Philip Kratzer
Philip Kratzer, of Blue Creek, was born near Arnheim, Brown County, Ohio, October 7, 1839. His father was Simon Kratzer, whose ancestors came from Pennsylvania, and his mother was Elizabeth Lindsey, a descendant of an old and respectable family of Brown County. Our subject was reared on a farm and had the advantages of the country schools. He enlisted from Georgetown, Ohio, August 18, 1862, and was mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Dennison as a Private, Company D, Captain Higgins, 59th Regiment, 0. V. I., Colonel Fyffe. for three years. Joined regiment at Cave City, Ky.. and there promoted to Corporal. Served in Nelson's Brigade, Wood's Division, Fourth Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and took part in all the battles in which his regiment participated, including Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Siege of Atlanta, and was wounded at Mission Ridge. He was transferred to Company K, October 24, 1864, and served balance of time, and was honorably discharged June 28, 1865.
Our subject was first married January 18, 1865, to Miss Mahala Stayton, of Brown County, by whom he had four sons and four daughters: Robert, Rosetta, Jesse Lee, Stella, John F., George E., Emma and Nellie. Mr. Kratzer's second wife was Matilda J., daughter of Levi and Cynthia Lafara.
Philip Kratzer is one of the substantial citizens of Churn Creek Valley. He is a faithful member of the Christian Union Church, and in politics an old-fashioned Democrat, and is an ardent admirer of that leader of Democracy, William J. Bryan.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time"- by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900