BIO:  John D. WALTMAN, Adams County, PA

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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 396

JOHN D. WALTMAN, farmer, McSherrystown, was born June 21, 1836, in Conowago 
Township, Adams Co., Penn.  The genealogy of the Waltmans dates back to Germany, 
whence the great-grandfather, Henry Waltman (a weaver by trade), came in an 
early day.  He was a native of Switzerland or Germany, and when a student, 
visiting friends, was kidnapped by sailors and carried on board their vessel 
that sailed to different parts of the world, but finally reached Baltimore, Md., 
where he found an opportunity to effect his escape, and traveled by night till 
he came to Pennsylvania, which he chose for his future home.  He settled near 
Pigeon Hills, York County, and there married a Miss Kehr and reared a family of 
children:  Christian, John, Joseph and Salome.  Of these, John, who was also a 
weaver the greater part of his life, died in McSherrystown (to which place he 
came about 100 years ago), aged seventy-eight years.  He (John) married a Miss 
Hinkle, a native of Baughman’s Valley, Md., and she died here, aged eighty-
seven.  They were parents of the following children:  Jesse, Henry, Lydia and 
four deceased.  Of these children Jesse was born in McSherrystown, Penn., July 
21, 1808, and died February 11, 1876.  He was a weaver in early life; then 
became a successful farmer and owned three farms at the time of his death; he 
was a member of the Lutheran Church, upright, strong minded and well known for 
his good qualities of head and heart.  Jesse Waltman was married to Helena 
Bowers, who bore him six children that attained maturity:  Mrs. Louisa Sterner 
(deceased), John D., Edward, Jacob (residing in Texas), Mrs. Emma Melhorn and 
William.  Our subject was educated here, has been a farmer all his life, and 
resides on 145 acres, a part of the old homestead, which he keeps in good order.  
He was married December 3, 1861, to Mary E. Schwartz, born August 15, 1839, in 
Mountpleasant Township, Adams Co., Penn., daughter of Levi and Eliza 
(Flickinger) Schwartz, members of the old Schwartz family of this county.  To 
this union have been born nine children:  Alice, Henry, Maggie, Samuel, William, 
Charles, Mary, Steward and John.  Mr. and Mrs. John D. Waltman are members of 
the German Reformed Church.  He has filled different township offices, such as 
auditor, assessor, etc.  Politically he has ever been identified with the 
Republican party.