Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


S. W. WALTZ. � A successful, highly respected farmer and viticultur- 
ist, who has a fine ranch property and knows how to take good care of it, 
is S. W. Waltz, who came to Fresno County in the great boom year of 1887. 
Thirty years before, on February 20, he was born at Vevay, Switzerland 
County, Ind., the son of Joseph Waltz, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled 
in Indiana and grew to be one of the prosperous farmers there. He married 
Burry A. Courtney, a daughter of the Hoosier State, a woman of character 
and amiability, who became the mother of ten children, seven of whom are 
still living. Joseph Waltz died in 1885, and Mrs. Waltz died later. 

The youngest in the family, and the only one in California, S. W. Waltz 
was brought up on a farm and attended the public school. When he was 
twelve years of age he began to do farm work in earnest, driving the teams 
and helping get in the harvest; and after the death of his father he continued 
to work on the home farm and to assist his mother, until she died. 

Before coming to California, Mr. Waltz was married in Indiana to Miss 
Australia Chittenden, a native of that state, who had relatives here. On his 
arrival he went to work in the vineyards, and in 1891 he bought his present 
place of twenty acres in the Scandinavian Colony, six miles northeast of 
Fresno, which he improved in many ways. He built a residence and barn, 
set out a fine vineyard of Malaga, Thompson, Sultana and wine grapes, and 
planted some of the land to alfalfa. The ranch is under the Gould Ditch, 
and profits from almost perfect irrigation. Mr. Waltz takes a keen interest 
in all that pertains to his departments of agriculture, and is one of the 
livest members of the California Associated Raisin Company. 

In February, 1892, Mr. Waltz' wife breathed her last. Later, Mt. Waltz 
married a second time, his bride on this occasion being Mrs. Nellie (Hender) 
Trevathan, a native daughter born near Solbyville, Merced County. By her 
Mr. Waltz has had two children � Harry Roy and Dorris. By her first mar- 
riage Mrs. Waltz had one child, Clifford Trevathan, who resides near Ker- 
man. Mr. Waltz belongs to Fresno Lodge. No. 186, I. O. O. F. He is also 
a member and Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment and belongs to the 
Canton ; and both Mr. and Mrs. Waltz are members of the Rebekahs. 

Public-spirited and ever interested in all that makes for the improve- 
ment of the neighborhood, and particularly for the advancement of the cause 
of education. Mr. Waltz has for three years served as a school trustee of 
the Scandinavian district. In national politics he is a Republican, but in 
local administration and civic improvements he knows no party lines and 
endorses and supports the right man for the right place.