Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Walz, John J 1836 - 
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Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890

JOHN J. WALZ. 

The life of this gentleman shows in a striking manner what can be accomplished 
by persistency and diligence, backed by honorable conduct toward man-kind. 
From the position of a poor boy he has risen to that of a man of means, the 
owner of a large amount of real estate, including three hundred and twenty 
acres in New Lenox Township, and thirteen hundred and sixty acres in Ellsworth 
County, Kan. The farm lands of Ellsworth, Kan., belonging to our subject are 
quite valuable, eighty acres of them being laid out in town lots in the 
beautiful city of Ellsworth, which is the county seat of Ellsworth County, 
besides being under-laid with a vein of salt one hundred and fifty-four feet 
thick and it being 97 per cent. pure. While yet a youth he landed in New 
York, "a stranger in a strange land," with ten francs in money (less than two 
dollars) and the first money he earned in America was sent to his father to 
repay the indebtedness for his passage money. Under circumstances which would 
have discouraged many, young Walz began the course of persevering industry 
which has resulted in securing to him the fine estate already mentioned. The 
gentleman of whom we write is the eldest of three sons born to Daniel and 
Margaretta (Kalmbach) Walz, his brothers bearing the names of Daniel and 
George C. His father was born in Waldorf, and his mother in Spieldberg, both 
towns in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, which forms a part of the Germanic 
confederation. Both parents died in their native land. In Waldorf, he of whom 
we write was born February 5, 1836. He acquired a good fundamental education 
and learned the trade of a book-binder prior to leaving his native land, which 
he did in April, 1854, embarking in a sailing vessel which reached New York 
the last of June. In the metropolis young Walz remained nine months, after 
which he went to Torrington, Litchfield County, Conn., where he worked on a 
farm for $8 a month. In December, 1856, Mr. Walz left Connecticut to become a 
resident of Will County, Ill. Here he took a contract with another man to cut 
two hundred cords of wood and in the spring began working by the month for 
different farmers in New Lenox Township. He continued to work in this way for 
several years, even after he had purchased eighty acres of land, which he was 
able to do in the spring of 1861. This he rented until 1866. In the spring of 
1863, he went to California, remaining on the Pacific coast three years and 
while there engaging in different occupations. On his return to the Prairie 
State he purchased an additional eighty acres of land and turned his attention 
to the cultivation of his own farm. He has increased the acreage still more 
and erected thereon an excellent set of buildings, including a pleasant 
dwelling, commodious barns, granaries and other outbuildings. At the home of 
the bride's parents in New Lenox Township, April 6, 1868, the rites of wedlock 
were celebrated between Mr. Walz and Miss Henrietta A. Stricher. This lady was 
born in Mecklenburg, Germany, November 20, 1846, being the fifth in a family 
of six children. Her brother and sisters are named Sophia, Louis, Louisa, 
Carolina and Fredericka. Her parents, Frederick and Sophia (Freier) Stricher, 
were born in the Duchy of Mecklenburg and lived there until the latter part of 
the '50s when they emigrated to America. They came to this county and located 
in Green Garden Township, whence they afterward removed to New Lenox Township 
where Mr. Stricher died in 1880. Mrs. Stricher is still living and makes her 
home with our subject. Mrs. Walz was well educated and from her honored 
parents received good instruction in the principles of right living and the 
useful habits in which the German women excel, while her manners are marked 
with the friendliness and courtesy which everywhere win regard. Her happy 
union has resulted in the birth of seven children—Addie L., George A., Frank 
H., Arthur L., Sadie A.. Florence E. and Estella H. Of these, Frank, Arthur 
and Sadie are dead. Mr. Walz has been Highway Commissioner and School 
Director, in these public stations as in his personal affairs exhibiting zeal 
and good judgment. In politics, he is a Republican, firmly believing that by 
that party the best interest of the Nation will be advanced. The family 
attends the German Lutheran Church, supporting it by means and influence. It 
is needless to state that Mr. Walz is highly respected, not simply because he 
is a man of means, but because his character is an honorable one. The younger 
members of his family are worthy descendants of parents whom they regard with 
loving reverence. 

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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