Alternate: Spellings of Surname: Wilts, Wiltz, Wilz, Witts, Witz

Born on New Year's Day in 1849 in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and baptized at Easton's German Reformed Church on 27 July 1850, John C. Witz was a son of Pennsylvania natives David P. Witz (circa 1810-1861) and Rosanna (Ward) Witz (circa 1812-1883), who had been married in Easton on 26 July 1835 by the Rev. Bernard C. Wolf, who was the pastor of Easton's German Reformed Church at that time.

John Witz was subsequently raised in Easton with his siblings: Susanna (1841-1899), who was born on 8 June 1841 and baptized on 17 June 1842; Samuel, who was born in 1843 and baptized on 15 May 1844; and Mary, who was born circa 1845. Both Susan and Samuel were documented on the 1850 federal census as students who were enrolled in school while their parents were described as unable to read or write, likely indicating that the Witz family were one of the many families who spoke German or Pennsylvania Dutch at home. Their father, David, was described by that same 1850 federal census enumerator as a boat builder.

Still living in Easton in 1860, John Witz resided that year in a much larger household that included his father, David, who was described as a laborer; his mother, Rosanna; and his siblings: Elizabeth (1839-1901), who had been born on 14 May 1837 and baptized on 14 January 1840; Susanna; Samuel, who was employed as a boatman; Mary A.; Ellen Rebecca (1852-1868), who had been born on 8 February 1852 and baptized on 4 November 1853; and Susanna's son, Henry (1859-1862), who had been born on 10 March 1859 and was listed on records of the German Reformed Church as the grandson of David and Rosanna Wirtz. Like her parents, Elizabeth was documented by that year's census enumerator as being unable to read or write while Mary, John and Ellen were described as students who were attending school.

Civil War

After enrolling for Union Army service on 26 February 1864, John Wilz mustered in the next day as, "John Wilts," an Unassigned Recruit with the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was subsequently assigned the rank of private.

Transported to Louisiana at some point after his enlistment, he eventually caught up with his regiment sometime before or while it was stationed in Alexandria, Louisiana because the U.S. Office of the Adjutant General wrote the following in a 20 February 1866 letter which confirmed his service with the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry:

"Present with Regt. in Camp near Alexandra, La. Pay due from Enlistment Feb. 26, 64."

That same letter also noted that he had appeared on the regiment's muster rolls for March and April 1864, and that he had been moved to the ranks of Unassigned Men to the roster of Company E, the unit with which he would serve for the remainder of his life.

Sadly, that life proved to be a short one. Sometime during the 47th Pennsylvania's long, grueling marches through a harsh climate that exposed members of the regiment to multiple different tropical diseases, Private John Wilz fell ill during the 1864 Red River Campaign and was diagnosed with typhoid fever by 47th Pennsylvania Regimental Surgeon Elisha W. Baily, M.D. As his condition worsened, he was transported to the USS Laurel Hill, a Union hospital ship that was docked near Morganza, Louisiana.

Still not yet married, he subsequently died aboard that ship on 23 June 1864 (alternate death date: 21 June 1864). Due to the highly contagious nature of his disease, he was likely buried at sea.

Sources:

1. David P. Witts [sic], in Death and Burial Records, German Reformed Church of Easton/First United Church of Christ Easton, 1849). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
2. John Witz (infant) and David and Rosanna Witz, in Birth and Baptismal Records, German Reformed Church of Easton/First United Church of Christ Easton, 1849). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
3. Rosanna Witts [sic], in Death and Burial Records, German Reformed Church of Easton/First United Church of Christ Easton, 1849). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
4. Wilts [sic], John and Roanna, in U.S. Civil War Mothers' Pension Files. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.