|
|
|
Mamertus Augustin Waltz was born on May 11, 1890, the son of John George Waltz and Margaret Ann McGovern. The family was living at 205 Willow Avenue, 7th Ward, Altoona, PA at the time. The physician was Dr. J.U. Blose, 401 Howard Avenue, 7th Ward, Altoona, PA. Mert's father, John G. listed himself as a carpenter on the birth certificate. (please see "Waltz Document" for a copy of his birth certificate) Mamertus' baptismal certificate lists Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, PA, as the place he was baptized on May 19, 1890. The priest's name was Reverend J.B. O'Connor and his Godparents were Michael & Mary Eichenlaub (they were Mert's uncle and aunt). However, this certificate was a copy requested in 1941. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was built in 1924, and replaced the St. John's parish church. So, Mert was actually baptized at St. John's. Mert became the breadwinner of the family when he was young--his father, John George, deserted the family, leaving him to take care of his mother (Margaret), sister (Catherine) and brother (Earl).
Mert at age 19 I found 19 year old Mert in the 1910 census, Blair County, Enumeration District 0077. I expected to find him living with his mother, but was surprised to find out out that Mert was a boarder living in the home of George S. Murray at 4054 4th Avenue, South Altoona, Logan Township, 2nd District, along with George's wife, Laura, and daughter, Clara.. He was listed as "Ma Marhus Waltz", boarder, M, W., 10, single, born in PA, parents born in PA, speaking English, occupation - carpenter; nature of trade - Railroad shops; Worker (as opposed to employer, or "own account"), 9 months not employed; can read and write. I asked my mother if she remembered her father ever speaking of George S. Murray, but she didn't. George Murray also worked in the Railroad shops, but as a machinist. Although Mert was very angry with his father, he did end up following in his footsteps by working as a carpenter in the Railroad Car Shops.
The car shops were a complex of RR shops parallel to Chestnut Avenue from roughly Seventh Street to First Street. Construction in this area began in the 1860's. At their peak, these shops totaled a floor area of 368,680 sq. ft. Today, you can still view several of these buildings as well as the Conrail operations.
Two pictures of Mert from around this time period He eventually left Cambria County to find work in Pittsburgh. He began to work for John Meier in his cabinet-making shop. This is where he met Catherine Mathilda Meier, his future wife. Catherine was John Meier's young daughter--she was only 10 at the time Mert started working for John, while he was 20. John even paid Mert extra money to teach Catherine how to ice-skate when she was young. They only became interested in each other after Catherine became a teenager. Family stories say that Mert used to throw stones at her bedroom window to get her attention.
This is a picture of the Meier Family - young Catherine is on the far right.
After Mert became established in Pittsburgh, he brought his family to town to live with him. They lived in Brown's Place in the Garfield area of the city.
Mert Waltz & Catherine Meier "courting"
Mr. & Mrs. Mamertus A. Waltz - wedding picture Wedding Party: Catherine Waltz (Mert's sister), Joseph Meier (Catherine's brother), Mert & Catherine
Mert and Catherine were married on June 30th, 1920 by Rev. Fr. Philip O.M. Cap in Pittsburgh, PA. Allegheny County Certificate #19046, Series L. When they applied for the marriage license, Mert was living at 5321 Browns Place, Pittsburgh, PA and was 30 years old. Catherine was living at 155 Edmund Street, Pittsburgh, PA and was 20 years old. Since she was under-age, she had to get her father's consent to be married. (See marriage application forms in "Waltz Documents" section of this web site).
Mert & Catherine - young married couple Mert & Catherine had four children, all born in the city of Pittsburgh (Brown's Place):
Adelaide Earl Eleanore Maureen
Annie & Till Thoma with Eleanore (baby) & Adelaide
Tillie & Annie Thoma, Margaret Waltz--holding Adelaide, Eleanore & Earl
Earl, Adelaide (1st Communion) and Eleanore The family then moved to a farmhouse off McKnight Road--McKnight Village area. They then moved to the farm on Mt. Troy Road (3103 Mt. Troy Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212). Since Mert was a carpenter, the inside of this farm home had beautiful woodworking, but Mert became ill before he could really work on the outside of the home. (Many years later after Catherine moved out, this family home was eventually torn down --because it was sitting empty, it was repeatedly vandalized by local juvenile delinquents, and became a safety hazard. The property was eventually bought by a neighborhood man, who built his own home there.)
Family Home Chicken Coop
Down on the farm The family lived off this land during the depression. In addition to growing their own food, they raised chickens and sold eggs for income. All members of the family had to pitch-in and help with the work. The kids attended St. Aloysius Grade School on Mt. Troy Road (they walked to school, of course) and Millvale High School.
Mert died of lung cancer. Interval between onset & death: 1961-62. The signing physician was Donald J. Huber, MD, 8668 Peebles Road, Pgh. PA, 15237. Death certificate #160096. He is buried at St. Bartholomew's Cemetery in Wilmore, PA, along with his mother, Margaret, and his brother, Earl. After Mert's death, Catherine took turns living with each of her three daughters for a period of time, eventually settling-in with Eleanore and her family on Mt. Troy Road. When Catherine's aunt, Tillie Thoma (her mother's sister) became ill, she moved into the Thoma family home in Millvale to help her brother, Ed, take care of her. Catherine stayed in Millvale after Tillie died, as she and her brother got along quite well.
After her brother, Ed, died on October 14, 1976, Catherine remained in the Thoma family home in Millvale, as she had established herself in that community. Catherine was an independent and spunky woman, loved and respected by her family.
Catherine eventually broke her hip for which she was hospitalized in December of 1988. Although the reconstructive surgery was successful, she died of congestive heart failure on December 5, 1988. She is buried with her husband in St. Bartholomew's Cemetery in Wilmore, PA.
|
