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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Simon Gratz and the Virginius Affair

| January 2, 2016

This is another story about Simon Gratz (1842-1923), the son of Theodore Gratz (first mayor of Gratz, Pennsylvania), and the grandson of the Simon Gratz who is credited with laying out the town of Gratz and for whom the borough is presently named.  Although Simon Gratz was born in Harrisburg, the family moved to Gratz, […]

The Promotion and Resignation of Edward Gratz Jr.

| July 18, 2014

Edward Gratz Jr. died on 22 October 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,  A notice of his death appeared in Textile World: Edward Gratz Edward Gratz, cotton goods broker, with offices at 242 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, died Saturday, 22 October, after an illness of two weeks of pneumonia.  Mr. Graz [sic] was 80 years old.  He was […]

William Gratz and a Mother’s Pension

| June 1, 2014

On 14 September 1861, William Gratz (1836-1863), of western Pennsylvania, enrolled in the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, at Camp Wilkins, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the same day and place was mustered into service.  His age was given as 25, but no other distinguishing information was given about him.  The remarks at […]

Simon C. Gratz – Son of First Mayor of Gratz, Pennsylvania

| September 13, 2013

Additional information has been discovered about Simon C. Gratz, the son of Theodore Gratz and Ellen [Carson] Gratz of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Simon C. Gratz was the brother of John C. Gratz of the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, who died of disease during the Civil War.  They were the grandsons […]

Was Simon Gratz a Civil War Veteran?

| May 19, 2013

Simon Gratz (1837-1925), for whom Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia was named, was a son of Edward Gratz (1806-1850) and a grandson of Simon Gratz (1773-1839), the founder of Gratz, Pennsylvania.  Simon was born in Philadelphia and educated at the University of Pennsylvania; his lifetime career was as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, […]