BIO: B. Franklin and Charles F. Hantz, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 21

HANTZ BROS. (B. Franklin and Charles F. Hantz), hardware merchants of York, are 
sons of Jacob Hantz, who, in 1842, was elected the first Whig sheriff of York 
county, and are of Swiss-German ancestry.  John Nicholas Hantz married Anna 
Barbara Burghart in the province of Starkenburg, Sponheim County, Germany, in 
1737.  He died in the Fatherland, date unknown, and left four children, viz.: 
John Andreas, Maria Catrine, Mary Margaretta and Catrina Elizabeth.  On June 22, 
1751, the widow of John Nicholas Hantz was married to John Peter Streher, and 
three years later the entire family set sail from Rotterdam, Holland, for 
America, and located in Dover Township among the first settlers.  In 1758 John 
Peter Streher became on of the founders of the Dover Church, and at times, 
during the absence of ministers, was empowered by the Lutheran synod to 
officiate at certain religious services.  He taught the first parochial school 
at the Dover Church.  John Andreas Hantz, who accompanied the emigrant party in 
1754, became the ancestor of the Hantz family in America.  One of his sons, 
Andrew Hantz, born in Dover Township, was married to Mary Sharp.  They had 
children as follows: John, Jacob, Philip, Daniel, Joseph, Catharine, Susan and 
Mary Ann.  Jacob Hantz, the second son, was born 1797, married Magdalena Hershey 
in 1821, and the same year began keeping Hants's Hotel in York, now known at the 
Motler House, which, under him, was a very popular and well-kept house of public 
entertainment.  He continued the business at the same stand until his election 
as sheriff of York County, which office he filled with signal ability.  
Afterward engaged in the hardware business, under the firm of Hantz, Frick & 
Co., at the stand now occupied by his sons.  He died in 1868, and his sons then 
succeeded him.  He left three sons: Henry A., B. Frank and Charles F.  Henry A. 
Hantz married Henrietta L. Beeler.  They have three daughters, viz.: Annie M. 
(married to Ivan Glossbrenner), Lucy H. (married to Edward Chapin, Esq.), and 
Mary A. (married to Robert Stair).  B. Franklin (married to Rebecca Graybill of 
West Manchester Township).  They have three children as follows: Charles Edward, 
Alice and Grant.