Nicholas Martz: A Brewmaster of Baltimore

Who is this?  Nicholas Martz is my 3rd great-grandfather.  He was the father of William John Martz, who was the father of Nicholas Dietrich Martz, who was the father of William Robert Martz.

Early Life

Nicholas Martz was born in June of 1844 in Bavaria.  He immigrated to the United States around 1859, when he was 15 years old.  He settled in New York for a while, where he married Sophia Kebler and began a family.  The couple had at least the following children while living in New York:

Louise Martz (b. August 3, 1870 in Manhattan, New York)
Frederick John Martz (b. July 8, 1872 in Manhattan, New York)
William John Martz (b. January 1, 1876 in New York)

While Nicholas Martz was present in the United States during the Civil War (1861-1865), I have not found any evidence that he actually fought in the war.

New York and Baltimore

Nicholas Martz has proven difficult to track.  I have been unable to locate the Martz family in either the 1870 or the 1880 US Federal Census.  However, I have been able to use other sources to track the family.

In 1871, Nicholas Martz, brewer, 103 E. 50th Street, is found in the New York City Directory.  As he was living in New York, he would have heard all about Susan B. Anthony's arrest for daring to vote in the Presidential Election on November 18, 1872 in New York.  She was, of course, arrested because she was a woman and not allowed to vote.

On September 23, 1875, Nicholas Martz was naturalized by the Superior Court of the City of New York when he was 31 years old, and had been in the country for about 16 years.  Click on the image below to view the naturalization record, which includes the signature of Nicholas Martz.

So, we know that Nicholas Martz was living in New York City until at least September of 1875.

Nicholas moved from New York City to Baltimore, Maryland sometime between 1875 and 1877.  He can be found in Woods' Baltimore City Directory of 1877.  His occupation is "brew master" and he is residing at "Lancaster and Clinton".

Nicholas and his family moved to Baltimore just in time for the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.  While the strike began in Martinsburg, West Virginia, it soon spread to Cumberland, Maryland.  The strike stopped freight and passenger cars, which at the time, had a major impact on commerce.

The railroad workers had suffered 10% wage cuts and poor working conditions for years.  An economic depression also affected the attitudes of the workers.

Maryland's Governor instructed the National Guard to stop the strike.  However, Baltimore citizens attacked them as they marched towards Baltimore & Ohio's Camden Station.  This caused a battle in the streets of Baltimore, resulting in 10 dead and 25 wounded Baltimore locals.

"Sixth Regiment Fighting its way through Baltimore," an engraving on front cover of "Harper's Weekly, Journal of Civilization," Vol XXL, No. 1076, New York, Saturday, August 11, 1877.

Despite the unrest, Nicholas Martz and his family remained in Baltimore.  He can be found with the same occupation and at the same location in the 1882, 1883, and 1884 Woods' Baltimore City Directories.  Nicholas worked as a Brewer or Brewmaster for most of his life.

On July 26, 1899, Nicholas' life was cut short when he was only 55.  He died suddenly of "apoplexy" (a stroke) at his home.