Emanuel Umholtz, farmer, Gratz, Pennsylvania, was born in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 30 July 1843.
Philip Umholtz, the grandfather of Emanuel Umholtz, was of German descent, and was a farmer in Lykens Township, where he died. He was an old line Whig and a member of the Reformed church.
Samuel Umholtz, son of Philip Umholtz and grandfather of Emanuel Umholtz, was also born in Lykens Township, where he owned and cultivated a farm of one hundred acres. His wife, Elizabeth Harner, daughter of Frederick Harner, was a native of the same township. They had eight children:
Maria Umholtz, died young;
Emanuel Umholtz;
Isaac Umholtz, enlisted in Company H, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers [210th Pennsylvania Infantry], Civil War, and was killed in battle;
Sarah M. Umholtz, wife of Henry M. Ritzman, Lykens Township;
Ellen Umholtz, wife of Elias Klinger;
Henry Umholtz, deceased;
Louisa Unholtz, wife of Jacob Zimmerman, Williamstown, Pennsylvania;
Edward Umholtz, in Iowa.
Mrs. Elizabeth [Harner] Umholtz died in Lykens Township in 1856. Mr. Samuel Umholtz was again married to Elizabeth Ginter, born in Washington Township. Their children were:
Adeline Umholtz, wife of George Welker, Lykens Township;
Harvey Umholtz, killed by a casualty in the mines; and
William Umholtz, miner, residing in Gratz.
Mr. Samuel Umholtz died in the township in March 1884. He was a Republican. He served as tax collector and in other township offices. He was an active member of the Reformed church, serving as deacon. He was deeply interested in the welfare of his fellow men.
Emanuel Umholtz had only the most slender educational advantages, having been in school not more than a year altogether. He began at a very early age to work with his father on the farm, and remained with him until he was fifteen. At this age he went to Ohio, worked for a year on a farm, and then returned and was for two years in the employ of a farmer in Lykens Township. He enlisted on 1 July 1863 in Company H, Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania militia [Civil War], and served sixty days in and about Gettysburg at the time of the great rebel invasion. He afterwards worked on the farm until September of that year, when he enlisted in Company H, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Captain Kimmell and Colonel J. J. Jordan. He was with Sherman in all his campaigns and participated in the battles fought by that army up to the close of the war. He was discharged 28 July 1865, resumed farm work with his father, and remained with him until 1867. In this year he bought a farm of eighty-two acres, which he cultivated for twelve years, and then bought a farm of sixty-four acres, improved it and farmed it for four years. He then sold this farm and bought the old homestead of seventy acres, which he now occupies and cultivates.
Emanuel Umholtz was married in Lykens Township, in 1867 to Mary Hartman, daughter of Henry Hartman, born in that township in 1840. Their children are:
Isaac M. Umholtz, on the homestead, married L. C. Cecilia Willard and has one child, Elmer Umholtz;
Lizzie Umholtz, wife of George Daniel, farmer, Lykens Township, has one child, Charles Daniel.
Mr. Emanuel Umholtz is a Republican. He has served fifteen years as constable. He is a member of Kissinger Post, No. 376, G.A.R., of Gratz. He is connected with the Lutheran church, and has been four years a deacon. He has spent an active and useful life. He worked a year and a half in the mines, but most of his life has been devoted to agriculture. He takes an active part in the county fair, and is alive to all all that promises good to the farmers. He is well-known and well-liked and everywhere is recognized as a solid man.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
See also:
Findagrave Memorial #69668711. Emanuel Umholtz died on 16 September 1904. He is buried at Gratz Union Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.