Louis A. Wiltz
Louis A. Wiltz | |
---|---|
![]() | |
29thGovernor of Louisiana | |
In office January 14, 1880 – October 16, 1881 | |
Lieutenant | Samuel D. McEnery |
Preceded by | Francis T. Nicholls |
Succeeded by | Samuel D. McEnery |
15thLieutenant Governor of Louisiana | |
In office April 24, 1877 – January 14, 1880 | |
Governor | Francis T. Nicholls |
Preceded by | Caesar Antoine |
Succeeded by | Samuel D. McEnery |
25thMayor of New Orleans | |
In office November 30, 1872 – November 30, 1874 | |
Preceded by | Benjamin Flanders |
Succeeded by | Charles J. Leeds |
Member of theLouisiana House of Representatives | |
In office 1868 | |
Personal details | |
Born | New Orleans, Louisiana | January 21, 1843
Died | October 16, 1881 New Orleans, Louisiana | (aged 38)
Resting place | St Louis Cemetery No 1[1] New Orleans, Louisiana |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | MicaelBienvenu |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Rank | ![]() |
Unit | ![]() |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Louis Alfred Wiltz(January 21, 1843 – October 16, 1881) was anAmerican politicianfrom thestateofLouisiana.He served as29th Governor of Louisianafrom 1880 to 1881 and before that time wasmayor of New Orleans,lieutenant governor of Louisiana,and a member of theLouisiana House of Representatives.
Biography
[edit]Wiltz was born on January 21, 1843[3]inNew Orleansto J.B. Theophile Wiltz and the former Louise Irene Villanueva. His paternal family were among the first German settlers in Louisiana and his mother came from a nobleSpanishfamily, her father coming to Louisiana with theSpanish Army.[4]He attended public school until the age of 15, when he began work with Plauche and Company. After the company failed, Wiltz became the clerk for the Second District Court of Louisiana. With the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War,Wiltz joined theConfederate States Armyas aprivatebut quickly rose to the rank ofcaptain.In 1863, Wiltz married Micael Bienvenu ofSt. Martinville,the seat ofSt. Martin Parish.They had four daughters and one son.
In 1868, Wiltz was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the New Orleans School Board. In 1872, he was elected mayor but could not take office until January 1873 because of the refusal of theRepublicanmayor to vacate the office. In addition to serving two years as mayor, Wiltz was once again elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served as lieutenant governor. He was succeeded byE. D. Estilette.[5]
With the implementation of the new Louisiana state constitution of 1879, the gubernatorial term ofFrancis T. Nichollswas cut short by one year. An election was held in 1879, and Louis Wiltz easily defeated his Republican opponent. Wiltz's term as governor was one rife with corruption. The corruptLouisiana Lotterycontinued to have influence over the state legislature. The state treasurer,Edward A. Burke,embezzledstate funds while the public schools were neglected, and black disenfranchisement continued.
Wiltz died oftuberculosiswhile in office on October 16, 1881, in New Orleans. Lieutenant GovernorSamuel D. McEnery,a fellowDemocrat,succeeded Wiltz.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Louis Alfred Wiltz".Find A Grave.RetrievedJanuary 20,2018.
- ^Bartlett, Napier (1875).Military Record of Louisiana.L Graham & Company. p.28.
- ^Onofrio, Jan (1999).Louisiana Biographical Dictionary.Somerset Publishers, Inc. p. 303.ISBN9780403098170.RetrievedJanuary 20,2018.
- ^"The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography,(1900) p. 83.
- ^Andrews, Elisha Benjamin (1903).The United States in our own time; a history from reconstruction to expansion; being an extension of "The history of the last quarter century.C. Scribner's Sons. pp.160–67.Internet Archive
External links
[edit]- 1843 births
- 1881 deaths
- 19th-century mayors of places in Louisiana
- American people of German descent
- American people of Spanish descent
- Hispanic and Latino American state governors of the United States
- Democratic Party governors of Louisiana
- Lieutenant Governors of Louisiana
- Mayors of New Orleans
- Speakers of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis
- Tuberculosis deaths in Louisiana