Sylvester Harrison Waltz1,2 
M, (8 August 1911 - 3 June 1979)
- Relationship
- 5th great-grandson of Hans Peter Walz
Sylvester Harrison Waltz was born on 8 August 1911 at Eldred Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1 He was the son of William Harrison Waltz and Christine S. Hausser. Sylvester Harrison Waltz married Elma Estella Kurtz, daughter of Jonathan C. Kurtz and Estella Lowe, in 1931.3,4 Sylvester Harrison Waltz died on 3 June 1979 at age 67 years, 9 months and 26 days.1,5
The following article about Sylvester Harrison was published on 24 July 1966 in the local paper, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
TRIPLET CALVES THRIVING ON AREA FARM
Triplet Holstein calves born several weeks ago at the farm of Sylvester H. Waltz, of Warrensville Road, Williamsport RD 1, are doing nicely, according to Mr. Waltz. Triplets are somewhat of a rarity in the bovine world. The three born at the Waltz farm are all males.6 The following article about Sylvester Harrison was published on 10 March 1969 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
$100,000 FIRE BURNS BARN AND EQUIPMENT
Damage is expected to be in excess of $100,000 in a fire that destroyed a barn, equipment building and corn crib at the farm of Sylvester Waltz, on the Lick Road, Eldred Township, Saturday afternoon.
The fire broke out at 2:30 p.m. and firemen from Eldred Township and Loyalsock Township fought the blaze at the farm which is just inside the Eldred Township line about a mile off the Warrensville Road.
Eldred Township Fire Chief Merrill Eck said it appeared the cause of the blaze was a blade flying off the machine being used to cut straw. He said a bolt of flame followed the blade.
Three persons, including Mr. Waltz's sone [son], Grant, were inside the two level wooden barn when the fire began but they were unable to save any equipment or livestock because the fire spread so quickly.
There was no water available at the scene, but firemen, using tankers, were able to obtain a supply from a farm pond a short distance away.
Mr. Waltz, who arrived home minutes after the fire broke out, said it would have been impossible to save the barn even if water would have been available.
He listed his loss as 38 milk cows and nine calves, about 400 chickens, 3,000 bushels of oats, 120 pounds of seed, oats, hay, straw, a milk house containing equipment, three tractors, three wagons, a welder, harvester, truck, hammermill and fertilizer.
Thirteen cows in the barnyard escaped the fire and heat.
The Waltz house had some water damage because the heat from the barn fire was so intense that it began to smoke and firemen turned their hoses on it.
A second corn crib was scorched and a field some distance away caught on fire. New farm equipment in another field was not damaged.
Besides farming, Mr. Waltz was engaged in the farm equipment business.
The equipment building that was destroyed was near the barn. So hot was the fire that the metal melted off the silo.
Eldred Township firemen remained at the scene Saturday night, and on Sunday, the ruins were still bruning.
Mr. Waltz said he had partial insurance to cover the damage.
This was the second major barn fire in the area on Saturday. In the morning, the barn on the Henry W. Rozenberg farm, on the old river road near Jersey Shore, was destroyed in a $70,000 blaze.7 According to the Social Security Administrations Death Index Sylvester's last known residence was Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1
Elma Estella Kurtz's obituary on 19 March 2005 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, stated that Sylvester Harrison Waltz was her husband and preceeded her in death.8
The following article about Sylvester Harrison was published on 24 July 1966 in the local paper, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
TRIPLET CALVES THRIVING ON AREA FARM
Triplet Holstein calves born several weeks ago at the farm of Sylvester H. Waltz, of Warrensville Road, Williamsport RD 1, are doing nicely, according to Mr. Waltz. Triplets are somewhat of a rarity in the bovine world. The three born at the Waltz farm are all males.6 The following article about Sylvester Harrison was published on 10 March 1969 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
$100,000 FIRE BURNS BARN AND EQUIPMENT
Damage is expected to be in excess of $100,000 in a fire that destroyed a barn, equipment building and corn crib at the farm of Sylvester Waltz, on the Lick Road, Eldred Township, Saturday afternoon.
The fire broke out at 2:30 p.m. and firemen from Eldred Township and Loyalsock Township fought the blaze at the farm which is just inside the Eldred Township line about a mile off the Warrensville Road.
Eldred Township Fire Chief Merrill Eck said it appeared the cause of the blaze was a blade flying off the machine being used to cut straw. He said a bolt of flame followed the blade.
Three persons, including Mr. Waltz's sone [son], Grant, were inside the two level wooden barn when the fire began but they were unable to save any equipment or livestock because the fire spread so quickly.
There was no water available at the scene, but firemen, using tankers, were able to obtain a supply from a farm pond a short distance away.
Mr. Waltz, who arrived home minutes after the fire broke out, said it would have been impossible to save the barn even if water would have been available.
He listed his loss as 38 milk cows and nine calves, about 400 chickens, 3,000 bushels of oats, 120 pounds of seed, oats, hay, straw, a milk house containing equipment, three tractors, three wagons, a welder, harvester, truck, hammermill and fertilizer.
Thirteen cows in the barnyard escaped the fire and heat.
The Waltz house had some water damage because the heat from the barn fire was so intense that it began to smoke and firemen turned their hoses on it.
A second corn crib was scorched and a field some distance away caught on fire. New farm equipment in another field was not damaged.
Besides farming, Mr. Waltz was engaged in the farm equipment business.
The equipment building that was destroyed was near the barn. So hot was the fire that the metal melted off the silo.
Eldred Township firemen remained at the scene Saturday night, and on Sunday, the ruins were still bruning.
Mr. Waltz said he had partial insurance to cover the damage.
This was the second major barn fire in the area on Saturday. In the morning, the barn on the Henry W. Rozenberg farm, on the old river road near Jersey Shore, was destroyed in a $70,000 blaze.7 According to the Social Security Administrations Death Index Sylvester's last known residence was Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1
Elma Estella Kurtz's obituary on 19 March 2005 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, stated that Sylvester Harrison Waltz was her husband and preceeded her in death.8
Children of Sylvester Harrison Waltz and Elma Estella Kurtz
- Grant Harrison Waltz
- Floyd Ernest Waltz (9 Sep 1933 - 1935)
- Evelyn Ruth Waltz (9 Sep 1935 - 6 Mar 1987)
- Sylvester Harrison Waltz Jr.
- Janice Arlene Waltz
- Shirley Ardella Waltz
Last Edited=19 Jun 2005
Citations
- [S151] Social Security Death Index, RootsWeb online, at http://ssdi.rootsweb.com (Baltimore, Maryland: U.S. Social Security Administration, January 2004 update). The SSDI component of RootsWeb online is drawn from the Social Security Death Benefits Index of the U.S. Social Security Administration. SYLVESTER WALTZ, birth listed as 08 Aug 1911, died listed as Jun 1979, issued in the State of Pennsylvania. Last residence Williamsport, Lycoming, PA, last benefit (none specified). Accessed 13 Jul 2004.
- [S574] Elma E. Waltz obituary, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 19 March 2005, shows name as Sylvester H. Waltz, Sr.. Original obituary available in print or online for 30 days from publication at: http://www.sungazette.com/obituary/obituaryArchive.asp. Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S565] Carol (Taylor) Olson, "Report for the Descendants of George Kurtz," supplied 25 February 2003 (6515 Marlo Way, Riverside, California 92506, USA; 951-788-4635). This report offers a full list of the primary and secondary sources consulted. p. 50, shows that Elma Estella Kurtz married Mr. Waltz, son of William Harrison Waltz and Christine Hausser this appears to be based on internet research.
- [S574] Elma E. Waltz obituary, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 19 March 2005, shows that Elma E. [Kurtz] Waltz was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Sylvester H. Waltz, Sr. [calculated year of marriage is 1931]
- [S574] Elma E. Waltz obituary, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 19 March 2005, shows that Elma E. [Kurtz] Waltz was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Sylvester H. Waltz, Sr., on June 3, 1979.
- [S582] Triplet Calves Thriving On Area Farm, clipping from an unidentified newspaper presumably from a local paper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 24 July 1966. The original article was from a scrapbook of personal memorabilia compiled by Johanna (Weiss) Edler (1915-1999) through out her life. Viewed in the home of her daughter Donna (Edler) Sayah on 1 June 1999, by Kevin Sholder. Donna Lee Edler, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA.
- [S583] $100,000 Fire Burns Barn and Equipment, clipping from an unidentified newspaper presumably from a local paper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 10 March 1969. The original article was from a scrapbook of personal memorabilia compiled by Johanna (Weiss) Edler (1915-1999) through out her life. Viewed in the home of her daughter Donna (Edler) Sayah on 1 June 1999, by Kevin Sholder. Donna Lee Edler, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA.
- [S574] Elma E. Waltz obituary, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 19 March 2005.