Johann Jost Justus "Justus Walter

1815 - 1869  (53 years)

• Name	Johann Jost Justus "Justus Walter
  Born	15 May 1815	, Germany   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Name	Justus Walter  [2]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-131840
  Died	5 Mar 1869  [1]
  Buried	Union Center Cemetery, Nappanee, Elkhart, Indiana, United States   [1]
  Person ID	I131840	Generations
  Last Modified	9 Jun 2025

  
  

  Family	Anna Elizabeth "Elizabeth" Hartmann,   b. 15 Feb 1816, Oberkaufungen, , Hessen, Germany ,   d. 28 Aug 1895, Nappanee, Elkhart, Indiana, USA  (Age 79 years)
  Children	1. John August Walter,   b. 7 Jan 1837, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Mar 1913, Wakarusa, Elkhart, Indiana, USA  (Age 76 years)
  Last Modified	10 Jun 2025
  Family ID	F41035	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  In German records his name is recorded as Johann Jost Justus Walter Johann Jost Walter married his wife on 4 June 1837, their daughter, Elisabeth Hartmann Walter was born in Oberkaufungen on February 2, 1836. It is stated in the Church records: "Elisabeth Hartmann "Spater: (later) Walter "Vaterschaft durch Johann Jost Justus Walter Anerkannt!" Translation: Paternity Through Johann Jost Justus Walter recognized! The following by: Dorothy (Walters) Crawford From the time I received the chart from my contact in Kaufungen until a few months ago, I thought this was a family skeleton in the closet. Recently, I made that comment to Maria Cohn who is from Kaufungen, and she said this is not so. At that time it was common practice for a young man to make sure the girl he selected would be able to produce children for him. This was verified by the birth of their daughter and then her second pregnancy. They then married. Johann and Elizabeth immagrated to the United States in 1854 They sailed from Bremen, Germany, April 16, 1847, and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, May 24, 1847. There were among the 197 passengers aboard the ship "Albert" with Captain d. von Fritzen. Justus was listed as 32 years of age when he left Germany with his wife and five children. Heinrich Wilhelm Walter did not survive the journey and was buried at sea. Upon arrival in the United States, they lived in Ohio until 1853. County histories state that they were residents of Columbiana County, Ohio, for four (seven?) years; however, I found them listed in the 1850 Ohio Census as residents of Mahoning County, Beaver Township. July 7, 1851, while they were still livingin Ohio, a son, John Henry, was added to their family. When they came to Indiana in 1853, they lived a short time in Harrison Township, Elkhart County, and then moved to Union Township, Elkhart County, where they remained the rest of their lives. Two more children were born to them after their move to Indiana: Jacob, born February 19, 1854, and Lydia Ann, August 20, 1860. Justus Walter continued his trade as a weaver on a hand loom and made many beautiful rugs of which pieces were in the Lydia Walter Hess' family many years later. Justus Walter died at the age of 53 years, 10 months on March 5, 1869, in his home and is buried in Union Center Cemetery, Elkhart County, northeast of Nappanee, Indiana. An interesting story told in the family pertains to the fact that Justus Walter supposedly had the gift of clairvoyance and, a short time before his death, as he was working on a rug, said he needed to hurry and finish the rug as it was his last one. His death occurred shortly after the rug was finished. His will was dated March 1, 1869, just four days prior to his death. When his will was received by the County Clerk's Office in Goshen, Indiana, May 3, 1869, the following heirs were named: Wife - 1/3 as long as she remains a widow: 2/3 to children: Elizabeth Christophel, John A. Walter, William Walter (son of Mary Gunder), George Walter, John Henry Walter, Jacob Walter, Lydia A. Walter. In the 1860 Census, Elkhart County, Union Township, Indiana, Justus (Augustus on this one) Walter was 45 and Elisabeth listed as 40. Still with them were: John August, age 22; Mary, age 19; Georg, age 17; Henry, age 10; Jacob, age 5; and William, age 7 months. Actually Elisabeth was several years older and expecting Lydia Ann at the time this census was taken. To whom does William, age 7 months, belong? William Walter was mentioned by family members over the years with various accusations of paternity. Most were blaming George, who would have been 16 years old when the baby was born. I also heard that it was Great-aunt Elizabeth's baby; however, records show that she was married to Henry Christophel September 14, 1854. In one county history, it states that Mary Walter Truax died in 1868, leaving her husband and a son, William. However, there was one child with John Truax in the 1870 Census. This child belonged to his second wife and was named Willard Melott. In Justus Walter's will, he says, almost on his death bed, that he wished to leave 1/3 to his wife and 2/3 to his children and names William Walter third among them with the name of Mary Gunder as his mother. If William was the illegitimate son of Justus Walter by Mary Gunder, it would show his fairness in leaving the child an equal share with his legitimate children. However, since the children were named in order of age, it would seem he would be mentioned next to last. The other probably explanantion of William's parentage would be that Justus Walter's unmarried, 19-year old daughter, Mary, gave birth to William. Mary died prior to her father's death in 1869 and she would have been the third child of her father. It seems reasonable that her share was given to her son who was nine years old at the time of Justus Walter's death. This would also account for the quote in the county history that Mary had left one son, William. Perhaps William's father had the surname "Gunder" and Justus Walter was attempting to protect his daughter's reputation even in his will. Cemetery, U., America, N., County, E., & Cemetery, U. (1815). Justus Walter (1815-1869) - Find A Grave Memorial. Retrieved 26 March 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52086793/justus-walter ______________________________ On the 5th of March, in Elkhart county, Ind, Justus Walter, aged 57 years, and 10 days. He was buried on the 7th. Funeral addresses were delivered by the brethren J M Christophel, D Brundage, and D Brenneman from 2 Cor 5:1-4 and Job 14:14. He was a consistent member of the Mennonite church for many years. Herald of Truth Vol VI, No 4 April 1869

  
  

• Sources

  [S3231] Find A Grave, Cemetery, U., America, N., County, E., & Cemetery, U. (1815). Justus Walter (1815-1869) - Find A Grave Memorial. Retrieved 26 March 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52086793/justus-walter. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library. John W. Walter, 24, of Wilmot, b. Germany s/o Justus Walter & Eliz. Hartmann married 15 Dec 1863 to Esther Bachert, 19, res. Wilmot, b. Wilmot Twp., d/o Martin BAchert & Cath. Martin

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 15 May 1815 - , Germany Buried - - Union Center Cemetery, Nappanee, Elkhart, Indiana, United States  = Link to Google Earth