Louis Alfred Wiltz (October 22, 1843 – October 16, 1881) served as Governor of Louisiana from 1880 – 1881. Prior to serving as governor, he was Mayor of New Orleans, Lieutenant Governor, and a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Wiltz was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to J.B. Theopile Wiltz and Louise Irene Villanueva. He attended public school until the age of 15 when he began work with Plauche and Company. The company later failed and Wiltz became the clerk for the Second District Court of Louisiana. With the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War, Wiltz joined the Confederate States Army as a private but quickly rose to the rank of Captain. In 1863, Wiltz married Miss Bienvinue of St. Martinsville, Louisiana. Together, 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 1875 due to the refusal of the Republican mayor 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.

With the implementation of the new Louisiana state constitution of 1879, the gubernatorial term of Francis T. Nicholls was cut short by one year. An election was held in 1879, with Louis Wiltz easily defeating his Republican opponent. Wiltz’s term as governor was one strife with corruption. The corrupt Louisiana Lottery continued to have influence over the state legislature. The State Treasurer embezzled state funds while the public schools were neglected and black disenfranchisement continued.

Louis Wiltz died in office on October 16, 1881 in New Orleans from tuberculosis. Lieutenant Governor Samuel D. McEnery succeeded Wiltz.

External Links

Biography from the Louisiana Secretary of State

New Orleans Mayoral Biography