Source: “Bellwood 100 Years”
Jacob Demuth
Approximately ten years prior to the incorporation of Bellwood, Jacob DeMuth moved to Butler County. Born January 26, 1849, the son of Michael and Margaretha (Reisdorff) DeMuth, he emigrated from his birthplace, Sandweiler, Luxembourg, in 1868. He married Elizabeth Schmit in Fremont, Nebraska on November 2, 1873. Born in Luxembourg on January 6, 1855, Elizabeth, like Jacob had previously lived in the Cascade, Iowa area before moving to Butler County. In 1870 Jacob homesteaded on one hundred and twenty acres of section thirty, Bone Creek Township. In 1873, he purchased two hundred forty acres of section thirty. In 1880, he purchased forty acres on section thirteen of Savannah Township.
Jacob came to this area with four of his brothers: Nicholas, Michael, Peter, and John who later returned to Luxembourg. He was a charter member of St. Mary's (Luxembourg) parish east of Bellwood. Jacob, his three brothers, their wives and many of their descendants are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Bellwood. Jacob died on October 27, 1928, being preceded in death by his wife on September 2, 1912. Their children numbers [sic] twelve, two of whom died in infancy. The others listed in order of their birth are: Anna, Peter J., Hiller, John, Henry, Margaret, Mary, Michael, Jacob and Nicholas. Mary (Mrs. Joseph Nicholas), of Shelby, is the sole surviving child.
Peter J. had four children: Sylvester, who died in 1969, Loretta of Omaha, Harold of Seal Beach, California, and Isabelle (Tomek) of David City. Sylvester's widow, Arnola (Judevine) resides in Bellwood, as does one of their six children, Mary (Romshek).
- Bio submitted by Mrs. Joe Romshek