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Charles A Gantz

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Charles A Gantz

Birth	:	27 Aug 1865 Jefferson County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	29 Jul 1932 Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial	:	Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.0138600, -91.9562100
Plot	:	2nd.267 1/2 (originally interred in Fairfield Mausoleum; removed in 1968 when FM was closed)
Description	:	Note: this memorial updated February 3, 2014 with full transcription of biography published in the Fairfield Ledger in 1965. Known as "Major" Gantz, Charles joined the circus as a teenager and was billed as "the world's smallest man". ---------- Brighton Enterprise Thur., Aug. 4, 1932 Page 1, col. 2. Maj. Charles Gantz, 65, former well known Fairfield resident and well known to circus audiences throughout the country, died Friday at Los Angeles, Calif. One of America's smallest dwarfs.....Survived by brothers and sisters, Wm. S., Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs Ida Snyder, Central City, Nebr.; Mrs. Frank Millane, Detroit, Mich.; John W. of Dayton, Washington;... Read More	Note: this memorial updated February 3, 2014 with full transcription of biography published in the Fairfield Ledger in 1965. Known as "Major" Gantz, Charles joined the circus as a teenager and was billed as "the world's smallest man". ---------- Brighton Enterprise Thur., Aug. 4, 1932 Page 1, col. 2. Maj. Charles Gantz, 65, former well known Fairfield resident and well known to circus audiences throughout the country, died Friday at Los Angeles, Calif. One of America's smallest dwarfs.....Survived by brothers and sisters, Wm. S., Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs Ida Snyder, Central City, Nebr.; Mrs. Frank Millane, Detroit, Mich.; John W. of Dayton, Washington; and Harry Gantz northwest of Fairfield. The body arrived in Fairfield Tuesday afternoon.....Interment in Evergreen Cem. ------------ Note: the following is transcribed as fully and close to the original text as possible, using microfilm images found in the Fairfield Public Library. Certain paragraph breaks are put in "CAPS" for emphasis, but were done published that way originally. Two photographs were with the story, one of Major Gantz relining in a chair, the other photo shows Mrs. Kathaleen McCullough with the desk that Major Gantz owned and used. Fairfield Ledger Saturday, June 12, 1965 Native Of Fairfield - Major Gantz: 'World's Smallest Man' Few people probably realize that the late Major Charles Gantz for years hailed as "The World's Smallest Man", was born and reared in the Fairfield community and is interred in the Fairfield Mausoleum (sic. later reburied in 2nd Addition of Evergreen cemetery). He died July 29, 1932 at the age of 65 after traveling thousands of miles on exhibition and conducting his own business in California. He amassed a considerable fortune during his life. Mrs. Kathaleen McCullough, 202 E. Hempstead, is a niece of the late Major Gantz. She has a scrapbook which he kept for many years. In it are clippings from newspapers throughout the United States all describing him as the smallest man in the world. In addition she has the small desk on which he transacted his business. It is of usual height. Mrs. McCullough said his small chair was placed on a regular chair while he was at work. BORN IN 1865 Charles Gantz was born on the family farm in the Plain Grove (sic. not sure if transcribed correctly) neighborhood about six miles northwest of Fairfield. He was born August 27, 1865, the son of Andrew and Ellen Gantz. He had nine brothers and sister, and every other member of the family was of normal size. In fact, the father stoood "well over six feet tall." When he was a child the family moved to Fairfield. Young Charles started to acquire his educatiion at the age of 12, and finally ended up with what was then equivalent to a high school degree. The family lived at 704 W. Burlington for a number of years. He was transported from place to place in a common baby carriage even after he had grown to manhood. Descriptions of the little fellow state he was 18 inches tall and weighed 30 pounds. Later figures placed him at 24 inches in height. Although his body was dwarfed, his head and shoulders were of normal size. His legs were very short and small, and not strong enough to sustain his weight. As a result he never walked. All his chairs, tables and utensils resembled furniture of doll-size proportions. Despite his handicap he was described as a jovial person who loved to visit with people, and a shrewd trader and businessman. CIRCUS OFFERS When still a young man circus companies made offers to his parents, to put him on exhibition, but the parents declined. When Major Gantz became of age he decided on his own to hit the show trail. He traveled with several traveling shows, and even managed his own for several years. In the winter time he lived in California where he was a sucessful building contractor. Previously he had dealt in livestock. In 1900 he was with his show playing in Washington, D.C. He paid a social call to President McKinley who was delighted to have the little man call on him. Unlike many people more or less unfortunate, Gantz never felt that the world or the government owed him a living. A biographer in 1927 wrote: "Naturally, he shrank at first from exploiting his tremendous liability as an asset; but he took the plunge and fared forth to meet life in the only way he could see for himself. It made him humble, helpful, but independent. "He has become a philosopher, a humorist, a financier, and something far more greater, an inspiratioin for those who are strong and well but who are prone to let self-pity weaken them to the extent that they cease to try." BARNUM OFFER Shortly after he had decided to go on the road, P.T. Barnum and the Ringling Brothers made bids for his services, but he was determined to manage his own business. Paired with Gantz for a time was the world's largest man, Willie Stout, who at the age of 21 weighed 712 pounds and boasted a waist measurement of 84 inches. Each used a chair made especially for its occupant. The Major appearently never complained about his size. In fact, he is quoted as saying, "Take it up one side and down the other, I would rather be as small as I am than one of the biggest." Other nieces and nephew of the tiny man still residing in the Fairfield area in addition to Mrs. McCullough include M. L. Gantz, Batavia; Frank Gantz, Abingdon; Mrs. Mable Fairchild, Agency; Mrs. Genevieve Sanden, Clarinda; and Fred Millane, Fairfield.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Charles A Gantz's memorial?
Charles A Gantz's memorial is located at: Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA.
When did Charles A Gantz death?
Charles A Gantz death on 29 Jul 1932 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Charles A Gantz's memorial?
Latitude: 41.0138600
Longitude: -91.9562100

Family Members:

Parent

Andrew Gantz

(1833 - 1918)

Mary Elva Canaday Gantz

(1837 - 1916)

Siblings

Florence Gantz Ashmead

(1859 - 1890)

Cora May Gantz

(1867 - 1868)

Harry C Gantz

(1869 - 1956)

Lola M Gantz

(1871 - 1894)

Myrtle Maude “Mertie” Gantz Millane

(1881 - 1946)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Evergreen Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0138600, -91.9562100

2. Old Fairfield Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0148000, -91.9598000

3. Memorial Lawn Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0068000, -91.9805000

4. Switzer Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0368996, -91.9096985

5. Bradshaw Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9766998, -91.9032974

6. Roth Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9589005, -91.9574966

7. Bethesda Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0019000, -91.8796000

8. Smith Family Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9972416, -92.0362857

9. Wheeler Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0797000, -91.9185500

10. Galliher Cemetery
Glasgow, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9666892, -91.8835038

11. Upper Richwoods Cemetery
Salina, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0602989, -91.8807983

12. Jefferson County Poor Farm Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9416900, -91.9996200

13. Perlee Cemetery
Perlee, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0805750, -91.8993380

14. Pattison Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9444008, -91.9049988

15. Moorman Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0452995, -92.0622025

16. Wright Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9524000, -91.8728000

17. Antioch Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1002998, -91.9147034

18. Moyer Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1046982, -91.9330978

19. Cumberland Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9248000, -91.9903000

20. Gregg Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0078011, -92.0811005

21. Salina Cemetery
Salina, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0419006, -91.8330994

22. McCleary Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9892006, -92.0805969

23. Brooks Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0635986, -92.0693970

24. Thompson Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9155998, -91.9772034