J. S. WALTZ, a leading citizen of West Alexander, was born at Washington, Washington Co., Penn. He is a son of Abraham, whose father, Daniel Waltz, was united in marriage with Margaret Bedillion, of Fayette county, Penn. Daniel Waltz was a painter and chair maker by trade, and followed that business all his life. Soon after his marriage he moved to Washington county, where eight children were born and reared, and where the remainder of his life was passed. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and took an active interest in the welfare of his party. Abraham Waltz passed his early life on the home farm in Washington county, where he received a common school education and where he began to learn his father's trade of painter and chair maker, which he afterward followed. He was married to Margaret B., daughter of John Peters. Mr. Peters was born and reared in Massachusetts, and was married to Margaret Saladay, of Fayette county, Penn., where five children were born and reared. Mr. Peters and his wife passed the remainder of their life in Brownsville, Penn., and were buried there. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Waltz were active members of the M. E. Church at Washington, he being class-leader several years. He affiliated with the Democratic party. The death of this man occurred in 1841, and he is buried in the cemetery at Washington. J. S. Waltz, the only child of Abraham and Margaret (Peters) Waltz, was reared and educated at Washington, Penn. He has been an extensive reader and instructor in vocal music. At the age of eighteen years he began to learn the cigar trade, remaining four years with Thomas McKean, of Washington. He then began business for himself in the "Black Factory," where he continued two years. In the year 1868, Mr. Waltz came to West Alexander, Penn., and there conducted a dry-goods and grocery store for three years, when he opened a cigar factory, which he now carries on in connection with the insurance brokerage business. He was married to Nannie J., daughter of Isaac Post, of Donegal township, September 24, 1862. There were three children born to this union: Linnette M. (a music teacher, died March 24, 1890), Harry P. (a bookkeeper and musician in Wheeling, W. Va.), and Isaac N. (a bookkeeper, graduated from the business college at Wheeling, W. Va.; he is also a musician.) The mother died June 24, 1890. Mr. Waltz was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican. He has been administrator and executor of several estates. When the borough of West Alexander was organized he was elected the first justice of the peace, and on the expiration of his term was re-elected, serving in all ten years. He has also served as burgess, has been a member of council, and a school director, and was again elected justice of the peace, his commission dating from May, 1892, to serve five years. During his long service as justice of the peace he joined in marriage several hundred couples, representing every State in the Union, who look upon West Alexander as a western "Gretna Green." In church connection he is formerly a Baptist, but afterward united with U. P. Church at West Alexander, Penn., in which he has for years been leader of the choir. During the building of the church he served both as trustee and treasurer, and has ever taken an active part in the support of that Society. The Waltz family are descendants of Frederick Reinhart Waltz, whose posterity now numbers several thousands, and they are residents of almost every State in the Union. The American pioneers of the family emigrated from Switzerland to America in the year 1731.

Text taken from page 1256 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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