Born in Lawrence County, Illinois, Baltzell attended Northern Illinois State Normal School (now Northern Illinois University) and then received a Bachelor of Laws from Marion Law School in 1904.

He was a Judge of the Gibson County Circuit Court in Princeton from 1920 to 1925.

[2] Baltzell was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on January 2, 1925, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana vacated by Judge Albert B. Anderson.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 13, 1925, and received his commission the same day.

Baltzell was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on April 21, 1928, to a new seat authorized by 45 Stat.