BELZ, Charles 1860-1927

BELZ, GIER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/12/2015 at 21:47:21

Charles Belz, Prominent Conrad Citizen, Dead

Heart Trouble Takes One Of Best Known Citizens Of South Grundy Co.

Ill For Past Three Months

Born in County Sixty-Seven Years Ago and in Business at Conrad Forty Years

Death Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock claimed one of the best-known old residents of south Grundy county in the person of Charles Belz, of Conrad, aged 66, for forty years in business at Conrad and during all these years prominent in the affairs of the town and county. Mr. Belz's death was the result of heart disease, with which he had been suffering for about three months.

Born in Fairfield township, this county, April 5, 1860, Mr. Belz had spent his entire life in the county, and his interests in Conrad began with the starting of the town.

In 1886 Mr. Belz, who was a carpenter, became associated with John Gier in the general contracting business, having at the time a capital of $100. He put half of it into the business and retained the other half for living expenses. The firm became well known and was successful. Later a lumber, grain and coal business was started, and this business still is in existence, operated by the firm of Charles Belz & Sons.

Since the organization of the Conrad State Bank Mr. Belz has been one of its directors until the recent annual meeting, when he resigned owing to ill health. At one time he was a member of the county board of supervisors. He had been very active for many years in the Methodist church, was superintendent of the Sunday school for sixteen years, and the Sunday school class of which he was teacher was the largest in the school.

Mr. Belz was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Grundy county during the years 1906-7-8, and was Chairman of the Board during 1907.

Mr. Belz is survived by his widow --unreadable-- Belz before his marriage in ?? county Nov. 3, 1886, was Miss Jennie Gier. The children were Clifford C. and Raymond Belz and Mrs. Dewey Hunt, of Conrad: Mrs. William McGiffin, Ft. Madison and Mrs. G. D. Matthews, Kansas City. four brothers and a like number of sisters also are liing. They are William, George and Frank Belz, Cedar Falls; Jacob, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Edward Hieber, Mrs. F. W. Hartwig and Misses Emma and Dora Belz, Cedar Falls.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 in charge of the pastor, Rev. E. E. Clements, assisted by Dr. Frank Cole, Cedar Rapids, district superintendent.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 February 1927, pg 1

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Charles Belz

Obituary subject of this sketch was born on the fifth day of April in the year 1860. He passed from scenes earthly Feb. 19, 1927, at the age of 66 years, 10 months and fourteen days. He was born on the farm of his father in Fairfield township, Grundy county, and remained on the farm until he had reached the age of twenty-two years. As a young man he taught the Wilhelm country school two terms, 1882 and 1883.

On the third day of November, 1886, Mr. Belz was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Gier, and a few days later the bride and groom established their home in the town of Conrad, where it has ever since been.

Mr. Belz had been working at the trade of carpenter at times but in the fall of 1886 he joined with his brother-in-law, Will Gier, in the work of building wooden tanks, and other kinds of carpenter work. Upon the death of his brother-in-law, Mr. Belz formed another partnership with his other brother-in-law, Mr. John Gier, these two continuing in the contracting work, the lumber and grain business for many years.

Charles Belz was born in the home of parents of the German Evangelical faith, but he did not identify himself with the church until the year 1891. At that time he was converted and united with the Conrad Methodist Episcopal church, under the ministry of the Rev. H. E. Wilcox. From the time of his entering into this new relation he became an active worker in various lines of the church's labors. For about twelve years he was Sunday School Superintendent. He was a member of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Stewards, and was the recording Steward of the church for many years. Perhaps his outstanding work in the church was his great Sunday school class. The enrollment in this class reached eighty men and women. Brother Belz was an able teacher, an inspiration to all in his class, being always faithful in attendance. He continued in this work until the early part of last November, when his health broke and he was forced to remain at home.

Mr. Belz lived a life of usefulness. He believed in giving out the good that came into his life. He served his community as a member of the town council, a member of the school board, and also served as county supervisor. He evidently believed that he should pass on to others the good that came to him from the church as well. His faithfulness in attendance upon the services of the church made him a worthy example. His loyalty to the church was further demonstrated by his liberal financial contributions to the local interests and to all the causes of the church. No pastor ever had to apologize or explain anything about the conduct or character of Charles Belz. His life was clean because his mind was clean and his heart was clean. He had filled his mind with the Word of God and portions of Scripture were expressed as being helpful to him as he lay ill in his home. Truly it can be said of him, he was a loyal husband, a loving father, a faithful neighbor and friend, a useful citizen, and an exemplary Christian man. It is well we strive to walk as he walked.

There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Belz three sons and three daughters, one son dying in infancy. Those of the immediate family now left to mourn a great loss are the widow, Mrs. Belz, and the children, Clifford C., Raymond A., and Mrs. Dewey Hunt, of Conrad; Mrs. William McGiffin, of Fort Madison; Mrs. G. D. Mathews, of Kansas City; four brothers, William, George and Frank Belz of Cedar Falls, and Jacob Belz of East Falls Church, Va.; four sisters, Mrs. Ed. Hieber, Mrs. F. W. Hartwig, and Misses Emma and Dora Belz, all of Cedar Falls. There are also seven grandchildren.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 March 1927, pg 5