07/25/2026
MyEmemorial.com
"The birth of Jacob Pontz took place November 8, 1838, in this place, and here he was reared to manhood. When fifteen years old he was apprenticed under William Cox as a coachsmith and learned the business, which he worked at in Lancaster and also at White Horse Hotel, of this county, until the war. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Corapany- K, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, being first under General Buell and later under Generals Sherman and Thomas. In company with his regiment he took part in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, siege of Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and others, and then veteranized, returning home on a thirty days' furlough. Going south again, he actively engaged in the following battles: Dalton, Resaca, New Hope Church, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Marietta, Jonesboro, Love Joy Station, Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville and many others. In the spring of 1865 he was at Bull's Gap and then fell back to Nashville, being later sent by boat to New Orleans and Texas to protect the frontier. At Victoria he was mustered out in December, 1865, and returned home the next month. After the organization of his regiment he was made Corporal, then Third Sergeant and Orderly Sergeant for two and a-half years, and was later commissioned First Lieutenant of Company K, by Governor Perkins, in April, 1865. For some time after the close of the war Mr. Pontz worked at his trade in New Holland, and in the year 1868 engaged in the brick business in this city. His brother Adam joined him in 1870 and the firm continued in business as A. Pontz &, Bro. until 1885, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, each brother taking one of the two brick yards. These are situated on the Harrisburg Pike and East Chestnut and Rank's Road, and each yard is equipped with a brick machine and modern appliances. Both pressed and handmade brick are here made in large quantities and find ready sale. A twenty-five horse-power engine is located in each yard, having a capacity of forty-eight thousand brick per day. Jacob Pontz owns thirteen acres of land, and with his brother has another tract of three and a-half acres. Of residence property he owns four acres on East Chestnut Street, eight acres in another portion of the city, and his fine homestead with a frontage of two hundred feet at the corner of James and Charlotte Streets. In partnership with his brother he owns seventeen houses, three of which were erected at the yards. His brick manufactory employs from sixty-six to seventy hands, who are kept busy in supplying the three kilns. The yards have a siding from the Pennsy'lvania and from the Pittsburg & Reading Railroads. He has erected an additional yard, with a capacity of fifty thousand brick per day. In New Holland occurred the marriage of Jacob Pontz and Miss Emma E. Palmer, who was born in that locality. Four children have blessed this union, namely: May, Lillian, Ethel and Nellie. Mrs. Pontz is a member of the Reformed Church and a most agreeable and hospitable lady. For the past nine years Jacob Pontz has been a member of the School Board from the Ninth Ward and has served as Chairman of the committee on furniture and appointments. An active Democrat, he has been a member of the County Committee for twelve years and is now one of the city committee. Socially he is a Director in the Maennerchor Association of this city. At Johnsonville, Tenn., Company K. of which he was Lieutenant, presented liim with a sword in recognition of his services in 1865, and this he prizes most highly. Our subject is a Director of the building and loan association."
Above biography provided by Joshua McCown via the Biographical Record of Lancaster County.
