GANTZ, Charles (Maj.) 1865 - 1932

GANTZ, SNYDER, MILLANE, MCCULLOUGH

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 8/6/2005 at 15:40:40

Added by Admin, September, 2022 --

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, July 29, 1932
Page FIVE, Column 1

Locals

... H. C. GANTZ received word this morning from Los Angeles, Calif., telling of the death of his brother, Maj. Charles GANTZ, who passed away at 3 oclock this morning. ...

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, July 30, 1932
Page TWO, Columns 7 and 8

MAJOR GANTZ, SIDESHOW MAN, TO REST HERE
Body Will Arrive From California Tuesday; Services Wednesday

Maj. Charles GANTZ, 65, former Fairfield resident and well known to circus audiences throughout the country, passed away at 3 o'clock yesterday at Los Angeles, Calif., following a two months illness.

Maj. GANTZ was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Andrew GANTZ. Although one of America's smallest dwarfs Maj. GANTZ was memtally (sic) normal. His weight was thirty-five pounds until recently, in retirement he weighed 70 pounds. H (sic) was well educated and an excellent conversationalist. Accompanied by his valet, he was formerly a familiar figure about Fairfield where he usually spent the summer.

He is survived by the following brothers and sisters: William S. Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Ida SNYDER, Central City, Neb., Mrs. Frank MILLANE, Detroit, Mich.; John W. of Dayton Wash. and Harry GANTZ, northwest of Fairfield.

The body will arrive in Fairfield at 1:20 Tuesday afternoon accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. William GANTZ of Los Angeles. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon from the Hoskins Funeral home in charge of Dr. U. S. Smith. Interment in Evergreen cemetery.

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Original entry by Jane Adams --

Brighton Enterprise
Thursday, August 4, 1932
Page 1, Column 2

Maj. Charles GANTZ, 65, former well known Fairfield resident and well known to circus audiences throughout the country, died Friday at Los Angeles, Calif. One of America’s smallest dwarfs.....Survived by brothers and sisters, Wm. S., Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs Ida SNYDER, Central City, Nebr.; Mrs. Frank MILLANE, Detroit, Mich.; John W. of Dayton, Washington; and Harry GANTZ northwest of Fairfield. The body arrived in Fairfield Tuesday afternoon.....Interment in Evergreen Cem.

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Added by Admin, September, 2022 --

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, August 6, 1932
Page THREE, Column 7

MAJOR CHARLES A. GANTZ

Major Charles A. GANTZ, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew GANTZ, was born at Brookville, Iowa, August 27, 1865, and passed away July 29, 1932, at his home in Long Beach, California, at the age of 66 years, 11 months and two days.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, three sisters and one brother. Those left to mourn his death are Mrs. Frank MILLANE of Detroit, Mich., Mrs. Ida SNIDER of Clarks, Neb., J. W. GANTZ of Dayton, Wash., W. N. GANTZ of Long Beach, Calif., and H. C. GANTZ of this county.

He lived with his parents on their farm six miles northwest of Fairfield and received his education in the public schools. He was a member of the M. E. church at Brookville and was a regular attendant at all services. He spent his winters in California until the year 1919 when he located at Long Beach permanently.

He entered into business there of contracting and building operations and made a host of friends.

The lade who keeps the house in which Major and his assistant had their rooms, said of him, "'I believe he's about the finest, most cheerful and most loveable character I've ever known."

But this man's life is not to measured in years, in inches, nor in pounds. It is to be gauged rather by what he has done for himself and for his fellowmen, nearly every one of whom it would seem was more fortunately equipped than he.

Three years ago he changed his membership to the Presbyterian church on account of his location in Long Beach. He was laid to rest in the Fairfield Abbey.

The following poem was written by a friend in Long Beach:

"He's just a plain little man,
And he speaks the word, 'I can.'
If he is little, his feelings are fine,
And his heart is as big as yours or mine.
If he cannot walk or run,
He is jolly and full of fun.
If his eye is dim, and he is failing in sight,
His spirit is brave and his motive is right.
And he tries with all his might
To do the thing he thinks is right,
He is kind, cheerful, loyal and true,
He is a friend to me, and a friend to you.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, August 12, 1932
Page FOUR, Column 5

BROOKVILLE
Virginia Whitaker

Aug. 11--The body of Major Charles GANTZ arrived in Fairfield on Tuesday, from Long Beach, California, accompanied by Mrs. William GANTZ. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon. Those from a distance attending were Mrs. William SNIDER, son Charles and daughter Lucile and Mr. and Mrs. Harold SNIDER and daughter Phoebe , of Clarke, Neb. Mrs. Frank MILLANE and Mrs. William GANTZ of Long Beach, Calif. ...

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Original entry by Jane Adams --

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Saturday, June 12, 1965
Front Page, Columns 5, 6, and 7, and
Page 5, Columns 7 and 8

Native of Fairfield--

Major GANTZ: 'World's Smallest Man'

Few people probably realize that the late Major Charles GANTZ, for years hailed as "The World's Smallest Man", was born and reared in the Fairfield community and is interred in the Fairfield Mausoleum.

He died July 29, 1932 at the age of 65 after traveling thousands of miles on exhibition, and conducting his own business in California. He massed a considerable fortune during his life.

Mrs. Kathaleen McCULLOUGH, 202 E. Hempstead, is a niece of the late Major GANTZ. She has a scrapbook which he kept for many years. In it are clippings from newspapers throughout the United States, all describing him as the smallest man in the world.

In addition, she also has the small desk on which he transacted his business. It is of usual height. Mrs. McCULLOUGH said his small chair was placed on a regular chair while he was at work.

Born in 1865

Charles GANTZ was born on the family farm in the Plum Grove neighborhood about six miles northwest of Fairfield. He was born August 27, 1865, the son of Andrew and Ellen GANTZ. He had nine brothers and sisters, and every other member of the family was of normal size. In fact, the father stood well over six feet tall.

When he was a child the family moved to Fairfield. Young Charles started to acquire his education at the age of 12, and finally ended up with what was then equivalent to a high school degree. The family lived at 704 W. Burlington for a number of years.

He was transported from place to place in a common baby carriage even after he had grown to manhood. Descriptions of the little fellow state he was 18 inches tall and weighed 30 pounds. Later figures placed him at 24 inches in height.

Although his body was dwarfed, his head and shoulders were of normal size. His legs were very short and small, and not strong enough to sustain his weight. As a result he never walked.

All his chairs, tables and utensils resembled furniture of doll-sized proportions. Despite his handicap he was described as a jovial person who loved to visit with people, and a shrewd trader and businessman.

Circus Offers

When still a young man circus companies made offers to his parents, to put him on exhibition, but the parents declined. When Major GANTZ became of age he decided on his own to hit the show trail. He traveled with several traveling shows, and even managed his own for several years.

In the winter time he lived in California where he was a successful building contractor. Previously he had dealt in livestock.

In 1900 he was with his show playing in Washington, D. C. He paid a social call to President McKinley who was delighted to have the little man call on him.

Unlike many people more or less fortunate, GANTZ never felt that the world or the government owed him a living. A biographer in 1927 wrote:

"Naturally, he shrank at first from exploiting his tremendous liability as an asset; but he took the plunge and fared forth to meet life in the only way he could see for himself. It made him humble, helpful, but independent.

"He has become a philosopher, a humorist, a financier, and something far more greater, an inspiration for those who are strong and well but who are prone to let self-pity weaken them to the extent that they cease to try."

Barnum Offer

Shortly after he had decided to go on the road, P. T. Barnum and the Ringling Brothers made bids for his services, but he was determined to manage his own business.

Paired with GANTZ for a time was the world's largest man, Willie Stout, who at the age of 21 weighed 712 punds and boasted a waist measurement of 84 inches. Each used a chair made especially for its occupant.

The Major apparently never complained about his size. In fact, he is quoted as saying, "Take it up one side and down the other, I would rather be as small as I am than one of the biggest."

Other nieces and nephew of the tiny man still residing in the Fairfield area in addition to Mrs. McCULLOUGH include M.L. GANTZ, Batavia; Frank GANTZ, Abingdon; Mrs. Mable FAIRCHILD, Agency; Mrs. Genevieve SANDEN, Clarinda; and Fred MILLANE, Fairfield.

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Andrew Gantz enlisted as a Teamster in Co. F, 3d Iowa Cavalry Regiment, and served from 1861 to 1864.

This data has been transcribed for genealogical purposes; I am not related to the subject.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Originally buried in the Fairfield Abbey, a mausoleum which stood in what is now the 6th addition to Evergreen Cemetery. Due to the Abbey's deterioration in the 1960s, the remains of those buried there were moved to other facilities, and the building demolished. Charles GANTZ was moved to Evergreen Cemetery, Lot 2nd.267½.

Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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