One of my most exciting finds was the history of the Waltz Family written by John Wesley (J.W.) Waltz, grandpa Glen Vos’ maternal grandfather. J.W.'s preservation of his family history allowed details one wouldn't otherwise discover in research beyond the information records found in dusty books and microfilms, which made him and his family come alive.
This document, handwritten by Waltz after 1909, included a treasure trove of genealogical information: dates, events, locations, and even weather conditions.
J.W. was born on Halloween 1859 in Medina Co., Ohio, the fourth son and one of 15 children of Paul E. (1827-1914) and Saloma Wall Waltz (1836-1895). This document begins with “John Wesley Waltz was born, Oct. 31, 1859 (Monday) ½ mile west of Sharon Center, Ohio. was baptized by Rev. John Hamilton (Lutheran) Dec. 18, 1859.”
When he was three years old, he “Fell in well 18ft. deep - head down - at 3 yrs of age, in Nov. was in about ½ hr. til help came.” (Can you imagine?)
J.W. wrote that he “Married Sarah Catherine Reifsnyder, Aug. 26, 1885 at Loyal Oak, O. by Rev. J. C. Kauffman - at 7 P.M. Full moon - froze ice that night ¼ inch.”
J.W. taught school for several years before he married and during his early married years. He entered college to become a pastor of Methodist churches. He served in this role in Illinois for 26 years and four years as pastor of a Church of the Nazarene in Wisconsin.
J.W. and Sarah were the parents of three children:
“Merel Esther Waltz was born at Wadsworth, Ohio, between 8 and 9 A.M. on Friday, Oct. 1st. 1886.” J.W. described her as “Very bright child.” Unfortunately she “Died at Blue Mound, Ill. Sunday, Feb. 14, 1892… Scarlet fever and malignant form of diphtheria.”
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| J.W., Sarah, and Merel (1887-1889) |
The following summer J.W. and Sarah welcomed a son, “Olin Whitefield Waltz was born at Butler, Ill. in M.E. Parsonage on Sunday at 2 P.M. (very warm day) July 2, 1893.” A few years later, “Lois Genevieve Waltz was born in parsonage at Latham, Ill. in Lucas’ property used as parsonage - Sept. 5th 1897 on Sunday at 4 P.M. (Extremely hot).” Lois would be Grandpa Glen Vos' mother.
 J.W., Olin, Lois, Sarah (1903?) |
 Lois, J.W. and Olin (1912) The opening lines of the postcard are preserved to read "They will cause me much fie." |
But what has given me the most insight is the statement J.W. inscribed at the very beginning of his family history writing:
I (J.W.) am the 6th generation of our 1st ancestor coming to this country in about 1729 and was banished from Switzerland being a reformer. He was hired out here for 18 mos. to pay his passage.
Deeply religious and philanthropic have been our ancestors. They secured to forget self to help others.
May God help you to be worthy of the best of ancestry.
J. W. Waltz
What an inspiring message to preserve for your descendants.
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