Three of the sons of John failed to stay in Fairfield County for the remainder of their lives. Yielding to the lure of newly open farming lands in the northern part of Ohio, Philip was the first to move (in 1822 to Seneca Co.) followed by Martin (in 1825, to Richland Co.) and then by Conrad (1834, to Wyandot Co.).
According to H. F. Pennington, (a grandson of Philip by his daughter, Mary), who has assiduously collected the scattered oral information bearing on the history of the John Bretz family, Philip brought his family with him to Seneca County. He is said to have brought two saddle bags full of silver dollars and with this, to have purchased 1500 acres from the Federal Government for $2000. He gave a quarter section to each of his nine children, except Catherine. Her husband, Rev. Jacob Garber, asked for 80 acres and $100 cash, Philip thus kept 160 acres.
Pennington believed that Philip married twice but was uncertain what children were born of each wife. He was inclined to think the first wife died early, and that all the children were offspring from the second union. Philip built the old homestead in 1847, when he was 82 , a year before his death. It stood, until 1942, near Honey Creek, half a mile east of Melmore. He is buried at the Stone Church or United Brethern Chapel, built on part of the old homestead, on the banks of Honey Creek. Philip, as recalled by Pennigton, was "tall and stately".
Pennington was but a boy of six at the time, but he recalls that Philip had a full head of hair and parted it in the middle. Considering that all of Philip's direct descendants in the Jacob-Ephraim-Oliver-Harlen line became bald fairly early, this full head of may have been a wig. Two generations later, Ephraim always wore a wig when he when to church. Pennington's notice was attracted to the old man because he peeled an apple for the boy, taking the peeling off in one complete piece.
Anne Seitz (Grand-daughter of Samuel, son of Valentine) quotes her father Lewis Seitz as authority for the following. "Uncle Philip was noted for his honesty. At one time, he had a fine cow which a neighbor wanted to buy. The neighbor offered a good price for it. "No", said Uncle Philip, "She isn't worth that much, I'll take only" (naming a lower price).
The records of Seneca County land transactions show that Philip purchased 1200 acres in different parcels at intervals from 1821 to 1829. This seems to indicate that the family did not all go together to Seneca Co. Philip was 56 when he bought the first unit, and 64 when he completed the purchases. The records also show purchases of land, during that same interval, by David and John Bretz, sons of Valentine, nephews of Philip. No other Bretzes are noted during this interval.
Philip's purchases were as follows:
David's purchases were as follows:
John's purchase was as follows:
![[IMAGE]](pictures/HeartlandPrairie.gif)
Send any inquirys to
This Home Page was created by WebEdit,Thursday, April 08, 1999
Most recent revision Thursday, April 08, 1999