My Genealogy Hound

HENRY KUNTZ, better known as Esquire Kuntz, a citizen of Slatington, Lehigh County, and son of Jacob D. Kuntz, was born in South Whitehall, in this county, October 10, 1830. On the paternal side his ancestors were originally from Leipsic, Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. Jacob Kuntz, his grandfather, was a native of Northampton County, Pa., while his son was also born in Northampton County.

When two years of age the subject of this record, with his father, moved to Heidelberg Township, now Washington, where he was reared on a farm. When fifteen years of age he was obliged to run a plow and swing a cradle in the harvest-field. He was always greatly attached to horses, and when a boy he often used to take a horse out of the stable without a bridle, mount it, and then, standing upright on the bare back of the animal, gallop through the street. At one time he mounted a colt, which ran away with him over a five-rail post-fence, which obstruction interfered little, however, with its speed. His schooling was very limited, yet he applied his time to private study until he was seventeen years of age, when his father died and he hired out at farm labor, receiving therefor $6 per month and board. However, finding that his talents were beyond farming, he hired out as clerk in a general store, for which he received $5 per month and his board. In a short time in this position he had gained the confidence of his employer to such a degree that he became manager of the store in 1849.

At the age of nineteen our subject branched out in business for himself, going alone to Philadelphia, though he had never been in a city before, and there buying a full and complete chandler store stock. Thus equipped he embarked in business at Odenwelder’s, Northampton County; but the location was against him. He could not meet his competitors, and was obliged to sell his stock at a sacrifice to pay his debts. In 1850 he removed to this place, engaging in the hotel business, which he followed for two years. This line he did not like, however, and so sold out and entered into a business partnership with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Kern.

Soon after this Mr. Kuntz started out prospecting, and opened the first slate quarry. Two other quarries were soon opened, and a company organized, consisting of five members, under the firm name of Kuntz, Kern & Co. Two of these quarries turned out to be failures, and just before the panic of 1854 our subject urged a dissolution of partnership in order to retain the credit of all concerned. This was carried out, Mr. Kuntz taking one quarry and assuming a part of the liabilities. The affairs of the concern were speedily straightened out, and in a few years business was resumed, when Mr. Kuntz cleared $3,000 in one year. These quarries, however, were soon exhausted, and the lease of another quarry was purchased near Slatedale, on land owned by Peter Wert. This was operated until 1864, when the slate business became very extensive, and at that time Mr. Kuntz became connected with one Philip Wertring in opening up a quarry called the “Eagle.” In 1865 he sold the Slatedale quarry for $11,000, and in 1873, just before J. Cook’s failure, he bought out his partner for $10,000. Notwithstanding the large amount of money which he lost in the great panic, Mr. Kuntz managed to pull through, and in 1880 he effected a lease of the Big Franklin Quarry for twenty-five years, and successfully operated it for ten years. In 1884 he took another lease, the American No. 5, and there developed a successful quarry. Three years later he bought the old Washington Quarry, which is still in operation. In 1889 Mr. Kuntz effected a lease (now in fee) of Joseph Scheffler of an extensive quarry, still in operation in connection with the slate factory. A year later a lease was made of the property of Isaac Brobst, where there is a promising quarry, with a slate factory 35x100 feet in dimensions and fully equipped. A thorough business man, an excellent manager and a good financier, Mr. Kuntz has been one of the most successful slate operators in the country. To sum up, he is at the present time operating five slate quarries and four slate factories, with a monthly payroll for labor, etc., amounting to from $7,000 to $10,000. The business has been transacted since 1884 under the title of the Slatington Slate Company.

When in his twenty-fifth year Mr. Kuntz was elected Justice of the Peace, and served as such for twenty-six years in succession, when he declined re-election. In many minor offices he also acted, and in 1892 was elected Burgess for the borough of Slatington by the opposite political party to his own. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is very charitably disposed. For fifteen years he was Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fraternally our subject is a charter member of the Knights of Honor. In politics he was a Republican until the election of General Grant for a second term of office, but not being satisfied with the action of the Government at that time he felt he was justified and had good and sufficient reasons to change his party. He is now, and has been since that date, a stanch Democrat.

In 1849 was celebrated the first marriage of Henry J. Kuntz, the lady of his choice being Miss Violet Kern. Her father, Jonas Kern, a member of a pioneer family, passed away in 1892. Mrs. Kuntz was called from this life July 20, 1863, leaving six daughters: Amanda, wife of A. H Kline, of Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Cenia F., Mrs. W. W. Bournan, of this city; Catherine, wife of Walter B. Grosh, of St. Louis, Mo.; Damietta, who became the wife of Rev. William H. Kuntz, of New Castle, Del.; Caroline V., now the wife of Thomas H. Drake, of Slatington; and Martha, wife of Rev. George W. Sandt, of Wilkes Barre, Pa. The present wife of Mr. Kuntz was formerly Elizabeth Boyer, their marriage having been celebrated in 1865. They have two daughters: Irene A., wife of Dr. F. O. Ritter, of this city; and Lilly M., Mrs. S. Benjamin Costenbader, also of Slatington.