Jacob Michael Waltz was born on July 4, 1841, the son of George M. Waltz and Catharine Hines.    Jacob was baptized on August 8, 1841 by Fr. James Bradley at St. Patrick Church, Newry, PA.  His godparents were Michael Exler and Rebecca Hartsock.

Jacob grew up on the Waltz homestead in Chest Township.  He served during the Civil War, first as a private in Palmer's Independent Silver Grays, and then as a corporal in Co. D., 115th and 110th Pennsylvania Volunteers.  (The two regiments were consolidated into one during the war.)  His name is listed on plaque 20 of the Ebensburg War Memorial in Cambria County, PA.  Please see copies of his service record and pension files in the "Waltz Documents" section of this web site.

 Jacob married Angela Mary Wagner on April 17, 1866 at St. Augustine Church, St. Augustine, Cambria County, PA.  Angela was born February 24, 1848, the daughter of Jacob Wagner and Jane Downey.

Angela & Jacob Waltz - 1866

Jacob and Angela had 13 children:

The Jacob and Angela Waltz Family in 1902

Jacob and his family lived in Chest Springs until 1871. They are listed in the 1870 Census, Cambria County, Chest Springs Borough, Reel No. 593-1317, page no. 135a, enumerated on June 14th by John W. Gillespie.   Jacob was 26 years old and a carpenter.  Angela was 21 years old and "keeping house."  Their children were also listed:  Aloysius Thomas was 2 years old, and William was under a year old.

Jacob and Angela were encouraged to move to Iowa by Angela's parents.  At one point, they had acquired a total of 200 acres of land in Iowa County.  

The 1880 Agriculture Census of Dayton Township, Iowa, shows that Jacob owned 80 acres of tillable land; had 3 acres in woodland and 13 acres in permanent pasture. The estimated value of the land was $1,600; he owned farm implements valued at $300; livestock valued at $630. He had hired labor for three weeks paying out $25 for same. The estimated value for all products raised the previous year was $700. He mowed 12 acres of grassland from which he made 24 tons of hay, which supplied feed for his 3 horses, 4 milk cows and 5 other cattle. He sold one cow and had 3 calves born. The cattle produced enough cream to churn 300 pounds of butter. He also had 75 swine and 75 barnyard poultry producing 400 dozen eggs. He harvested 160 bushels of grain from 8 acres planted to barley; 25 bushels of buckwheat from 1 acre planted and his 25 acres planted to Indian corn produced 1,000 bushels. He also planted 3 acres in oats and from it had 142 bushels of grain, while the 30 acres in wheat netted 360 bushels of that grain. He planted 1/2 acre of sorghum from which they made 30 gallons of molasses. He produced 25 pounds of broom corn and planted a half acre of Irish potatoes, the yield from which was 50 bushels. He cut 4 cords of wood from his woodlot. This wood was valued at $2 a cord. They also had 1 acre in young apple orchard, none of bearing age. No mention is made of the vegetable gardens or of the other fruits and work of the women, many of whom worked in the fields alongside the "men folk".

When I started researching this family, I heard that Jacob was thought to be the prospector who discovered and mined from the "Lost Dutchman" gold mine in Arizona. However, through further research, I found that the Lost Dutchman died in October of 1891, and did not have any children.  This Jacob Waltz was the father of THIRTEEN children, died in 1924, and is buried in California, so I'm afraid that proves he was not the famous Lost Dutchman. 

Jacob and Angela probably lived in New Hampton, Chickasaw County after selling their farm to S. G. Hurd in 1901.  Several of their children were married there.  Sometime before 1907, Jacob and Angela moved to Pasadena, California.

Angela died on November 25, 1915 and Jacob died on April 8, 1924.