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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

MICHAEL J. WALTZ, contractor and builder of Chest Springs, this county, is a son of George and Catherine (Hines) Waltz, and was born in Chest township, this county, March 26, 1836. His father was born in Germany, in that part which was formerly a portion of France, whence he emigrated to America, bringing with him his wife and two children. He located first in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in a warehouse. While in his native country he had learned the trade of a carpenter, and during his residence in Hollidaysburg assisted in building the first bridge across the Juniata river at the above place. Soon after he came to this country he purchased a farm in Chest township, from Mr. McConnell, to which he removed his family. They remained here but a short time, when they returned to their former home in Hollidaysburg. In 1840 he again removed his family to the farm, which he made his permanent home. He died October 21, 1861, at the age of seventy-three years. His marriage with Catherine Hines, a native of France, resulted in the birth of the following children: John, deceased, was formerly a farmer on the old homestead, Chest township; Catherine, the wife of Philip Baker, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania; Michael J.; George, a carpenter of Carrolltown, this county; Jacob, a farmer of Iowa county, Iowa; and Matilda, deceased.     Michael J. Waltz was reared a farmer boy, and received a limited education in the old subscription schools. He remained on the farm until he reached his eighteenth year, when he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a carpenter. After finishing his trade he worked in the car-shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad company at Altoona, Pennsylvania, for a short time. In 1860 he removed

to Chest Springs, this county, and engaged in the contracting and building business throughout the county, building houses and barns for many of the farmers of his locality. In connection with this line of business, he has been employed as foreman in various planing-mills for about twenty-five years.     Mr. Waltz owns a farm of ninety-seven acres adjoining the borough of Chest Springs, which he bought in 1872. This is fine farm land, well improved, and all underlaid with coal. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and in politics supports the principles of the Democratic party. On June 13, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Eichenlaub, of Altoona, and to this union seven children have been born: Michael, a farmer and carpenter of Chest township; Catherine, the wife of Jacob Jones, of Gallitzin, this county; John, a carpenter, of Altoona; Mary; Andrew, a carpenter, of Gallitzin; Francis, at home; and Annie and Harry, both deceased. PATRICK CONNELLY, a leading merchant and prominent citizen of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a son of Patrick and Ellen (O'Neil) Connelly, and was born in New London, Connecticut, March 13, 1848. His parents were both natives of county Limerick, Ireland. They emigrated to Norwich, Connecticut, about the year 1847. They soon tired of the "Nutmeg" State, and moved to Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Connelly was employed at the Great-Western Iron works. He continued in the employ of that firm until the works closed in 1853. He then came to Johnstown and found employment with the Cambria Iron company, making coke. He introduced here a method of coking "slack" coal, and thereby effected a saving for the company, as previous

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