Stephen Butz

History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

STEPHEN BUTZ.

Peter Butz, the great-grandfather of Stephen, emigrated from Germany in 1752, and first settled in Long Swamp township, Berks Co., Pa. In 1761 he purchased and removed to a farm of two hundred and twelve acres, situated in what is known as “Butz’s Valley,” which has since been in possession of the family, and is now owned by his great-grandson, Stephen Butz. Peter Butz had three sons, Peter, Samuel, and John, the last-named having inherited the homestead. He had four sons and four daughters, one of whom was Peter, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch. Stephen, the second in a family of nine children, was born June 3, 1808, in Lower Macungie township. His limited education was received at the log school-house near his home known as Butz’s school-house, under the guidance of a German teacher named Andres Ring, who, with his family, occupied the limited quarters as a dwelling. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to Henry Shaffer, and on attaining his twentieth year became a skillful shoemaker, which trade he followed for three years. He then changed his occupation to that of a farmer, and having inherited the homestead, moved thereon, and continued for twenty-nine years to cultivate the land. In 1877 he retired from the farm, and having purchased the mill property one mile west of the village of Alburtis, conducted for four years the business of milling. In 1881 his sons, Allen and John, and his son-in-law, F. S. Lichtenwallner, became his successors in business, and in 1883 remodeled the mill and introduced the roller process. Mr. Butz was, in February, 1850, married to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Henry Seidel, of Martin Creek township, Berks Co., whose birth occurred Jan. 30, 1821. Their children are Henry, Allen, John, Mary (Mrs. F. S. Lichtenwallner), and Amanda (Mrs. Charles L. Hottenstine). Mr. Butz has ever been a strong Republican in his political sentiments, but not active as a politician. He is a member of the German Reformed Church of Long Swamp township, berks Co., in which he has officiated both as elder and deacon. In 1852 he was chosen one of the building committee for the erection of a new church edifice. He manifests much interest in Sunday-school work, and has served for ten years as superintendent of what is known as Butz’s Sunday-school.

Page 343

History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Alfred Mathews and Austin N. Hungerford

J. B. Lippincott & Co., Pennsylvania. 1884

Transcribed by Annette Bame Peebles

The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies Project – http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~arkbios/Lehigh/index.html.

Date of Transcription: 12 December 2007

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