Holtz, John S.

HOLTZ, DOUGLAS, RICHMOND, SHRIDER, GEARHART, LLOYD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/31/2009 at 10:27:36

Holtz, John S.

A highly honored citizen of Newton, who has long had the interests of Jasper County at heart and whose career has been one of usefulness and characterized by lofty purpose, is John S. Holtz, for many years a leading farmer but now living retired. He was born near Morristown, Belmont County, Ohio, October 14, 1838. He is the son of Jacob and Eleanor (Douglas) Holtz, the father a native of St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, while the mother was a native of Maryland. The former spent his life on a farm in Ohio, dying at the advanced age of ninety-three years, his wife reaching the age of ninety-two; they were a remarkable old couple and highly honored in their community. The Holtz family is of German stock. Grandfather Holtz having emigrated from Germany to the state of Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of seventy-three years. Great-grandmother Holtz reached the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Holtz, seven of whom are living: Otha W. is a practicing physician in Missouri; John S., of this review; D. F., of Cambridge, Ohio, is a minister in the Methodist church; Earl D. is a Doctor of Divinity, a great lecturer and traveler, making his home at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he has a church; J. M. is a practicing physician in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Caroline E. Bowles is a resident of Fairview, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Hood lives at Cambridge, Ohio.

John S. Holtz was reared on the home farm in Ohio and when but a boy he knew the meaning of hard work. He received a good common school education, and when the tocsin of war sounded, calling the loyal sons of the old flag to rally in its defense, he unhesitatingly offered his services, enlisting in Company K, Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served nearly four years in a most faithful and gallant manner, participating in over one hundred battles and skirmishes, including Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Chattanooga and the numerous ones in the Atlanta campaign; he was with Sherman on his march to the sea and was also with him through the Carolinas, and he was taken prisoner near Fayetteville, North Carolina, and sent to Libby Prison, where he remained only a few weeks, this having been about the close of the war. He received an honorable discharge at Columbus, Ohio. Two brothers were also in the Union army. Their father was an officer in the Ohio Militia in his day.

John S. Holtz was married first on August 9, 1866, to Cora J. Richmond, who was born in Kentucky, but was reared in Iowa, and to this union seven children were born, namely: Ellen died when two years of age; Albert C. lives on a farm near Ira, Jasper County; William E. is a carpenter at Central City, Nebraska; Mrs. Florence Shrider, of Zanesville, Ohio; James B. of Boone, Iowa, where he is president and manager of a glove manufacturing concern; Effie died when one year old; Mrs. Beryl Gearhart lives near Goddard, Jasper County.

Mr. Holtz came to Jasper County at the close of the war in 1865 and settled north of Newton, where the village of Baxter is now located. After living there about ten years, he moved to Adair County, Iowa, where he improved two farms and lived seven years, then returned to near Baxter, Jasper County, again and there continued to reside until the spring of 1889, when he removed to northwestern Nebraska and there became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres. After living there seven years, he again returned to Jasper County, Iowa, locating in Newton, where he has since lived, with the exception of one trip made back to Nebraska for his wife's health. When he came back he rented a farm which he worked one year, then bought ten acres near Newton and went to gardening and raising small fruits, which he continued for some time there, and then, about twelve years ago, he bought his present valuable place in Newton and he has continued in the gardening and small fruit business, having been very successful in this line of endeavor. He has a valuable and neatly kept place and has been very successful in whatever he has turned his attention to, having always been a hard worker and a good manager.

Mr. Holtz was married in January 1904, to Mrs. Ava Lloyd, who was born in Jasper County, Iowa, of a highly respected old family, and here she grew to maturity and was educated. Mr. and Mrs. Holtz are members of the Baptist church. He served as trustee of the church for ten years. He is independent in politics, and is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Prohibitionist.

Mr. Holtz is an interesting man to meet, genial, honest and kindly disposed. He talks entertainingly of the pioneer days in Jasper County and of the wonderful subsequent growth of the same. He has always been a keen observer. He had a personal acquaintance with Gen. U. S. Grant and has seen a large number of the great men of a former generation. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 651.