Creative. week 22 #52ancestors

This week's genealogy theme aligns with the weekend of Memorial Day, the American holiday to honor those who served in the military. Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, has its roots in the Civil War, when family and friends decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers. Not all Civil War soldiers served in a traditional way, but rather in a more creative way. 

Paul Waltz was born June 15, 1827, in Wayne Co., Ohio, one of 15 children born to John Peter Waltz (1792-1876) and Elizabeth Brouse (1800-1885). He wed Saloma Wall on July 22, 1853, and they soon started a family of their own. When the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861 on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Paul was the father of four young sons, one being John Wesley Waltz, maternal grandfather to Glen Vos. But this is the story of Paul's six brothers who served as musicians during the Civil War.

A newspaper clipping about the Waltz family's Civil War service. John Waltz is our line. John's line starts with Curtis but I'm not sure who is Peter or what it means to be a substitute.

The six Waltz brothers who served.

In no particular order, here is a brief bio of these six Waltz brothers who served.

The youngest, Israel, at the age of 18, enlisted with the 1st Regiment, Ohio Light Artillery, Musician Second Class, Company Band. Later he found a career as a station agent, and lived in Summitville, Indiana. He married and had five children. He died in 1939, living through the Civil War and a witness to World War I and World War II. Wow!

Israel Waltz

The oldest of the six, Curtis D., age 26, mustered out as a Musician Second Class. He died from internal injuries he received on August 11, 1863, after being attacked by an animal. He never married.

Curtis D. Waltz obituary, August, 1863

The twin, Isaac B. enlisted at the age of 19 and mustered out first as Musician First Class. Isaac continued to perform with the Top Barracks Post Band before a final mustering out on May 15, 1865. After his service, he married in 1866 and farmed in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio before he moved to Los Angeles, California. There he died and is buried.

Isaac B. Waltz

Jacob, Isaac's twin, mustered out as a Musician Third Class. After the war, he was a harness and saddle maker in Van Wert County, Ohio. He married twice, and as the picture below suggests, he and his family continued the Waltz Brothers' Band.

Check out the wording on the bass drum. 

The middle of the six brothers, at the age of 22, William Waltz, enlisted and mustered out as a Musician, Second class. After the war, he married and farmed in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

William Waltz

The oldest, Anthony A., was the only one who was married when he enlisted at the age of 24 and an expectant father, also mustered out as a Musician First Class. After the war, he was a carriage maker and lived in the Akron, Ohio area. No picture but as similar as these brothers look you can probably imagine his facial features.