Gilmore Curtin Reitz

Gilmore Curtin Reitz

• Father: (?) Reitz
• Mother: Unknown (?)

• Gilmore Curtin Reitz was born on 13 March 1863 in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
• He married Sarah Minerva Haupt, daughter of Rev. William Haupt, on 24 October 1888 in Hyndman, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
• Gilmore Curtin Reitz and Sarah Minerva Haupt appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, at White Street and one female domestic servant.. Other members of the household included Ruth R. Reitz, Florence Christine Reitz, Edward H. Reitz, William O. Reitz, Margaret N. Reitz and Joseph P. Reitz.
• He was county treasurer, according to the 1900 census.
• Gilmore Curtin Reitz became a widower at the 1 April 1904 death of his wife Sarah Minerva Haupt.
• Gilmore Curtin Reitz appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, at 178 Pickering Street and one female domestic servant.. Other members of the household included Ruth R. Reitz, Florence Christine Reitz, Edward H. Reitz, William O. Reitz and Margaret N. Reitz.
• He married Mary Ethel Rue, daughter of Rev. J. W. Rue and Sarah J. (?), on 18 October 1910.
• Gilmore Curtin Reitz and Mary Ethel Rue appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, at 176 Pickering Street. Other members of the household included Florence Christine Reitz, William O. Reitz and Margaret N. Reitz.
• He was proprietor of a furniture store, according to the 1920 census.
• Mary Ethel Rue became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Brookville Cemetery, Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
• A biographical sketch appears in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania -- Her Pioneers and People: Gilmore C. Reitz, of Brookville, son of Edward and Sarah (Spare) Reitz, has been associated with business interests there as a merchant and banker for many years, and has also done his share in promoting the socialpublic welfare of the community. In enterprise, thrift and general good citizenship he is a typical member of the family to which he belongs, and which has had a number of creditable representatives in several generations here. He was born March 14 1863, in Brookville, Pa., second son of Edward Reitz, and three years later, with his parents, moved to Stanton (also known as Belleview), Jefferson county, where he received such an education as his village school afforded, attending regularly until ready to take a permanent place as his father’s assistant. Naturallylearned the details of the mercantile business early, entering his father’s store as a clerk when seventeen years old, and in the year 1887 he became a partner,that time assuming much of the responsibility. As his father had other interests which demanded so much of his time the son finally came to take practically the entire charge of the store, in which he continued to retain an interest for a number of years, meantime making a specialty of agricultural implements, which he was especially successful in demonstrating and selling.handled harvesting machinery largely, and made a three months’ trip every year selling farm machinery,the leading salesman in his line in the county. He handled the Walter A. Wood products. His stock ofwas large and well selected, and his establishment always commanded a profitable patronage. For a number of years he was prominentlywith public affairs, having served as town clerk, school director and overseer of the poor, and also as postmaster at Stanton for three years. Having been elected county treasurer in November, 1899, he moved to Brookville Dec. 15th of that year, assuming his official duties in January, 1900, for a term of three years. In, 1902, he was elected register and recorder of the county, and served as such for three years with great credit. Prior to 1912 he was identified with theparty of Jefferson county. Upon his retirement from the office of register and recorder Mr. Reitz engaged in farming for one year, thoughcontinued to make his home in Brookville during that time. In January, 1904, he became a member of the Reitz Furniture Company, of that borough, with which he is still connected, in partnership with his cousin, Rufus G. Reitz. Other important local enterprises have also received his support. He was the first treasurer of the Brookville Title & Trust Company for the purpose of, and one of the original directors, still holding the latter position. He is president and a director of the Brookville Republican, Inc., publishers of the Brookville Republican, the leading weekly newspaper in Jefferson county. Mr. Reitz has numerous social connections, and has at various times been active in the following orders: The Grange, the Order of United American Mechanics, the Odd Fellows (of whichis a past grand) and the Masonic fraternity; as a Mason he holds membership in Hobah Lodge, No. 276,&A.M., and Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, R.A.M., of Brookville; Bethany Commandery, No. 83, K.T., of uBois; Coudersport Consistory, thirty-second degree; and Jaffa Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., of Altoona, Pa. He is aworker in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Brookville, a member of the official board, and one ofbuilding committee for the erection of the new church dedicated Nov. 26, 1911, constructed at a cost of seventy-two thousand dollars, exclusive of the value of the lot. As a member of the board of directors of the local Young Men’s Christian Association from itsin 1906, he has been interested and active in that work. The work preliminary to his election to thehe has held and his business affiliations have taken him into every nook and corner of his native county, where he is favorably known by a very large acquaintance, most of whom address him by the first syllable of his given name. Sympathetic and genial by, and imbued with the true spirit of camaraderie and genuine helpfulness, he is a popular figure in the business section of the county seat. On Oct. 24, 1888, Mr. Reitz married Minnie Haupt, daughter of Rev. William Haupt, a minister of the United Evangelical Church. Mr. Haupt was a native of Armstrong county, Pa. Mrs. Reitz was born Sept. 29, 1867. After receiving a good common school education she attended Covode, in Indiana county, Pa., and Pittsburgh Female College, fitting herself for teaching music, which profession she followed successfully until her marriage. Mrs. Reitz died April; 1, 1904, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the five children born to this union, Ruth R. is the wife of M.L. Hanagriff, of, Pa.; Florence C. is a supervisor of music and drawing; Edward H. is engaged as a clerk; William O. is taking an agricultural course at State College; Margaret H. is attending Thomas Training School at Detroit, Mich. On Oct. 18, 1910, Mr. Reitz married (second) Mary Ethel Rue, daughter of Rev. J.W. Rue, D.D., and Sarah J. Rue, of Waynesboro, Pa. Mrs. Reitz, in addition to acquiring a good common school education, took a three years’ course at Pennsylvania Academy and School of Industrial Art, Philadelphia. Before her marriage foryears she was a successful teacher of music and drawing in the public schools of Oxford, Clarion and Brookville. [Vol. 2, page 353.]

• Last Edited: 14 Jan 2010