Lewis Amiss (L.A.) Spitzer had two family Bibles. One is a leather bound German language edition which was published in 1765. It had belonged to his grandfather, Henry Spitzer. He received this Bible when visiting his boyhood home in New Market, VA from California. The second Bible is in English, also leather bound, faintly stamped "L.A. Spitzer" on the front cover, published after 1870.

Notes in italics were added by Nick Brisbois during transcription of the handwritten English translation original found pasted to the inside back cover of a large German-language Bible. The wooden panel of the back cover has cracked in half lengthwise from top to bottom, splitting this document in two. It was written on the Santa Clara County Assessor letterhead of L.A. Spitzer. The original German text was on the back of the last page, opposite the text above, and is barely legible.

The following are English translations of the German writings on the last page of the Spitzer family's German-language Bible:

This is the writing that appears on the last leaf in this Bible translated into English. (NOTE: first 2 lines of German original are severely water damaged.)

______ McElhenny, moved to Morgantown in the year 1825.
The same moved to Hustat (NOTE: may be Hustat or Histat), May 21st, 1834.
The same moved to Ohio May 18th, 1835.
Moses went to Ohio June 26th, 1833.
Samuel went to Ohio May 9th, 1835.

The above McElhenny, married my Aunt Sarah Spitzer, the above Moses Spitzer, my Uncle, after an absence of 7 or 8 years went back to Virginia then left again and was never heard from afterwards.
The above Samuel Spitzer, my Uncle, is now + has lived in Shelby, County, Indiana, for many years.
Have no idea where the McElhenny family now live.

L.A. Spitzer,
Dec. 15th, 1889

(At the bottom of the page in German is one line in German with a pencilled-in English translation below which says the following.)

1833 June 26th Moses left home.

(On the first page of the Bible there is the following handwritten inscription.)

This Bible formerly belonged to my Grand Father Henry Spitzer, of New Market, Shenandoah, County, Virginia, and was brought from there to California by me while on a visit to my old home after and (sic) absence of thirty three years, Lewis Amiss Spitzer, Sr. San Jose, Cal. 1889

Given to Ethel Spitzer. :Jan. 2, Tues '06
Ethel Spitzer
For John
Lol
(These last three lines are in an odd script and are difficult to read)

(On page two of the Bible is more German handwriting, with a translation pasted in again. It reads as follows:)

This is the above translated into English.
My Father Andreas Spitzer, died Oct. 24th 1819 Aged 77 years and 5 months.
My Cousin Henry Spitzer, died June 24th 1828 Aged 78 years.
My Mother, Catherine Spitzer, died Aug. 5th 1830 Aged 82 years.
Catherine Holtzinger, died June 6th 1832 Aged 60 years.
Beselgoet Spitzer, died Sep. 4th 1833 her age was 80 years.

Judging from the above Andreas Spitzer, and Catherine Spitzer, was my Great Grand Father and Great Grand Mother, have no Record of where they were born, always thought that Grand Father Henry and Grand Mother Catherine Spitzer was born in Germany, but while on a visit in Virginia was told Grand Father was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and that Grand Mother was born in Virginia. They both died in Virginia. (signed: L.A. Spitzer)

(Transcribed December 2, 1999)