When he became of school age he was sent to the district school. In 1862, through the visitation of death of seven children, but two -- the oldest and youngest remained. The oldest was led forth from beneath the parental roof the same year, leaving the subject of our sketch the only child at the family fireside.

In 1865 his father sold the farm on which he had lived for many years and bought a property near the village of Line Lexington in the Township of Hilltown, and moved thereon. Here the boy resumed his attendance at district school, assisting his father when school was not in session in the work on the farm and in the chores about the place. Between the years of 1865 and 1870 he induced his father to send him for several short terms to Line Lexington Seminary, then a select school for boys and girls. In the spring of 1870, thirsting for still wider educational advantages he induced his father to send him for a twelve weeks' term to the Excelsior Normal Institute at Carversville, then under the principalship of Rev. F. R. S. Hunsicker, D. D. In the fall he entered the profession of teaching, taking charge of a school in Hilltown Township. In the spring of 1871 he entered Millersville State Normal School and remained there twelve weeks. In the fall he again took charge of a school in Hilltown Township, and continued teaching in that Township for three successive terms. In the spring of 1874 he returned to Millersville and remained one term. In the fall he was examined by County Superintendent Knauss of Lehigh County and granted a provisional certificate with No. 1 in every branch. He was thereupon elected Principal of the schools of Rittersville in that county. After teaching there several months he was granted a professional certificate. In the spring, of 1875 he once more returned to Millersville and remained to finish his course, graduating in the class of 1876. He graduated with the degree of Bachelor of the Elements, and had conferred upon him one of the honors of his class. In the fall he took charge of a school at Breinigsville, Lehigh County. During this term he gained prominence among the teachers of the county. At Teachers' Institute of that year he was made Secretary of the Institute, appointed to open the discussion on one of the topics, chosen delegate to the State Teachers' Association, and selected as one of the evening lecturers.

In the fall of 1877 he took charge of a school in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County. During this time he gave some attention to public lecturing, appearing among other audiences before the Page Literary Society of Millersville. At the commencement of 1878 he received from his Alma Mater the degree of Master of the Elements. In the fall of this year he was elected teacher of the Intermediate Depgrtment of the Doylestown Borough Public Schools and before the close of the term was made Principal and Borough Superintendent. In the summer of 1879, after winning golden testimonials as a teacher, he left the school-room and turned his face in the direction of the legal profession. He entered the office of Alfred Fackenthall, Esq., Doylestown, and was daily registered as a student at law. In 1881 he was admitted to the Bucks County Bar and he at once entered upon the practice of the law at the County Capital. In the spring of 1885 Doylestown Borough elected him Justice of the Peace by an overwhelming majority when his party was hopelessly in the minority. The same year he was admitted to the Bryant Literary Union of New York, and again he entered the lecture field. For several years he appeared before County Teachers' Institutes and other distinguished audiences and won the strongest testimonials. At the commencement of 1886, Ursinus College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. From the time he turned to the law, he was closely identified with politics and was on the stump for his party in every campaign. He was an ardent believer and zealous worker in the Republican League and was signally honored by that organization. He was President of the Doylestown League for two years, delegate from his league to all four of the State conventions, delegate from the State League to two National conventions, and for two years the Pennsylvania member of the National League Executive Committee. In 1890 he delivered the annual address before the Literary Societies at the Millersville State Normal School and Ursinus College. In 1892 he was Notary Public, Clerk of the Town Council, and Chairman of the Republican County Committee.


from Meyer book of 1896 (paeg 486-488)...

He was the youngest and is now the only surviving child of his parents. When he became of school age he was sent to the district school. In 1865 his father sold the farm on which he had lived for many years and bought a property near Line Lexington, in Hilltown township, and moved thereon. Here the boy resumed his attendance at a district school, assisting his father when school was not in session in the work on the farm.

Between the years of 1865 and 1870 he induced his father to send him for several short terms to the Line Lexington Seminary, a select school for boys and girls. In the Spring of 1870, thirsting for still wider educational advantages, he attended the Excelsior Normal Institute at Carversville for a twelve weeks' term, then under the principalship of Rev. F. R. S. Hunsicker, D. D. In the Fall he entered the profession of teaching, taking charge of a school in Hilltown township. In the Spring of 1871 he entered Millersville State Normal School and remained there twelve weeks. In the Fall he again took charge of a school in Hilltown and continued teaching in that township for three successive terms. In the Spring of 1874 he returned to Millersville and remained one term. In the Fall he was examined by County Superintendent Knauss, of Lehigh county, and granted a provisional certificate with No. 1 in every branch. He was thereupon elected principal of the schools of Rittersville, in that county. After teaching there several months he was granted a professional certificate. In the Spring of 1875 he once more returned to Millersville and remained to finish his course, graduating in the class of '76. He graduated with the degree of Bachelor of the Elements, and had conferred upon him one of the honors of his class. In the Fall he took charge of a school at Breinigsville, Lehigh county. During this term he gained prominence among the teachers of the county. At the teachers' institute of that year he was made secretary of the institute, appointed to open the discussion on one of the topics, chosen delegate to the State Teachers' Association, and selected as one of the evening lecturers. In the Fall of 1877 he took charge of a school in East Donegal township, Lancaster county. During this time he gave some attention to public lecturing, appearing among other audiences before the Page Literary Society of Millersville. At the commencement of '78 he received from his Alma Mater the degree of Master of the Elements. In the Fall of that year he was elected teacher of the intermediate department of the Doylestown borough public schools, and before the close of the term was made principal and borough superintendent.

In the Summer of 1879, after winning golden testimonials as a teacher, he left the school room and turned his face in the direction of the legal profession. He entered the office of Alfred Fackenthall, Esq., of Doylestown, and was duly registered as a student at law. In 1881 he was admitted to the Bucks County Bar and at once entered upon the practice of law at the county capital. In the Spring of 1885 Doylestown borough elected him Justice of the Peace by an overwhelming majority, when his party was hopelessly in the minority. The same year he was admitted to the Bryant Literary Union of New York, and again he entered the lecture field. For several years he appeared before county teachers' institutes and other distinguished audiences, and won the strongest testimonials. At the commencement of '86 Ursinus College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.

From the time he turned to the law he has been closely identified with politics, and has been on the stump for his party in every campaign. He has been an ardent believer and zealous worker in the Republican League of the United States, and has been signally honored by that organization. He was president of the Doylestown League three years, delegate from the Doylestown League to the State Convention four times, delegate from the State League to the National Convention three times, and Pennsylvania member of the National League executive committee two years. For five years he has been Notary Public and for four years clerk of Doylestown Town Council. For three years he was chairman of the Bucks County Republican Committee. He was one of the founders of the "Republican" Printing Company, and is secretary of the company.

In the political campaign of 1894 the Republicans of Bucks county overwhelmingly demanded his nomination for District Attorney, though he did not seek the office, and there were other candidates contesting for the honor, with much reluctance he yielded to the popular wish and accepted the nomination. No sooner had he entered the arena than the opposition concentrated their fight upon him and fought him with bitterness and desperation. He emerged from the fight in triumph and entered upon the duties of the office.

In religion he is a Presbyterian. He has been an active worker in the Sunday school and an ardent believer in the Christian Endeavor Society. He has figured prominently as a speaker at public gatherings. In 1890 he delivered the annual address before the literary societies at the Millersville State Normal School and Ursinus College. He still resides at Doylestown, where he assiduously pursues his several lines of work.

• Married: 1894 ¹

1. Grace Hendricks

1. Title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Harleysville, Pennsylvania: News Printing House. 1896.
   Note: full title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers Together with Historical and Biographical Sketches, Illustrated with Eighty-seven Portraits and Other Illustrations
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: page 486
2. Title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Harleysville, Pennsylvania: News Printing House. 1896.
   Note: full title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans MEYER and Other Pioneers Together with Historical and Biographical Sketches, Illustrated with Eighty-seven Portraits and Other Illustrations
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: page 488
3. Title: A Brief History of John Valentine KRATZ and a Complete Genealogical Family Register with Biographies of his Descendants
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Elkhart, Indiana: Mennonite Publishing Co., 1892.
   Note: full title: A Brief History of John Valentine Kratz, and a complete genealogical register with biographies of his descendants from the earliest available record to the present time. With portraits and other illustrations.
   Repository:
   Media: Book