Belville, John

BELVILLE, CANOUFF, AMRINE, SHEARER

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 7/31/2020 at 14:01:46

John Belville is a farmer and a stock-raiser, residing on section 30, Washington Township. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 18, 1815. His father, Joseph Belville, was a native of Delaware, while his mother, Sarah (Canouff) Belville, was a native of Maryland, born 1796. When quite young she moved from Maryland to Belmont County, Ohio, and in 1812 was married to Joseph Belville. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living: Nicholas is deceased; John is in Washington County, Iowa; Joseph is living in Wisconsin; Sarah , residing in Union County, Ohio; Mary married Addison Lee, in Union County, Ohio and is now deceased; Elizabeth, the widow of Josiah Amrine, is now residing in Union County, Ohio; Phoebe is deceased; Henry resides in Michigan; Miranda is the wife of Ichabod Sibo; Christina is the wife of James Moore, of Union County, Ohio; Samuel resides in Michigan; Sylvanus is a resident of Union County, Ohio. Mr. Belville died in Union County, Ohio, in 1860, while Mrs. Belville died in 1882 at the age of eighty-six years. She was a member of the Christian Church for over 50 years.

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and as is naturally expected of pioneers’ children received his education in the old log school-house. He was married in Union County, Ohio, Nov. 24, 1840, to Miss Mary M, Amrine, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary. A. (Shearer) Amrine, and a native of Pennsylvania, but who removed to Ohio with her parents at an early day. Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Belville went to Miami County, Ohio, and there Mr. Belville followed farming for several years. In 1849 the family left Ohio for Iowa with teams, camping out on the way, and were twenty-seven days in making the trip. They located in Marion Township, Washington County, where Mr. Belville entered land and improved a farm. At that time their best market place was at Burlington. After remaining upon his farm in Marion Township for fifteen years, he sold out and purchased his present farm on section 30, Washington Township, where he has since continued to reside.

Mr. and Mrs. Belville are the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Joseph, now residing in Merrick County, Neb., during the war of the Rebellion enlisted in the 2nd Iowa Infantry, and served until he close of the war, being with his regiment in every engagement in which it participated; Mary E. is the wife of Adam Lewis, and now resides in Merrick County, Neb.; Alonzo, is deceased; Melissa is the wife of Robert Lutz, of Merrick County, Neb.; John resides at home; Mina is the wife of Charles Putman, of this county. Politically Mr. Belville is a stanch Democrat, casting his first vote for Martin Van Buren. He is a member of the Christian Church in Marion Township, of which body his wife is also a member. His farm consists of 200 acres of excellent land all under a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Belville have been residents of Washington County for a period of thirty-eight years. They have experienced the toils and privations of pioneer life, and now, as old age comes on, are well entitled to the comforts of life with which they are surrounded. Both enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of John Belville, pages 227-228.