BIOGRAPHY: Michael J. WALTZ, Cambria County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann 
Olsen. 

Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty 
Mirovich and Sharon Ringler.

USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives 
remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in 
accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of 
providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by 
anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities 
so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic 
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including 
copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to 
uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
Archives to store the file permanently for free access. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ 
____________________________________________________________

From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 467
____________________________________________________________

MICHAEL J. WALTZ, contractor and builder of Chest Springs, this county, is a son 
of George and Catherine (Hines) Waltz, and was born in Chest township, this 
county, March 26, 1836. His father was born in Germany, in that part which was 
formerly a portion of France, whence he emigrated to America, bringing with him 
his wife and two children. He located first in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, 
where he was employed in a warehouse. While in his native country he had learned 
the trade of a carpenter, and during his residence in Hollidaysburg assisted in 
building the first bridge across the Juniata river at the above place. Soon 
after he came to this country he purchased a farm in Chest township, from Mr. 
McConnell, to which he removed his family. They remained here but a short time, 
when they returned to their former home in Hollidaysburg. In 1840 he again 
removed his family to the farm, which he made his permanent home. He died 
October 21, 1861, at the age of seventy-three years. His marriage with Catherine 
Hines, a native of France, resulted in the birth of the following children: 
John, deceased, was formerly a farmer on the old homestead, Chest township; 
Catherine, the wife of Philip Baker, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania; Michael 
J.; George, a carpenter of Carrolltown, this county; Jacob, a farmer of Iowa 
county, Iowa; and Matilda, deceased.
     Michael J. Waltz was reared a farmer boy, and received a limited education 
in the old subscription schools. He remained on the farm until he reached his 
eighteenth year, when he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a carpenter. 
After finishing his trade he worked in the car-shops of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad company at Altoona, Pennsylvania, for a short time. In 1860 he removed 
to Chest Springs, this county, and engaged in the contracting and building 
business throughout the county, building houses and barns for many of the 
farmers of his locality. In connection with this line of business, he has been 
employed as foreman in various planing-mills for about twenty-five years.
     Mr. Waltz owns a farm of ninety-seven acres adjoining the borough of Chest 
Springs, which he bought in 1872. This is fine farm land, well improved, and all 
underlaid with coal. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and in 
politics supports the principles of the Democratic party. On June 13, 1860, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Eichenlaub, of Altoona, and to this 
union seven children have been born: Michael, a farmer and carpenter of Chest 
township; Catherine, the wife of Jacob Jones, of Gallitzin, this county; John, a 
carpenter, of Altoona; Mary; Andrew, a carpenter, of Gallitzin; Francis, at 
home; and Annie and Harry, both deceased.