Benno John Waltz was born on Sept. 11, 1869, in Carrolltown, Pa.  Benno was the son of George M. Waltz and Ellen Stoltz. According to Catholic Vital Records of Central PA, Benno was baptized on Sept. 9, 1860 at St. Benedict Church in Carrolltown, PA. His godparents were: John & Margareth Stolz and the priest was Fr. Benno, O.S.B.

Benno as a young man

B.J. Waltz spent his boyhood at Carrolltown and received his education in the public schools. In 1886 he moved to Johnstown, PA, where he received employment in the mercantile business for two years. He then came to Hastings, where he became engaged in the mercantile business, and later formed a partnership with P.B. Cosgrove and J.J. VanDusen. This partnership continued until Mr. Cosgrove's death, after which it was conducted by Mr. VanDusen and Mr. Waltz.  After Mr. VanDusen died on March 10, 1926, Benno carried the business alone.

Benno John married  Ida A. Kirkpatrick on Sept. 26, 1893 at St. Benedict Church in Carrolltown.  Ida was from Elder Township and the daughter of Jacob Kirkpatrick and Mary Ann Campbell, born Dec. 14, 1870.  Benno and Ida raised their family in Hastings, Pa.

Benno and Ida had 11 children:

Here is a photo of Ida with some of the children, date unknown:

Benno was a Democrat, a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church and a member of Barnesboro Council No. 2277, Knights of Columbus.

I found a few mentions in the local newspapers:

THE TRIBUNE, Hastings, PA, FRI 18 JAN 1895, VOL VI, NO. 51, Page 5, "Personal Mention" - Harry Waltz and Minnie Thomas, of Carrolltown, were the guests of B.J. Waltz Sunday.

Hasting Tribune - FRI 28 FEB 1896, VOL VIII, NO 4, Page 1, Column 2
The infant child of B. J. Waltz is seriously ill. (This would have been Marie Rose Waltz, born Mar. 15, 1895)

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, May 13, 1904
Volume XXXVIII, Number 20
Letters Issued:
Estate of William Moter, late of Hastings, to D. M. Kirkpatrick and B. J. Waltz.

 

In 1918, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and I have two photos to mark the occasion:

In 1943, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary:

Ida died in Hastings on May 9, 1946.  Benno died on March 31, 1949.  They are both buried at St. Benedict Cemetery, Carrolltown, Cambria County, PA.