BIO:  John E. WEITZEL, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  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, Wrightsville Borough and Hellam Township, Pg 82

JOHN E. WEITZEL, was born in Hellam Township February 24, 1828, the only child 
born to John and Elizabeth (Poff) Weitzel.  He was brought up on the farm and 
educated at the public schools.  At seventeen years of age he began learning the 
blacksmith trade at Wrightsville, and served as apprentice four years.  When 
about twenty-one years old he engaged as foreman in Elwine’s brickyard, which 
position he held until 1859, when he purchased the yard.  In 1865 he engaged in 
the lime burning business in addition to brick-making, and continued until 1882, 
when he sold the brickyard, but retained and continued the lime burning business 
in the name of Kerr, Weitzel & Co.  In 1850 he was married at York, Penn., to 
Carrie Elwine, of York, and had eight children, five of whom are living:  Henry 
E., John L., Carrie May, Emma L. and George B.  Mr. Weitzel is a very active 
business man; he is a director of the First National Bank of Wrightsville, 
president of the Wrightsville Hall Association, and the man who through his 
energy, made the latter enterprise a success.  He was school director three 
times, and councilman twice.  He also owns a branch lime business in Lancaster 
County, which he managed from 1865 to 1875.  In 1883 he burned and handled about 
250,000 bushels of lime.  He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.