Charles Belz

BELZ, GIER, SWINEFORD, ZIEGLER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/9/2011 at 19:21:30

CHARLES BELZ, a prominent business man residing in Conrad Grove, was born in Fairfield Township, Grundy County, Iowa, April 5, 1860, and is a son of George and Margaret (Belz) Belz. He was reared upon a farm, and at the age of twenty-four commenced to teach school, which profession he followed for five winters, and during the summer season worked at his trade of a carpenter.

November 3, 1886, Mr. Belz married Miss Jennie B. Gier, who was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, September 3, 1866. The parents of Mrs. Belz were Frederick and Barbara Ann (Swineford) Gier; the former, who was a native of Germany, came with his parents to the United States when eleven years old and settled in Ohio. Later he removed to Iowa, where he lived in different localities, and finally established his home in this county, where he died at the age of fifty-eight. Mrs. Gier is still living and makes her home with her children, two of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Belz are the parents of two children: Clifford C., who was born May 12, 1888, and Raymond A., August 24, 1890.

After his marriage Mr. Belz settled in Conrad Grove, and engaged in the lumber and coal business. In addition to that enterprise he has charge of a factory and does a good business as a contractor and builder. He is a man of excellent judgment and unvarying reliability in his business transactions. In politics he is a Republican, and is active in public affairs. For several years he served as Village Trustee, and has occupied other positions of trust and honor. He and his wife are both well educated, he having been a student in the Cedar Falls State Normal. In religious belief he is a Methodist.

This sketch would be incomplete were no mention made of the father of our subject. George Belz was born in Germany October 21, 1821, being the son of Christian and Mary (Ziegler) Belz, natives of Germany. He was the eldest of five children, the others being Christian, Gotlieb, Christina and Catharine. The mother of this family was a member of the Lutheran Church, and died at the age of about sixty-three; her husband, who was also identified with that denomination, passed away at the age of fifty-three years.

When twenty-seven years old, in 1848, George Belz emigrated to America and settled in New York State, where he worked by the month on a farm. In 1854, he came to Grundy County, Iowa, and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Fairfield Township, where he now lives. In the Emprie State he married Mary M. Belz, a native of Germany, and unto them were born fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who survive are: William, George, Charles, Frank, Jacob, Daniel, Elizabeth, Rosa, Emma, Dora and Mary. The mother of these children was reared upon a farm in Germany, and at the age of seventeen came to this country, where for a time she worked by the week in New York State. She is a member of the Lutheran Church, with which George Belz is also identified. Being a hard worker and good financier, he has become the owner of over four hundred acres of very valuable land in Grundy and Black Hawk Counties, Iowa, and now resides upon this farm retired from active labor.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894