OBIT: Henry A. REITZ, 1940, native of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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HENRY A. REITZ

  Henry A. Reitz, a former resident of West Salisbury, died at the age of 80 
years in the Memorial Hospital, in Johnstown, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1940, of 
labor pneumonia.  He was born at Roxbury, Pa., Stonycreek Township, and was a 
son of Hartman and Sarah Geigher Reitz.
  He came to West Salisbury during the early "eighties" with his elder brother, 
the late Hartman Reitz, and jointly they operated a large three-story steam 
gristmill that stood near where a concrete bridge now spans the Casselman River.  
They purchased the mill, but after operating it a few years, they dissolved 
partnership, and Henry became the sole owner, his elder brother locating in 
Salisbury Borough, where he purchased and operated a planing mill, for many 
years, and also a cider mill and applebutter factory.
  Henry continued to operate the gristmill at West Salisbury until the latter 
part of 1892, when the mill burned down from a cause unknown to him, and some 
time later he located in Johnstown.  Both of these brothers were intensely 
religious, scrupulously honest and very charitable.  Soon after the great 
Johnstown flood in 1889, Henry donated a carload of flour, grain and potatoes to 
refugees in that city.
  But they and their father, a native of Germany, had operated in their time the 
old log Reitz grist at Roxbury, which was torn down several years ago and moved 
to Jenner Township, where it was reconstructed and is now being used as the 
Mountain Playhouse.
  A lifelong member of the Lutheran church, Henry A. Reitz was a member of the 
committee which had charge of the construction of the present Lutheran Church in 
Salisbury.  He also was a member of the committee which arranged for the 
construction of the old Moxham Lutheran Church.
  Henry A. Reitz and Miss Elizabeth Foust were united in marriage in the 
Salisbury Lutheran Church by Rev. O. F. Harshman, then pastor.  The couple 
observed their 52nd wedding anniversary last August 30, when Mr. Reitz was 
enjoying good health.
  Besides his widow he leaves five children - Lester C. Reitz, Mrs. Robert A. 
Galbreath, Herbert F. Reitz, Albert H. Reitz and Miss Elsie M. Reitz, all of 
Johnstown.  A son, Oscar V. Reitz, died in Ferndale at the age of nine years.
  There are 16 grandchildren.
  Mr. Reitz was a brother of Jacob J. Reitz, Akron, O., who visited with him 
only last week, and Conrad Reitz, Maxwell, La., who will be 100 years old next 
November 25.
  Mr. Reitz was preceded in death by these brothers and sisters: William Reitz, 
Piqua, O.; Joseph Reitz, Roxbury; Hartman Reitz, Salisbury; John Reitz, 
Rockwood; Mrs. Ellen Spangler, Denver, Colorado.
  The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Roy J. Meyer, pastor of Trinity 
Lutheran Church, of which the deceased was a member, at 11 a.m., last Saturday 
morning at the H. M. Picking & Sons Funeral Home, Somerset.  Interment was made 
in the Grandview Cemetery.

Meyersdale Republican, September 19, 1940