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The Bentz homestead is located at the end of Willow Road, off Spring Valley Road, off Route 74, south of Dillsburg. It was built on June 2nd, 1830, by Jacob Bentz (as it states on the house). This house is made of the red stone which Barrens Valley is well known for. It has been added on to once, and is undergoing another addition and renovation.
The barn, which is now white (originally red), was built by Daniel and Nancy Bentz, in 1885? We are not certain, that it was built in 1885, but that is what the numbers resembled when Norman and Ruth Klugh Cook (also Bentz family) had the barn repainted back in the 1950's.
Looking at the original land grant map, this property looks like it bordered the property that George Bentz owned on Crane Road.
Johann Jacob Bentz built the house. The land was conveyed to Jacob L. Bentz (heir of the estate) in 1838, by Frederick Roose (the original land owner that received it from William Penn). The land originally had 154 acres and Jacob paid $104.51 for it in 1838.
This property was owned by Johann Jacob, willed to Jacob L. Bentz, then sold to George Bentz. It was also owned by Norman & Ruth Klugh Cook (Bentz family), and probably owned by Daniel & Nancy Bentz (who built the barn).
Ervin & Louisa Hershey Bentz, had lived there as I have been told stories about it. Their son, Charles Bentz, was killed on this farm, when he was kicked by a mule at age 23.
The Bentz Cemetery as it has been referenced, is located on this farm, at the top of the hill behind the barn. Originally the Roose (Ruzen) family were buried there, along with the Hollopeter's, Pentz's (Bentz's), and Wiley's. The Roose, Hollopeter, Wiley, and Pentz stones have been moved to Warrington Meeting House Cemetery, in Wellsville sometime between 1955 and 1981. Mary Bushy Bentz's stone has been uncovered in the cemetery and still remains.
There are three other unmarked stones, which could be for the three children which Jacob and Mary had that died in infancy, and a stone for a Wiley, who died in Oct 1849, which is located in the barn for the time being.
As for Jacob and Susannah Lau Bentz, their stones were also moved to Warrington Meeting House. The stones are inscribed with Jacob Pentz and Susannah Pentz instead of Bentz, but the dates are correct.
The owner, Ed Vinarski, plans on cleaning up the cemetery area again. We are all welcome to visit this area, if we call first.
Page maintained by Bryan
Bentz
Last update: May 12, 1999