Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 264
JOHN HOLTZ, an early settler of this county, and one of its leading citizens, now residing on section 10. Sweetland Township, was born in Germany, on the 5th of November, 1826. He is a son of Christian and Caroline ( Klepp ) Holtz. The days of his childhood were passed in his native land, and he was there educated in the common schools. He was a soldier of the Baden Rebellion of 1848, and shortly after receiving his discharge from the service he emigrated to America. Crossing the broad ocean he reached the harbor of New York, Jan. 12, 1850, and from that time has been a resident of the United States. He landed with no capital whatever, but he began to work, determined to carve out a fortune for himself. Borrowing money enough from his brother-in-law to pruchase a wood saw and a saw-buck, he earned his first money in America at the humble occupation of sawing wood in the city of Buffalo, N.Y., for which he received but seventy-five cents or $1 per cord. After two months he changed this for a position of chopping wood out in the country, for forty cents per cord, and walked seven miles to his work. While residing there he formed the acquaintance of Mary Whistler, who was also a native of Germany, born Feb. 25, 1833. He wooed and won the lady, and on the 23d of June, 1854, their marriage was celebrated. Their union has been blessed with a family of seven children, all of whom are living : J. O., born June 2, 1855. is now engaged in farming in Sweetland Township; Henry A., born Dec. 29, 1856, is now married and resides on the old homestead in Sweetland Township; F.G., born Dec.10, 1858, in Muscatine County, is also a farmer by occupation; Lizzie R., born in this county, Jan. 28, 1860, became the wife of August Pantel, March 21, 1883; Mary A., born Oct.18, 1863, in Sweetland Township, was united in marriage with William Weiersheuser, a farmer, March 26, 1885; C. F., who was born Sept. 10, 1865, wedded Miss Amelia Nesselbush, Jan.10, 1889, and now has the management of his fathers farm; Emma M., born Oct.3, 1868, is still residing with her father.

For seven years Mr. Holtz remained in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., and vicinity, and then came west to Iowa, reaching Muscatine on the 4th of April, 1857. He secured employmment with Mr. Stein, the lumber merchant, receiving $1.50 per day as a compensation for his labor. After working for three months he made his first purchase of land, consisting of forty acres in Sweetland Township. In the fall of 1858 mr. Holtz bought a half-interest in a threshing machine, and for twenty-one consecutive seasons followed threshing grain, at the same time running his farm. Eight happy years were passed on that farm, when at the end of that time Mr. Holtz removed to his present home on section 10 of the same township. The farm now comprises 250 acres, and is under a high state of cultivation.

The life of our subject is a splendid example of what may be accomplished by perserserance and industry. From the lowly, though honorable, position of a wood sawyer, he has become a man of wealth and prominence, and has now a comfortable competence laid up for declining years. On account of his ambitious and energetic nature, it is a difficult task for him to live a retired life, though he has now given over the management of his farm to his youngest son.

On the 2d of December, 1873, the death of Mrs. Holtz occurred. She has been a member of the German Baptist Church for twenty years, was an earnest, sincere Christian lady, and when her final summons came, a deep grief was felt throughout the community. Mr. Holtz is also a member of the church to which his wife belonged, having united with that denomination in 1854, and has always been one of its active workers.. Remembering the hardships of his youth, he has been very liberal with his children, giving them every advantage of education, and also aiding them financially. We are pleased to record this sketch of this worthy citizen of Muscatine County, who is respected alike by young and old, rich and poor.

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