From "A Brief History of John Valentine Kratz...", 1892

He lived at home until he was nineteen years of age. He then entered the North Wales Institute to obtain a more thorough education than the public schools afforded. Here he remained about a year. In the fall of 1862 he commenced teaching, and until 1868 taught successively in the Deep Run, Rocky Ridge, Algard, Sellersville and Plumsteadville schools. In 1868 he took charge of the West Bethlehem schools, Lehigh County, and in 1869 accepted the Principalship of Coplay schools, in the same County. Here he remained from Sept. 1869 to June 1883, when he asked to be relieved to become the accountant and cashier for Coplay Iron Co. This position he held from July 1883 to October 1888. In the fall of 1889 he took charge of the Borough schools of Emlenton, Venango County, Pennsylvania, where as Principal he re-organized the school system and introduced a number of important changes for the improvement of the public schools in that municipality. Having been offered still better inducements by the Board of Education of the Lehighton Borough Schools, he will in the future have the Principalship and supervision of the schools of that growing town on the Lehigh.

Through all these years of teaching there is one idea that has never been lost sight of, namely, that of self-improvement. The schooling at the academy was only the beginning of a life of study. In 1876 he appeared before the State Board of Examiners, passed the examination, and was granted a Normal Certificate as Teacher of Didactics. He found much pleasure in pursuing a course of general studies in science and language, and in 1877 Franklin and Marshall College recognized his industry as a student and conferred on him the honorary degree of A. M. He has been a member of Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association since 1877, and an active member of the Touvey Botanical Club of Columbia College, New York City, since October 1881.

Having the confidence of the people at his permanent home in Coplay, he was frequently called upon to fill positions of honor and responsibility. He was the first commissioned Justice of the Peace for this Borough, and has continuously held this office from 1869 to 1890. He was Secretary of Town Council for thirteen years, and a School Director while serving the Coplay Iron Co. The Judges the Courts frequently appointed him to serve on Road Juries and Commissions, and there are few Townships in Lehigh County in which he has not been called to execute these appointments. Being a member of the Reformed Church he took an active interest in the founding of Trinity Congregation, at Coplay, in 1872. He served as deacon and was for many years the Secretary of the Consistory. He was the Superintendent of the Sabbath-schools of this congregation for eighteen years.


From the Meyer book of 1896 (page 473-474)...

At the age of 19 years he entered the North Wales Institute, where he remained about a year. In the Fall of 1862 he began teaching, and taught successively at the Deep Run, Rocky Ridge, Algard, Sellersville, and Plumsteadville schools. In 1868 he took charge of the West Bethlehem schools, Lehigh county, and in 1869 accepted the principalship of the Coplay schools, same county. In June 1883 he gave up teaching to become the accountant and cashier for the Coplay Iron Company, a position he held until October 1888. In the Fall of 1889 he took charge of the borough schools of Emlenton, Pa., where, as principal, he reorganized the school system and introduced a number of changes for the improvement of the public schools of that municipality. He next took charge as principal and supervisor of the Lehighton borough schools, and later as principal at Wyoming, Pa. He is at present connected with the Temple College, Philadelphia.

Through all these years of teaching there is one idea that has never been lost sight of, namely: that of self-improvement. The schooling at the academy was only the beginning of a life of study. In 1876 he appeared before the State Board of Examiners, passed the examination and was granted a Normal certificate as teacher of didactic. He found much pleasure in pursuing a course of general studies in science and language, and in 1877 Franklin and Marshall College recognized his industry as a student and conferred on him the honorary degree of A. M. He has been a member of the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association since 1877, and is also an active member of the Tourey Botanical Club, of Columbia College, New York City, since October 1881.

Having the confidence of the people at his permanent home in Coplay, he was frequently called upon to fill positions of honor and responsibility. He was the first commissioned Justice of the Peace for his borough, and held the office from 1869 to 1890. He was secretary of Town Council for 13 years, and a School Director five years. The Judges of the Courts frequently appointed him to serve on road juries and commissions, and there are few townships in Lehigh county in which he has not been called to execute these appointments.

Being a member of the Reformed church he took an active interest in the founding of Trinity congregation at Coplay in 1872. He served as deacon and was for many years secretary of the Consistory. He was the superintendent of the Sunday school of this congregation for 18 years.

• Married: 1 OCT 1868 ⁴
• Note: 3rd cousins once removed

1. Mabel Olivia Krout b: 25 DEC 1871
2. Jacob Henry Krout b: 16 MAY 1874 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
3. Clarence A. Krout b: 3 MAY 1883
4. Helen Rachel Krout b: 5 NOV 1885

1. Title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of the SWARTLEY FAMILY: of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pa.
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Netcong, New Jersey: Printed at the Eagle Office, 1906.
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: page 17
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 473
   Text: "Abraham F. K. Krout, A. M."
3. 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 473
4. 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 474
5. 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
6. Title: A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of the SWARTLEY FAMILY: of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pa.
   Author: Fretz, A. J.
   Publication: Netcong, New Jersey: Printed at the Eagle Office, 1906.
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Page: page 18