Born in Cieszyn, he came from a very old Cieszyn family of dyers, and owned a house in the town. As a middle-aged man he became interested in local politics, was elected to the Town Council for the first time in 1882 and remained on the council until 1900. From 1885 onwards he was a member of the board of the Cieszyn Kasa Oszczędności Savings Bank and its director from 1888 to 1906. He died in 1911 at the age of eighty two. His son, Karl Scholtis Jr., continued his work.
       He was awarded honorary citizenship of Cieszyn on the same day and with the same grounds as J. Hoschek.