BIO:  John B. WANTZ, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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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 53

JOHN B. WANTZ, son of Lewis W. and Lyddie (Bentzel) Wantz, was born March 19, 
1836, in Heidelburg Township, and in his youth divided his time between the 
common schools and farm work.  His first work was in the flour-mill, after which 
he began his trade as carpenter with Rogers & Wilt, of Dover.  After learning 
his trade he worked at journey-work two years, when the civil war of 1861 broke 
out, when he began work for the United States Government at Aquia Creek, Va., 
also at Washington, D. C.  He then returned home and superintended an ore mine 
for a year, and afterward began building and contracting in York, Penn.  August 
28, 1868, our subject married Susanna Buhler, of Manchester Township, daughter 
of Andrew and Sarah (Hake) Buhler.  Six children were born to this union:  
Lizzie E., Emerson H. (deceased), Charles (deceased), Sadie Ellen, Carrie May 
(deceased) and Louisa A. A.  Our subject’s grandfather, Frederick Wantz, came 
from Alsace, Germany, to York County, when a young man, and settled in 
Heidelberg Township, where our subject’s grandfather, Philip Wantz, was born, 
and died in his eighty-third year.  Mr. Wantz has been one of the leading 
builders of York for many years, having erected many of the finest residences in 
the western part of the borough.