NANTZ, James B. and brother Walter

 

James B. Nantz (1879-1954)

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO:  Jim Nantz (James B. Nantz)

PHOTO TAKEN: A.J. Reuling Photo Studio, Louisville KY, circa 1897

PHOTO ACQUIRED: Paisley Pig Antiques, Shelbyville KY, 2022

 This is James Benjamin NANTZ, born in Hodgenville Kentucky on 25 May 1879 to parents John Robert NANTZ (1844-1894, a son of Thomas W. Nantz & Elizabeth Lewis) and Louise E. SAMUELS (1854-1911, a daughter of William Thomas Samuels & Caroline Sympson).

 He worked for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N) for much of his life in various roles, electrician,  signal foreman, signal repairman.

 This photograph, also in my possession, shows James with his younger brother Walter Lee NANTZ (7 Mar 1882  - 16 Mar 1972). Walter is about 3 years younger than James, and the boys are approximately ages 10 and 7 in this image which was taken around 1889 in Elizabethtown, KY.

 The 1900 Census shows the family at 3114 S. Fourth Street n Louisville, which interestingly is located on property which today is just a few blocks from Churchill Downs Racecourse.

 

1900 Federal Census > Kentucky > Jefferson > Louisville > 3114 S. Fourth Street

NANTZ, Louise E., head, 46, widowed, 4 births, 3 living

NANTZ, James B., son, 21, wagon maker

NANTZ, Walter L., son 18, wagon painter

ASHCRAFT, Mayme N., daughter, 24, born Nov 1875

ASHCRAFT, Edgar Jacob, son-in-law, 32, revenue lawyer

SAMUELS, Thomas, father, 79, Jan 1821, widowed

SOWERS, Mattie, sister, 43, May 1857, widowed

SAMUELS, William T, brother, 39, Dec 1860, wood finisher

 

James’ sister Mayme Ashcraft died in 1908, age 32.

She and Edgar had one daughter:

  -- Lucy Caroline Ashcraft (1905-1932) who married Shirly Hardin (1896-1936)

       They had a daughter --- Shirley Nelson Hardin (1923-1996).

 

At the time of his WWII Draft Registration (at age 62), James was living at 109 W. Woodlawn Avenue and his brother Walter was a block away at 107 W. Wellington Avenue.

 Walter married Eva MARSH in 1923 and had a daughter:

     -- Betty Lou NANTZ who married Harvey Boone.

              -- they had no children.

 

James died rather suddenly of a coronary blockage on 6 November 1954. He is buried at the Resthaven Memorial Park in Louisville. 

James left quite a small fortune in his will with instructions for several gifts to be made to specific charities. Walter was the recipient of the remaining funds.

 

Walter died at age 90 in 1972 in Louisville and is also buried at the Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Louisville.