Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-10-30
DEATH OF JACOB WEIrZEL.
The Oldest Member of the Local Order
American Mechanics

Ths Oldest Member of the Local Order o
American Mechanics.
Jacob WeitZel, tin and coppersmith, died
this morning AT hslf-past one o'clock at hi.
roaidence, No. IL West German street, in the
74th year of his age Mr.. weitzel was ma
tive Of this city, rs WAS his father before him
He learned the trade OF coppersmithing Will
John Getz In the frame shop in rear OF DR..
B0lenius' residence, on South Queen
atrest, near Vine, and carried ON bust
mess there up to the time of his death
Whom Mr.. Weitzsl was an apprentice
Lancaster was full OF distilleries, and the
copper stills used by them furnished large
part OF the coppersmith's trade; but when
bser took the place Of whisky ss a beverage
the trade declined and Mr.. Weitzel learned
tinsmithiDg and plumbing and continued the
bustness till the time Of his death He was
IN industrious workman and an excellent
mechanic, and did most of the tin work used
Ia the cotton factories
Mr.. Weitzel had been in failing health for
. year or two past and on Monday last in
attempting to move a statue in the American
Aochanics' hall he sustained rupture which
no doubt hastened his death.
& Ho leaves wife and four children, three
cons and one daughter. His wife to whom
No was married almost fifty years, was Re-
necca Ftnkbine, OF Chester county. His
children are George F., carpenter, who with
bis family lives in Oberlin county, Kansas
Irwin K, who iivesin Washington territory;
WIN. Harrison, carpenter, this city, and Re-
becca, wife OF j. b. Mitchell, Of Spring City,
Chester county.
Mr.. weitzel was In all respects an upright,
honest man member of Trinity Lutheran
church from his youth up an active member
Of the Peoples Building and Loan association
and OF several other business and beneficial
OrgAnizationH.
But IL is as an American Mechanic that he
was known most widely. he became a men,
her Of Inland City Council No. l23 %. U "A. NJ.
In 1851, aud remained a member until 1861,
when he withdrew, and became a member
Of COuestoga council No. s. He held every
important Office In the council, knew every
word Of the ritual, and WAS regarded as the
oo9t exponent in this city, OF the I'M
written work OF the order. He fire..
quently visited every council in the
county and some in other counties to give
instruction to officers and members. He
served ~ representative from No. to the
etato council OF Pennsylvania for four or fl We
terms, and was district deputy OF the state
cc"ncii Tor Lancaster county a number of
years, and at the time OF his death held the
omco OF examiner In No s. Not many in th8
order was more widely known or more
highly respected than Mr.. Weitzel. He was
one OF the very Oldest members of the order
In Lancaster, and WAS looked up to as an au
thoTtty in all doubtful constructions of
the constitution. The Junior Order of Ameri-
can Mechanics esteemed him 80 highly that
they elected him an honorary member, as
90 also Washington Camp, No. q, Patriotic
Order Sons of America. Mr.. Weitzel took
great interest In the boys and young men and
was an active worker In inducing them TO
Join the order OF Mechanics.
M Weitzei's funeral will take place Mon
day afternoon at o'clock, and will be at
tended BY the several councils OF O. u. A NJ.
y this city. Ex-National Councillor James
=. Caieiy, National Council Secretary John
9erver, and State Council Secretary Walter
4rohem will be present at the funeral, and
lsooabiy several other disting uished officers
hgm abroad.
xne deceased served one term az coroner
~ sne county, having been elected by the