Bio: Michael Bretzuis Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by fureyhaka@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE:Printing this file 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. _________________________________________________________________ Michael Bretzius Michael was born in Wolfersweiler, Saarland, Germany in 1740, the last of thirteen children. When he was five years old, his father died. Three years later his Mother, with four of his brothers and sisters, immigrated to Pennsylvania. They sailed on the ship "Two Brothers" and arrived at Philadelphia in 1748. They first settled in Tulpehocken, Berks County, where Michael was naturalized in 1765. By 1772, he was living in Pine Grove, was married to Sarah and was raising a family. There is a record of Michael having his daughter Maria Catharina Baptized at the Host Church in Tulpehocken on Nov. 8, 1772. He and his wife Sarah sponsored a Baptism in the same church in the year 1778. In 1778, he purchased the 700 acre plantation he had been living on from Christian Lauer, a fellow emigrant from Wolfersweiler and a fellow officer from the Pennsylvania Militia. The first settlers in Pine Grove were Germans. They carried on improvements with great energy and success throughout the valleys between Sharp Mountain and the Blue Mountains. They provided meeting houses, churches and schools. The preaching and teaching were done mostly in German. Manufacturing was carried on everywhere. Clothing was homemade; carpenters, blacksmiths and shoemakers were present. A forge, tannery, carding mill, sawmill, and distillery were in operation. And the first grist mill was built by Michael Bretzius. Michael entered the militia service at the very beginning of the Revolution and served with distinction during the entire Revolutionary War as a Captain. He was one of Pine Grove's leading citizens who played a prominent role in the affairs of the county. He represented Pine Grove at a county meeting in 1775 when it was decided to join the Revolution. Despite the small numbers of residents, the stubborn German farmers were not dismayed. They were strongly in sympathy with the movement for independence. It fit intimately with their hardheaded notions of political life and social existence. They had a fixed belief in local government without the imposition of unnecessary burdens or restrictions. And so the plain people of Pine Grove took an active part in the affairs of the country and province, thus contributing to the ultimate victory in the War of Independence. He participated in the campaign around Philadelphia in 1777, being listed as one of two captains in the fifth battalion under Colonel George Miller. Captain Bretzius commanded the Pine Grove Company. His first lieutenant was Bernhard Zimmerman, and he had a second lieutenant, an ensign, and two court martial men as officers. In addition, he had four sergeants, two drummers, a fifer and 59 enlisted men. He participated in the campaign around Philadelphia in 1777, being listed as one of two captains in the fifth battalion under Colonel George Miller. His son, Michael Jr., also served in the militia. Before the War he had built a grist mill on the Little Swatara Creek, which was later used to grind meal for the Continental Army while it was encamped at Valley Forge. He continued to occupy the original structure until about 1799, when it was torn down and replaced with a modern frame building. He conducted a milling and grain business in the new building. After the War, Michael also built and operated a carding mill (where wool fibers are spun into slivers before weaving) and cloth dressing establishment. It was located on the Bretzius farm about three quarters of a mile northeast of the grist mill. The mill was equipped with two carding machines, a foot-power spinning frame and a foot-power loom for weaving. This small textile mill was the most complete in Pine Grove Township at the time. Captain Bretzius had the reputation of being a mechanical genius. He was a blacksmith by trade, but was equally skilled as a wood turner. When he erected his new grist mill, practically all the machinery was of his own construction. He also built most of the machinery used in the carding mill. Upon his death in 1803 the properties passed to his son, Michael Jr., who continued to operate both mills until 1824. Michael was buried in Salem Hetzel's Cemetery. His will was proved Sept. 30, 1803. He provided for his sons George, Michael, Nicholas, John, daughters Elizabeth and Julianna, his sister Mary, and his wife Sarah. He named his son George and wife Sarah as the executors of the estate.