My Genealogy Hound

HORACE B. KRATZ, the successor of S. H. Longacre, a miller of Schwenksville, is a native of Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born October 19, 1866. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of the neighborhood in the intervals of farm labor. He is the son of Daniel J. and Hannah B. (Boorse) Kratz.

Daniel J. Kratz (father) was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county, November 15, 1826, and died either from heart failure caused by a fall, or from the fall itself, January 30, 1885, at the age of fifty-eight years. Daniel J. Kratz was reared to farm pursuits which he followed, attending market for a number of years. He was a successful and progressive farmer. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, although he never sought nor held office, but was honored for his integrity and strict attention to business. In religious faith he was a Mennonite. His wife died in 1889 at the homestead where her husband was born, lived and died. She was also a member of the Mennonite church. Their children: Amanda, Mary, Hannah, Henry, Franklin, Emma, Ellen, Horace B., subject of this sketch; Daniel, John and Jacob. Henry, Emma and Ellen died in infancy. There are now living: Horace B., Jacob, Mary and Hannah. Mrs. Daniel J. Kratz was a daughter of Jacob Boorse. He was a bricklayer, and followed that occupation for many years, being an excellent mechanic. The Boorses were Mennonites in religious faith. Their children: Anna, Mrs. J. Lloyd; Sallie, Mrs. E. Landis; Hannah (mother); Kate, Mrs. A. Kratz.

Valentine Kratz (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county on May 10, 1747. He died July 28, 1834. He married Mary Rosenberger. She died in 1805. They had nine children, as follows: Ann, Daniel (father), Valentine, Abraham, John, Isaac, David, William, Jacob. Valentine Kratz was a prominent farmer and a Mennonite.

John Valentine Kratz (great-grandfather) was born in 1707, inl the Palatinate, a province in Germany bordering on the Rhine. He died in 1780, at the age of seventy-three years. He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1727 when he was twenty years of age, on the ship Friendship, landing at Philadelphia in October of that year. One sister came with him to this country. With others he emigrated to America on account of religious persecution at home. He was the son of John Philip Kratz, who was born in Germany, October 9, 1665, and died there in 1746, at the age of eighty years. His wife died in 1710. The children of John Philip Kratz: Ann, John, John Philip, Anna Maris, Anna, John Valentine (great-grandfather), and Ann Elizabeth. John Valentine Kratz is the progenitor of the American branch of the family which originated in Pennsylvania and has spread to most of the states of the Union.

Horace B. Kratz was born and reared on the old Kratz homestead, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, attending in his boyhood days the schools of the neighborhood, alternating study with farm labor, as is usual in rural districts. In 1889 he learned the milling business, working as a journeyman until 1892, when he became a partner in the mill of H. H. Longaker & Company. In 1892 the old burrstones were replaced by the patent roller process. The partnership continued until the death of Mr. Longaker, when Horace B. Kratz obtained possesion of the mill, and is doing a merchant milling and feed business. He also bales hay, buying it as well as grain from the farmers of the vicinity. He finds a market for his products in the surrounding country. He is a Republican in politics, but has never sought or held office. In 1889 he married Sallie B. Longaker, who was born September 6, 1868. She is the daughter of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Bardman) Longaker, both of Montgomery county, Samuel being the son of Abraham Longaker, whose children were John, Abraham, Mary, Sarah, Anna, and Samuel H. Samuel H. Longaker was reared on the farm, and educated in the district schools until the age of eighteen years, when he entered the historic structure known as the Pennypacker mill, near Schwenksville, where he learned the trade, and later bought the mill now operated by Horace B. Kratz. He had previously worked for some time at Arcola. He made many improvements at the mill, buying eighteen acres of land adjacent, on which he erected a handsome residence. He died March 21, 1903, of apoplexy, at the age of sixty-one years. He was a Republican in politics, but never sought or held office. He was a member of the Mennonite denomination, and at one time was selected for minister, but was relieved on account of the exacting nature of his business. He was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Bardman, daughter of Solomon Bardman, who with his wife spent his declining years with the Longakers, and died there. Mr. Bardman was a blacksmith by trade, and a prominent Lutheran. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bardman: Jonathan, Josiah, Sallie, Mrs. J. Levengood; Amanda, Mrs. William Allbright; Elizabeth, mother of Mrs. Kratz. Samuel H. Longaker married (second wife), a widow, Anna Rahn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, of Berks county, where she was born. By the second marriage Mr. Longaker had two daughters: Irene, Mrs. W. Slonecker; and Mary, Mrs. E. Undercoffler. The widow resides at the homestead. She is a Lutheran. Mr. and Mrs. Horace Kratz have adopted an orphan girl, Edna Schaffer, born in 1898.

Horace and Sallie B. Kratz have had three children, all of whom died in infancy. He and his wife are Mennonites.