John P. Beltzhoover

JOHN P. BELTZHOOVER. Among the names of the wealthy and prominent residents of Cherokee County, is found that of John P. Beltzhoover, a farmer of Spring Valley township, who lives on 135 acres of land in section 16, township 35, range 24. He was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, October 8, 1825.

Jacob Beltzhoover, our subject's father, was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and there acquired the education which was to be obtained in the schools of the rural districts of the East at that time. Making the most of the few available advantages, he put to good use the knowledge acquired and taking up the occupation of farming he made a success of that business. Along with his farming he often did teaming for other people. To his marriage to Rebecca Leidig, one son was born, John P., the subject of this sketch. After Mrs. Beltzhoover's death, in 1828, he married her sister, who died shortly after. A later marriage was consummated when Louisa Jacobs of York County, Pennsylvania, became his wife. To them were born three children: George, a resident of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Susan Weaver; and Mary Ellen. In 1864 the family removed to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where Jacob Beltzhoover died in 1876.

John P. Beltzhoover, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Mount Rock, Pennsylvania, completing the course at the age of 15. After leaving school, he worked for his father as teamster for 10 years. After that 12 years more were spent on a farm in Cumberland County in the same State. In 1866 he moved to Clinton County, Illinois, where he located on a farm and lived for 18 years, making improvements and building up a home for himself. In 1884 he purchased the farm in Cherokee County, Kansas, where the family have since lived.

In 1851 Mr. Beltzhoover was united in marriage to Hannah Nagle of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The children of this union are: Jacob, who married Josephine Geiger, lives in Clinton County, Illinois, and has seven children.—Clara E., Dorothea, George, Anna, Mazie, John and Edith; Jennie, who married Edward A. Ennis, a dealer in musical instruments living in Centralia, Illinois, and has four children,—Harry, Della, Thomas and Edgar; Ida, who married William Lieth, formerly of Clinton County, Illinois, and has three children; Annie, who first married William Stewart, a stock dealer of Sandoval, Illinois and by this union had two children, one of whom is living,—Lola; her second marriage was to Frederick Bartole, and to them a daughter was born,—Mona; and Jennie, who is the wife of A. E. Ennis, of Centralia, Illinois. On June 24, 1876, our subject contracted a second marriage, the bride being Mrs. Rachel (Watts) Thompson, daughter of James and Mary (Gilmer) Watts, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Beltzhoover was born in Allen County, Ohio, December 25, 1844. The three children to the marriage are,—Rachel, who married Orrin Callis, a farmer of Spring Valley township, and has two children.—Jessie and John William; and Nola and Mayme, who are still at home.

Mr. Beltzhoover casts his vote for the Republican party and advocates Republican principles at all times. He is a member of the I. O. O. O. F.[sic] Our subject is a lover of home, and in all the countryside there is perhaps no more beautiful home than the one occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Beltzhoover. Here, surrounded by some of the best farm land to be found in the county, they quietly live, busy with the numerous tasks of the farm, or in hospitably entertaining their hosts of friends.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by students from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 4/9/97.