Gottfried Walz

WALZ, ROTHFUS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/12/2006 at 12:24:36

Gottfried Walz, farmer, Sec 16, P O Prairie Hill, was born in Germany, November 13, 1843, and when sixteen years of age he came to the United States, landing in New York, and coming immediately to Whiteside county, Illinois, in May 1868, he came to this county and bought the farm he now lives on, but did not remain long, when he went out west to Colorado and trough the Territories, spending about one and one-half years in travel and prospecting, in October, 1869, he came back to his farm and made some improvements and then returned to Illinois, in February 1870, he settled on his farm and has since remained here, owning 140 acres of land, while young he learned the blacksmith trade, and has worked at it about half the time for twelve years, he has worked at it three years in this county, his shop being the first one in this part of township, in November, 1861, he enlisted in company I, Eighth Kansas infantry, and served until January 1864, when he veteranized in the same company and served until the close of the war, being discharged January 11, 1866, at For Leavenworth, Kansas, at the battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863, he was slightly wounded in the head, he participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, in November, 1873, he returned to the old country on a visit, and in June 1874, came back to the United States and went to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he remained a short time, June 30, 1874, he married Miss Anna M Rothfus, a native of Germany, they have four children: Agatha, Anna M, John and Christina, all living

1880 Boone Co History Book