BIO: WILLIAM H. BRETZ, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 353-354
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.	353
    
    WILLIAM H. BRETZ, Carlisle's oldest and most successful liveryman, is of
  German descent. His great-grandfather, Johan Wendel Bretz, landed at
  Philadelphia from the ship "Royal Union," Aug. 15, 1750, accompanied by his
  brothers, Ludwig and Henry, and at the time the vessel reached port Ludwig
  was on the sick list. According to a family tradition a brother Jacob also
  was with the party, but his name does not appear upon the ship's official
  list.
    
    Wendel Bretz first settled somewhere in the eastern part of Pennsylvania,
  but the exact locality is not known. His descendants at an early date
  appeared in Clark's Valley, Dauphin county, where a son lived and engaged at
  farming. This son had a son Jacob, who owned and lived upon a farm in Clark's
  Valley, which he afterward sold, moving to Harrisburg, where he engaged at
  coach and cabinetmaking. He also worked at carpentering, and helped to build
  the famous camel-back bridge across the Susquehanna at Harrisburg. This Jacob
  Bretz married a Miss Boyer, of Dauphin county and by her had the following
  children: Mrs. Catharine Horn, of Danville; Mrs. Elizabeth Wiley, of York;
  Jacob: Dr. George Z., of Brooklyn, N. Y.; and William.
    
    Jacob Bretz, the third child of Jacob, was born at Harrisburg, Sept. 26,
  1806. He learned the coachmaking trade, as did his father before him, and
  engaged at that avocation for many years. He married Mary Dipple, a daughter
  of Michael and Elizabeth (Bell) Dipple, of Carlisle. The Bells were Scotch,
  and the Dipples were of Irish descent. Shortly after his marriage Jacob Bretz
  moved to Gettysburg, and there for several years worked at coachmaking. From
  Gettysburg he removed to Carlisle, which place was his home all the rest of
  his long lifetime. On coming to Carlisle he first worked at coachmaking for
  the late Jacob Sener, but later went into business for himself, and was
  Carlisle's principal coachmaker for many years. About the year 1855 he quit
  coachmaking, and gave his time and attention to other enterprises, one of
  which was brick making. When the Carlisle Gas and Water Company put in its
  works, he obtained the contract to furnish the brick work for its reservoir,
  which he manufactured a short distance north of where the reservoir is
  located, upon a farm now owned by Mrs. Gill. While in his prime Major Jacob
  Bretz, as he was familiarly known, was a man of great activity and
  enterprise, widely known and well-acquainted with public affairs. He was
  interested in politics and mingled freely with the people, which, in 1844,
  resulted in making him the Whig nominee for Register of Wills. He was elected
  and discharged the duties of the office with credit to himself, and to the
  satisfaction of the general public. After settling at Carlisle, his father,
  Jacob Bretz, the elder, then well advanced in years, came from Harrisburg and
  made his home with him until his death. He died in 1846 aged about seventy-six
  years. His remains were first interred at Carlisle, but in after years removed
  to Harrisburg.
    
    Major Jacob Bretz was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was
  his father before him. He also belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and at the
  time of his death was the oldest Mason in Carlisle. He died in March, 1898.
  His wife, Mary (Dipple) Bretz, died in 1883, at the age of seventy-four, and
  their remains lie interred in Ashland Cemetery. Major Jacob and Mary (Dipple)
  Bretz had the following children: Eliza Jane, wife of Abraham Focht, of
  Schuylkill county; William H., the subject of this biography; Annie, married
  to William H. Corman, of Carlisle; Margaret Amelia,
    
    354	CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  married to the late George C. Boyer, of Harrisburg; George M., late a
  photographer of Pottsville; Fannie, married to Sylvester Garwood, of
  Philadelphia; and Edward, who died in June, 1878, aged twenty-seven years.
    
    William H. Bretz, the second child of Major Jacob and Mary (Dipple) Bretz,
  was born in Carlisle Sept. 2, 1832. He received his education in the schools
  of his native town and in the preparatory department of Dickinson College. On
  leaving college he embarked in the drug business, and for about six years
  conducted a drug store where now is the Cumberland Valley Railroad passenger
  depot. He next became interested in dentistry, studying with his uncle, Dr.
  George Z. Bretz. In 1866 he entered the livery business, purchasing stables
  on Pitt street, Carlisle, only a step removed from the corner on which he
  formerly engaged in the drug business. Here he has continued ever since, and
  be is now the oldest, best known and most successful liveryman in Carlisle.
  Along with his livery business he finds some time for other enterprises. He
  has been operating some in real estate, and at present owns a farm in North
  Middleton township, and another on the western borders of Carlisle. He also
  takes an interest in the show and theatrical business, and for some years
  has successfully managed the Carlisle opera house. In matters of religion he
  affiliates with the Protestant Episcopal Church. In politics he is a
  Republican, but not a biased partisan or in any sense an office seeker. He
  has served one term in town council to which he was elected without any
  desire or effort on his part. He is a Mason, a Knight Templar and an Elk. He
  has traveled extensively, is a good judge of human nature, a practical
  business man and a worthy citizen.
    
    In 1868 Mr. Bretz was married to Martha Jane, daughter of Peter and Barbara
  Stambaugh, of Adams county. She died Nov. 7, 1898, leaving no children, and
  on July 13, 1904, Mr. Bretz married Mrs. Annie M. Ritter, widow of the late
  Charles Ritter, of Carlisle, and a daughter of Jeremiah Reep, of Dickinson
  township. He lives quietly in a pleasant home on West North street, where he
  now spends all his leisure hours, and where he expects to spend the declining
  years of his life in comfort and contentment.