James Bertholf

BERTHOLF, MURPHY, THRIFT

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/15/2004 at 09:58:03

“The History of Madison County, Iowa”
Union Historical Company, Des Moines, 1879
page 616

James Bertholf, a Lincoln township farmer, lives on Section 27. P.O. Winterset. He was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, February 8, 1839. He came to this county in 1851. He owns 380 acres of land an has held the office of assessor three years. He married Miss Harriet Murphy in 1867, who was born in Davies county, Missouri. They have three children: Ada, Nelson and Arminta.
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“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

James Bertholf, who has practically retired and who owns seven hundred acres of land in Lincoln township, was born on the 8th of February, 1839, in St. Joseph county, Indiana, near the city of South Bend. The city has grown much since that time and from what he can learn it now includes the farm where he was born. He was a child of three years when the family removed from that place and settled in Lee county, Illinois. A sketch of his father, Andrew H. Bertholf, appears elsewhere in this work.

In 1851 the family removed from Lee county, Illinois, to Madison county, Iowa, and settled upon a farm which Mr. Bertholf of this review aided in cultivating as soon as old enough. There were scarcely any schools here at that time and most of his education was acquired in his father's log cabin. Until he was twenty years of age he worked upon the home farm and then spent two years upon the western plains going as far as Leadville, Colorado. His father giving him a piece of land in Webster township, he located thereon and operated his farm for two years. At the end of that time he sold and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln township, which has since been his home. He has added other land to his holdings and now holds title to seven hundred acres. While actively engaged in agricultural pursuits he usually raised good crops and he also did an extensive business as a stockman. Although he still resides upon his land the work is mainly done by others and he has practically retired.

Mr. Bertholf was married in Grand River township to Miss Rachel Harriet Murphy, who was born in Davies county, Missouri, a daughter of John Murphy, an early settler of Grand River township. To Mr. and Mrs. Bertholf have been born three children: Ada, the wife of B. L. Thrift, an agriculturist of Lincoln township; Nelson, cashier of the Madison County Bank at Winterset; and Armina, the wife of F. D. Brownell, who is operating the farm belonging to our subject and living with Mr. and Mrs. Bertholf.

Mr. Bertholf is a democrat and has served as assessor of Lincoln township for seven years, but has supported that party without thought of reward. In religious matters he is liberal in his views. Although but three years of age whenhe left Indiana he often imagines in the early morning that he can hear the pounding in the iron works in South Bend that he heard so often in his earliest childhood. In a residence covering more than six decades Mr. Bertholf has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his adopted county and his life has been a factor in the progress and advancement of Madison county. Those who have been associated with him recognize his value as a citizen and honor and esteem him as he deserves.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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