DEDICATORY When I was a little over 12 years of age I left home to clerk in a store for my uncle Captain J. H. Wissler who was manager of a cold blast iron furnace at White Rock, Va. Of course I know but little about the real man of my father. These recollections may not be true but after fifty years I am giving them for what they are worth. He was the oldest son of George Lantz and was given the Lantz mill tract of land. It was there I was born and raised until 12 years old. He had gone security and these debts wiped out all his property. I remember when a boy of about 10, going to Wood- stock, where the county court house was located, and on court day I was generally at the court house. On one certain day after our real estate our home had been sold but bought by my mother with money she had gotten from my grandfather Wissler. (Hite Byrd and M. L. Walton who were the commissioners appointed by the court to sell this property.) While in Mr. Byrd's office I remember father telling him that his personal property had been overlooked and he should come and get it. Mr. Byrd evidently had a kind feeling for father and told him no, his creditors told him not to sell this. Father told him he did not consider the security debts were just but he had been unable to get proof that he had the debts scaled from over $80,000 to about $50,000 and the personal property was no more sacred than his home and demanded that they be sold. Of course the household property was mother s. (General Sheridan's Army had burned father's.) They did sell some horses, sheep, cattle, and hogs but when mother put in a bid at the public auction no one bid against her. He was a smart man when you consider the chances for education over 100 years ago. He was the leader in his church-the German Reformed Church-for many years and attended the Synods frequently if not every time. He was a justice, the highest elective office I ever knew a Lantz to hold, and this probably paid him $5.00 or $10.00 a year but it was a great pleasure to him. In his day and time I think the Justices of the county met and elected one to try the important cases probably appealed from the regular justices and to this he was elected or appointed. iv
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