John Wirtz Grave Research for Liberty University HIUS-390

 

By: Dale Gardner

Name of Deceased: John Wirtz

Date of Birth: c. 1822

Date of Death: c. November 1907

Location in Cemetery: Sect. 8, Lot 7, Space 5

        John Wirtz was born c. 1822 and died in November of 1907 at the age of 85. His burial was conducted on November 15, 1907, and he is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia. His gravesite is unmarked, so there is no information about him to gather from a tombstone, but the original ledger at the Presbyterian Cemetery confirms his burial date and age.

       The Wirtz name has its origins in Germany and Switzerland, giving some idea of his family origins. His grave lies within the same section as various members of the Shaner family as well as members of the Angle family. The earliest burial of the Shaner family was the father of John B. Shaner in 1862. John B. Shaner (who was a captain in the Lynchburg Militia), Mary C. Shaner, and Lucy C. Shaner are also buried in the same section, with Lucy Shaner having been buried the latest in 1940. The earliest Angle to be buried there was Mary Elizabeth Angle in 1924. George H. Angle is also buried there, with the latest being Mary Elizabeth Angle who was buried in 1963. The fact that John Wirtz is buried in the same section may indicate that he had some connection to one or both families. On the contrary, the fact that his grave is unmarked within the midst of these families could be evidence that he had no connection with them. 

        As a presumed resident of Lynchburg or one of the surrounding areas for at least part of his life, his life could have been influenced by factors that affected this entire area. He would have very likely been involved in agriculture if he lived outside the city of Lynchburg. If he lived closer to the city itself, he may have worked in one of the tobacco warehouses in the city or may have been involved with the shipping industry along the James River. Later on, he may have been involved with the railroad system. 

        Wirtz would have been about 38 years old in 1860. Though exempt from the April 1862 Conscription Act, which drafted men up to 35 years old, Wirtz would have been eligible for draft under the September 1862 Conscription Act, which drafted men up to 45 years old, although men over 40 would not have been drafted until July 1863. If he lived in or near Lynchburg at the time of the Civil War, he may have served in a unit near Lynchburg, potentially with John B. Shaner. It is important to note that there are two soldiers by the name of John Wirtz who served in the 36th Regiment VA Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry), as well as multiple John Wirtz's that served in both Union and Confederate units outside of Virginia. It is unknown whether or not one of these men is the John Wirtz buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery. 

        After the Civil War, Wirtz could have seen Lynchburg's modernization, expansion, and development of industry. 

Bibliography

John Bernhard Shaner (1820-1879). WikiTree. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Shaner-364.

National Park Service. Search for Soldiers: The Civil War. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-                    soldiers.htm#sort=score+desc&q=John+Wirtz.

Original Burial Ledger. Presbyterian Cemetery, Lynchburg, Virginia. Accessed: March 20, 2023.

Shaw, William L."The Confederate Conscription and Exemption Acts." The American Journal of Legal         History. Vol. 6, No. 4 (October 1962): 374, 376. https://www.jstor.org/stable/844108?seq=9.

The City of Lynchburg Virginia: History. https://www.lynchburgva.gov/history. 

"Wirtz History, Family Crest, and Coat of Arms." House of Names.                                                     https://www.houseofnames.com/wirtz-family-crest/Swiss. 

    Left: original ledger from the Presbyterian Cemetery. John                                                                          Wirtz is space 5.            

 Left: others buried in the same

                           plot as Wirtz. Picture taken from the Presbyterian Cemetery's website at the Cemetery.

                                                                                      

                 

                                                                                  Above: the location of John Wirtz's grave. Picture                                                                                        taken from the Presbyterian Cemetery's website.