(B. Franklin and Charles F. Hantz), hardware merchants of York, are sons of Jacob Hantz, who, in 1842, was elected the first Whig sheriff of York county, and are of Swiss-German ancestry. John Nicholas Hantz married Anna Barbara Burghart in the province of Starkenburg, Sponheim County, Germany, in 1737. He died in the Fatherland, date unknown, and left four children: John Andreas, Maria Catrine, Mary Margaretta and Catrina Elizabeth. On June 22, 1751, the widow of John Nicholas Hantz was married to John Peter Streher, and three years later the entire family set sail from Rotterdam, Holland, for America, and located in Dover Township among the first settlers. In 1758 John Peter Streher became one of the founders of the Dover Church, and at times, during the absence of ministers, was empowered by the Lutheran synod to officiate at certain religious services. He taught the first parochial school at the Dover Church. John Andreas Hantz, who accompanied the emigrant party in 1754, became the ancestor of the Hantz family in America. One of his sons, Andrew Hantz, born in Dover Township, was married to Mary Sharp, They had children as follows: John, Jacob, Philip, Daniel, Joseph, Catharine, Susan and Mary Ann. Jacob Hantz, the second son, was born 1797, married Magdalena Hershey in 1821, and the same year began keeping Hantz’s Hotel in York, now known as the Mother House, which, under him, was a very popular and well kept house of public entertainment. He continued the business at the same stand until his election as sheriff of York County, which office he filled with signal ability. Afterward engaged in the hardware business, under the firm of Hantz, Frick & Co., at the stand now occupied by his sons. He died in 1858, and his sons then succeeded him. He left three sons: Henry A. Hantz married Henrietta L. Beeler. They have three daughters: Annie M. (married to Ivan Glossbrenner), Lucy H. (married to Edward Chapin, Esq.), and Mary A. (married to Robert Stair). B. Franklin (married to Rebecca Graybill of West Manchester Township), They have three children as follows: Charles Edward, Alice and Grant.


Taken from the book, “History of York County, Illustrated 1886” by John Gibson, Historical Editor