BIO: George Beltzhoover, Cumberland County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LII.

                            MONROE TOWNSHIP.

506 	BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  GEORGE BELTZHOOVER, farmer, Boiling Springs.  The grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, George Beltzhoover, the first of this name of 
whom we find any record, served in the war of 1812; moved from York 
County to this county, and here bought land.  He was the father of 
eight children by his first wife:  Catharine, Michael, George, 
Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Rachael and Sarah; by his second marriage with 
a Mrs. Gross he had one son, Daniel, who lived to be over seventeen 
years of age.  His son, John, was born in York County, Penn., in 1798, 
came to this county with his father when a boy, and became a farmer.  
He married Margaret Smith, in 1822, and had three children:  George, 
Anne and Mahala.  Mr. and Mrs. John Beltzhoover were members of the 
Lutheran Church; in politics he was a Republican.  He was a land-holder 
(part of the estate is still in the family), and lived on his farm near 
Boiling Springs over fifty years.  His house was the scene of one of 
the most cowardly and brutal robberies ever perpetrated.  At the time 
(July 29, 1878), his household consisted of his aged wife, over 
seventy-six years of age, a female servant, sixty years old, and 
himself, about eighty.  The old gentleman and lady slept down stairs 
and were awake at the time the robbers effected an entrance, who bound 
him and his servant with a cord from the bed, after beating Mr. 
Beltzhoover with a club until his head was cut open.  The old lady, 
though treated roughly, was not injured severely, and was forced to act 
as their guide.  Bureau drawers were ransacked and were "thrown on her 
feet so that the nails came off her toes," and their contents scattered 
on the floor; the house was thoroughly searched for about two hours and 
over $100 in silver coin and greenbacks secured.  The alarm was given 
by the servant, who worked herself loose and made her escape while the 
robbers were in the house, and saved the house from fire and probably 
the lives of the aged couple, by bringing timely assistance.  Word was 
sent to all the different places in the county and a reward of $100 
offered for their arrest.  Constables Johnston and Altland, of 
Dillsburg, got on their trail the morning after the robbery and tracked 
them to a barn about six miles below Dillsburg, where they were 
secreted in a hay-mow.  On going in one entered on his toes and the 
other on his heels.  In the morning the constables searched the hay-mow 
but failed to find them, but in the evening the barn was again visited, 
and on hearing a slight noise in the mow they proceeded to the spot and 
probed with a pitchfork, when one of them said he would come out.  Two 
rough looking men crawled from their hiding place, and were immediately 
taken before Mr. and Mrs. Beltzhoover, who identified them as being the 
party who twenty-four hours before had disturbed their quiet home by 
cowardly ill-treating and robbing them.  J. C. Lehman, Esq., of Boiling 
Springs, before whom they were next taken, then committed them to jail.  
One of the men came from Pottsville and the other from Harrisburg, and 
their names were John Lemon and John Myers, both of whom were 
recognized by the jail officials as tramps, both being young men not 
over twenty-one years of age, heavy set, but not tall.  On being 
searched the money taken from Mrs. Beltzhoover was recovered, also a 
watch and chain, two revolvers and a razor.  The money was equally 
divided between them.  Mr. Beltzhoover paid the reward at once.  The 
prisoners were sent to the penitentiary.  Mr. Beltzhoover lived to be 
nearly eighty-four years of age, considered one of the best citizens of 
the county, and always contributed largely of his means to build up the 
township.  George Beltzhoover, son of the above, was born in Monroe 
Township, this county, in 1823, on his grandfather's farm.  He married, 
in 1846, Miss Maria C. Niesley, of this county, daughter of Jacob 
Niesley, and this union was blessed with six children:  Mary E., John 
A., Margaret A., Maria C., Clara E. and Monroe C.  Mr. and Mrs. George 
Beltzhoover are members of the Lutheran Church.  In politics he is a 
Republican.