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Catharine Waltz was born in Riedseltz, France on June 27, 1829, the daughter of George M. Waltz and Catharine Hines. (This date is different that what was noted here in the United States, but I obtained it from the Riedseltz church records.) She emigrated with her parents and her older brother, John to the United States on April 19, 1831. The family left France from the port of LeHavre, and first settled in Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon County, PA. (later became Blair County.) By 1841, the family had permanently moved to the farm they bought in Chest Township, Cambria County. Catharine married Andrew Phillip Baker on 11/29/1850 at St. Benedict Church, Carrolltown, PA. Their witnesses were Antonio Baker and Maria Hipps, and the priest was Maurus Zacherl, OSB. Andrew was a blacksmith from Indiana County. From his entry in Samuel Wiley's Biographical Cyclopedia, Cambria Co, PA
[Note that there are several mistakes in the above entry: Andrew's middle initial was "P." for Phillip; Catharine spelled her name with an "a"; Andrew was born in 1829; and Catharine's mother's maiden name was spelled Hines, not Harris in the United States--although it was spelled "HEINTZ" in France.] According to my research, Catharine & Andrew had 10 children. Note that this is 2 more children than are listed in the biographical sketch above. Most likely, two of them died young--for instance, there are two Catharine's in the list--they must have reused the name. (I located both in the Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania volumes, listing Catharine & Andrew as their parents.) There is also a possibility that "George M." & "Martin" are the same person--I received the data on George M. from the files of Richard & Mary Lou Karl, but I found Martin in the CVR volumes--they both list a birth date of January 18th, one year apart--and while this is possible, it would be very unusual:
I have been unable to find the family in the 1860 census. Andrew died in 1868 when he was only 39 years old. I found 39 year old Catharine and children in the 1870 census, Carrolltown, Cambria County, PA. Catharine was supporting the family as an "innkeeper." The value of her real estate was listed as $4,000 and her personal estate was $1,000. Listed with her were: Mary (age 16); John (age 14); Elen (age 12); Anna (age 10); George (age 7); Catharine (age 4); and Joseph (age 2). Catharine certainly had her hands full! In the 1880 census, 49 year old Catharine was listed as a widow keeping house. With her was only one of her children, Joseph, age 12. At the time of the 1900 Census, 70 year old Catharine was living with her son, John and his two children, Marcy C. and Elizabeth. Catharine should have been listed in the 1910 census, but I have been unable to locate her. Catharine died in 1912 at the age of 82. Both Catharine and Andrew are buried at St. Benedict Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carrolltown, PA
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