No class of persons deserves higher respect than the teachers who have
conscientiously endeavored to perform their duty in the training of the
young. Of this number is H. D. Foltz who for nearly forty years devoted his
best energies to training boys and girls in order that they might become
useful and honorable members of society. That he succeeded is evidenced by
the respect in which he is held by his former pupils, hundreds of whom are
now established in their life work and ascribe their success to the
influence and example of their revered schoolmaster.
Born at Mount
Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1847, he is a son of
Henry W. and Mary (Lindley) Foltz. The father was a native of Sussex county,
Massachusetts, and was born in 1812, while the mother was born in Edinburgh,
Scotland. The grandfather of our subject, George Foltz, was a native of
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. He emigrated to America and first located in
Massachusetts. Later he took up his residence in Lehigh county,
Pennsylvania, where he engaged at his trade as a wagonmaker for the
remainder of his life. The mother came to America with her parents in her
girlhood and grew to maturity in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Henry
W. Foltz became a resident of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, early in
his life and secured his education in the public schools of that county. He
dealt in live stock for a number of years but became connected with public
affairs and for the last forty years of his life filled the office of
associate judge. He was a prominent and influential man in the community and
his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He died in 1902
and his wife was called away in 1894. She was an earnest member of the
Reformed church and a woman of many admirable characteristics. There were
eleven children in their family, five of whom are deceased. Those living
are: H. D., of this review; John, James and George, all of whom live at
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Jennie McFadden, who lives in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania; and Amanda, the wife of George Rhinehart, of Mount Pleasant.
H. D. Foltz attended the common schools and later was a student at
Sewickley Academy. He pursued his studies further at the state normal
school, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in
1866. He taught school in his native state for four years and then removed
to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and served for one year as principal of the
Jefferson street school of that city. In 1869 he came to Macoupin county,
and was engaged in teaching in this county until 1909, making a total period
of about forty years in a vocation for which he was peculiarly fitted. He
was principal of the Palmyra school for eleven consecutive years and gained
a standing as one of the most competent teachers in this part of the state.
About 1895 he purchased one hundred and five acres of land in section 21,
Bird township, and for fourteen years has had charge of his farm, carrying
the work forward without interfering with his school duties. He is a
successful agriculturist and also has won high standing as a breeder of
trotting horses, every horse on his place being a standard bred animal. In
addition to his activities as a teacher and business man he possesses rare
talent as a public speaker and has delivered some notable addresses in
Illinois and other states.
On the 16th of September, 1873, Mr. Foltz
was married to Miss Bella Chisholm, whose father was born in Scotland and
the mother in England. Mr. and Mrs. Foltz are the parents of four children,
namely: Flora, who is the wife of C. C. Alford, of Chesterfield; Minnie, who
married J. E. Gleason, of Bird township; Roy H., who is engaged in the drug
business at Granite City; and Harry C., who lives at home. In politics Mr.
Foltz gives his support to the republican party. Fraternally he is connected
with Lodge No. 753, I. O. O. F., of Hettick, Illinois; Lodge No. 407, K. P.,
of Greenfield, Illinois, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has served as
a member of the Grand Lodge of the latter organization and also in various
other offices. At the outbreak of the Civil war he was attending college in
Pennsylvania and became a member of the State Guard. His regiment was called
into active service when General Lee invaded the Keystone state, and he
commanded a company at the battle of Gettysburg, where he received a bullet
in his leg, which he still carries. Always governed by a high sense of
personal responsibility, he is recognized as one of the reliable men of the
county — a man who never betrayed a confidence and whose word is as good as
his bond. His religious belief and practice is founded upon the Golden Rule
and he has made many friends by his kindly disposition, who justly honor him
for his services as an educator and a citizen.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 106-107.
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