" instead of "Reitz". Some time later he settled on a large farm at the Swabian Creek, about half a mile east of what is now Himmels Church, near Rebuck, Northumberland Co., Pa. Penn. Archives show land warrants by George Reitz in Northumberland Co., Oct. 14, 1772, 200 acres; Sept. 16, 1773, 50 acres. He and his wife engaged in farming, and at death were buried on their farm. They had a family of sons and daughters. We have record of two: 1. Andreas Reitz, b. Jan. 1, 1755; d. mar. 16, 1837. 2. Michael Reitz, b. Jan. 1757; d. Dec. 17, 1825. They were Lutherans, and it is reported they were instrumental in organizing and building the original Himmels Church, near Rebuck, Pa. Evidence points to their influence and prominent religious character, because two large tombstones mark their graves in the first row near the Himmels church in the Church cemetery. [Transcription Note: At this point, Appendix II is divided into 2 sections, the first dealing with Andreas Reitz and his descendants, the second with Michael Reitz and his descendants. For our purposes, the second section will be transcribed here, leaving the first to be done at a later date.] Appendix II, Sec. 2. MICHAEL REITZ, SR., the other son of Pioneer George Reitz, at the Swabian Creek, Northumberland Co., Pa., b. Jan. 1757; d. Dec. 17, 1825; married Elizabeth Rebuck, b. 1766, d. Dec. 18, 1853. Both are buried at Himmels Church. They were devout Lutherans; he was the building master of the second or stone Himmels Church in 1818. Were farmers near Rebuck, Pa., and had ten children: 1. Michael, Jr. 2. Peter, Juniata Co., Pa. 3. William, Jefferson Co., Pa. 4. Daniel, lived on the old homestead. 5. Jonathan, lived on the old homestead. 6. Henry, Washington Township. 7. George, Jefferson Co., Pa. 8. John, Jefferson Co., Pa. 9. Bevvy, m. John George Reed. 10. Christina, m. Michael Hetrick. MICHAEL REITZ, JR., (also called Johan Michael), son of Michael Reitz, Sr. (Son of Johan George), b. in Washington Township, Northumberland Co., Pa., Aug. 12, 1785; d. July 28, 1874; m. Magdalena Eister, b. July 1788, d. Oct. 12, 1846, both are buried at Himmels Church; were farmers in Washington Township, and had six children: 1. Peter, Rockfeller Township. 2. Abraham, Little Mahanoy Township. 3. Christianna, m. Michael Hoch. 4. David, Washington Township. 5. Leonard, Washington Township. 6. Jonas. DAVID REITZ, son of Michael Reitz, Jr., (son of Michael Reitz, Sr., son of Pioneer Johan George), of Washington Township, whose son William married Susanna Raker. He was a merchant at Greenbrier, Pa., and they had four children: 1. Katie, m. G. M. Houghton, Shamokin, Pa. 2. John Lewis, b. 1876. 3. David W. 4. Charles J., b. Apr. 30, 1884. DANIEL REITZ, son of Michael, Sr., son of Johan George, b. near Rebuck, Pa., Aug. 11, 1804; d. Jan. 9, 1886; m. Susanna Burrell, b. June 10, 1810, d. Jan. 12, 1881. Both are buried at Himmels Church, were farmers on the old homestead and had ten children: 1. Maria, m. Elias Rebuck. 2. Jonathan B., d. in Missouri. 3. Samuel B. 4. Katie, m. 1st, Godfried Rebuck; 2nd, Andrew Rebuck. 5. John B., Nebraska. 6. Salome, m. Milton Drumheller. 7. Elizabeth, m. Jared Snyder. 8. Michael B., Washington Township. 9. Leonard B., Nebraska. 10. Daniel B., Mifflintown, Pa. SAMUEL B. REITZ, son of Daniel and Susanna (Burrell) Reitz, b. 1832; d. June 29, 1906. Buried at Himmels Church; m. Eliza Reitz, daughter of Philip and Annie (Wagner) Reitz. He was a tailor and farmer of part of the old homestead. They had nine children: 1. Nathan, d. young. 2. John R., Nebraska. 3. Elias R., Mt. Carmel, Pa. 4. Henry M., Sunbury, Pa. 5. Mary A., m. William Rebuck. 6. Andrew D., Jefferson Co., Pa. 7. Susan, m. George A. Floltz, Sunbury, Pa. 8. George W., on the old homestead. 9. Hannah A., unmarried, Sunbury, Pa. ELIAS R. REITZ, of Mt. Carmel, Pa., is the son of Samuel B. (Son of Daniel, son of Michael Sr., son of Pioneer Johan George) Reitz, and his wife Eliza Reitz, daughter of Philip and Annie (Wagner Reitz, born near Rebuck, Pa., Jan. 19, 1858; m. Lydia E. Kehres. He was a school teacher five years, a merchant and justice of the peace eleven years, at Rebuck, Pa., and merchant at Mt. Carmel, Pa. They were devout Christians and active members of the Lutheran Church at Mt. Carmel, Pa., where he was the Sunday school teacher for many years. He was president of the Sunbury Reitz Reunion of the descendants of Johan George Reitz, held annually at or near Sunbury, Pa. They had their home at 234 West Third Street, Mt. Carmel, Pa., and had three children: 1. Bertha M. Reitz, b. Oct. 23, 1886, d. Aug. 4, 1904. 2. Mabel G. Reitz, b. Sept. 16, 1889; d. Jan. 4, 1929; was graduate of Kutztown State Normal School. 3. Charles H. Reitz, b. Dec. 1, 1894; was a graduate of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., and lived with his parents. GEORGE W. REITZ, of Rebuck, Pa., son of Samuel B. and Eliza (Reitz) Reitz, b. near Rebuck, Pa., Sept. 7, 1869; m. June 17, 1894, Polly Geist, b. Aug. 17, 1874, d. Apr. 27, 1920. He was a farmer, Lutheran, and occupied the old homestead near Rebuck, Pa. They had four children: 1. Mazie Reitz, b. Dec. 25, 1895; m. Eston Scheib. 2. Grace Reitz, b. Feb. 18, 1899; m. Francis Hepler. 3. Carrie Reitz, b. Oct. 29, 1904. 4. Alma Reitz, b. Mar. 29, 1910. JOHN LEWIS REITZ, of Lewisburg, Pa., son of William (son of David, son of Michael Jr., son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George) and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, b. near Greenbrier, Pa., in 1876; m. Elizabeth Schwalm, daughter of Daniel E. and Fietta (Schlegel) Schwalm, of Hubley Township, Schuylkill Co., Pa. They lived near Lewisburg, Pa., where he conducts two large farms in up-to-date scientific methods, and generally grows around 25,000 bushels of potatoes and is familiarly known as the "Potato King of the Buffalo Valley". He had constructed three gigantic practical potato cellars, two 100 feet long and 40 feet wide, and the third 80 feet long and 40 feet wide; with a total capacity of over 35,000 bushels. He is favorably and well known for his practical agricultural methods, is an active and foremost participant in furthering many local community affairs, and is treasurer of the Sunbury Reitz Reunion. They are presbyterian, and had eight children: 1. William D. Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; graduate from Bucknell and Columbia College. 2. Charles David Reitz, b. Aug. 28, 1902. 3. Grace V. Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa. 4. Kathryn Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; graduate from Penn State College. 5. Bessie Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel; graduate from Penn State College. 6. Alma M. Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; R.N. at University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. 7. Robert Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; graduated from high school 1930. 8. John Reitz, b. Mt. Carmel, Pa. CHARLES DAVID REITZ, son of John Lewis and Elizabeth (Schwalm) Reitz, of Lewisburg, Pa., b. at Mt. Carmel, Pa., Aug. 28, 1902; m. Oct. 21, 1922, Margaret C. Moran. They lived near Lewisburg, Pa., assisting his father and had two children: 1. Charles Reitz, b. Apr. 25, 1924. 2. Cecilia Reitz, b. Apr. 25, 1925. CHARLES J. REITZ, of Sunbury, Pa., son of William (son of David, son of Michael Jr., son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George) and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, b. at Rebuck, Pa., Apr. 30, 1884; m. Mar. 17, 1903, Bertha M. Hetrick. He clerked a few years in stores at Allentown, Pa., then engaged in store business at Rebuck; later in store and hotel business at Dornsife, Pa. He was also the warden of the Northumberland Co. Jail at Sunbury, Pa. He built a pleasant bungalow with spacious shady grounds surrounding it on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, a short distance below Sunbury, Pa. They had one son, Harold W. HENRY REITZ, son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George, b. at Swabian Creek, buried at Himmels Church, aged over 90 years; Lutheran, and a farmer in Lower Augusta and Washington Townships; m. 1st, Bechtel, and they had one child: Lovina. M. 2nd, Maria Dunkleberger, b. Dec. 23, 1803, d. Jan. 3, 1863, and they had three children: 1. Sarah Reitz. 2. Adam D. Reitz, b. May 6, 1836; d. Mar. 22, 1885; m. Mary Raker, had three children: William H., Dennis, and Galen. 3. Joseph Reitz, b. 1843, at Fishers Ferry, Pa.; d. Jan. 21, 1908, buried at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, little Mahanoy Township; was a farmer and merchant at Dornsife, Pa.; m. Catherine Pfeifer and had six children: Daniel (d. 1900); Alvin P., George, (Dornsife); Edward, (Dornsife); Joseph, (Shamokin); Gertrude. ALVIN P. REITZ, son of Joseph (son of Henry , son of Michael Sr., son of Johan George) and Catherine (Pfeifer) Reitz, b. at Mine Run, Pa., in 1867; attended Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa.; was engaged in contracting and building; was general manager of the East End Limber Co., a large business concern of Shamokin, Pa.; m. Tamie Zartman, daughter of Jacob Zartman of Shamokin, Pa. They lived at Shamokin, Pa., and had one son, Henry Elwood Reitz, b. 1901. GEORGE REITZ, son of Michael Sr. (Son of Johan George) and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz, of near Rebuck, Northumberland Co, Pa., lived in Jefferson Co., and had children: George, Godfrey, Jacob, and Daniel. JOHN REITZ, son of Michael Sr. (Son of Johan George) and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz, of near Rebuck, Pa., lived in Jefferson Co., Pa., and had children: Isaac, Peter R., Michael, and Harry. (and Walter?) WILLIAM REITZ, son of Michael Sr. and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz, of near Rebuck, Pa., lived in Jefferson Co., Pa., and had nine children: Levi, Peter L., Daniel, Morris, Jonathan, Caroline (m. Howe), Margaret (m. Shaffer), Lydia (m. Spare), Susan (m. Swab). MORRIS REITZ, son of William Reitz, who was the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Rebuck) Reitz, lived at Brookville, Pa., and had eight children: 1. Manerva Reitz, m. 1st, Frank Chles, had children: Flora and Pearl; m. 2nd, John Fenstermaker. 2. Clara Reitz, m. J. C. Chles, had a son: Wilbur. 3. Amanda Reitz. 4. Turney Reitz. 5. John Reitz, d. Mar. 16, 1927, had a daughter: Grace. 6. Blair Reitz, had children: Ina and Dawson. 7. Homer Reitz, of Brookville, Pa., had children: Mary, Paul, and Fred. An abstract and lineage has been presented here of Johan George Reitz' descendants who are also very numerous. The date and records are not now on hand for more description, all of which is left for a future and more complete edition. During the past years the descendants of the two brothers Johan Friedrich Reitz, of Lehigh Co., Pa., and Johan George Reitz, of Northumberland Co., Pa., have very agreeably made the acquaintance and association of each other, and many of both clans attend joyfully both Reitz Reunions held annually at New Tripoli, Pa., and at Sunbury, Pa. OTHER REITZ FOLKS. Besides the many Reitz descendants of Johan Friedrich Reitz and Johan George Reitz mentioned in this book, there are many other Reitz people in the United States, and it seems the ancestors of many of them lived also for centuries in that Gelnhausen Province, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, which was no doubt the ancestral home of the Reitz Clan for centuries. The following extract of a letter from Rev. George Reitz, 90 years old, is self-explanatory: "All I can say is that my father and grandfather and their forefathers belonged to the original stock of Gelnhausen Reitzes to which you belong. My father, Rev. Nicholas Reitz, and my grandfather, came to America about 1834, directly from the province of Gelnhausen to Illinois. They and their forefathers lived in small village (Dorf) in the province of Gelnhausen by the name of Biber." [Transcription Note: The book continues with Appendix III which gives a program for one of the reunions and various addenda. In this transcribed portion, all names of individuals appear exactly as they did in the copies of pages from the book being transcribed, even if "obviously" misspelled. Some spelling of words in the body was corrected, but as a whole, it has been transcribed "as is".] RR, Honolulu, HI 9 November 1997