Union County, SD Biographies.....Belkey, William March 2, 1847 - 
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Source: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota. (1897)
Author: Geo. Ogle & Co.

WILLIAM BELKEY. A prominent position as a citizen and member of the farming
community of Big Springs township, Union county, is held by the gentleman above
named. He is of German parentage and birth and brought to this country the habits of
thrift and economy characteristic of the children of the fatherland.
Mr. Belkey was born in the province of Pomern, March 2, 1847, and was raised in his
native country until he had attained the age of eighteen years, acquiring during
that time a good solid education which is the birth-right of every child of the
fatherland. June 17, 1866, he first set foot on American soil, landing at the city
of Baltimore, Md. From that city he went to Wisconsin, where he took up the
occupation of farming in Green Lake county, working out by the month, until he had
saved enough to pay for a farm of his own. When he had acquired sufficient funds he
bought a piece of property in Waupaca county of the same state, and on this he
continued to reside for a period of seven years, leaving there to go to Cedar Falls,
Blackhawk Co., Iowa, where he engaged in teaming the following four years. At the
expiration of that time, which was in 1877, he located on his present farm,
consisting then of nothing but raw prairie land. He is now the fortunate owner of
160 acres, all of which he has developed and improved himself. The first five years
he and his family lived in a dugout, 12x18 feet, and then he built his present
commodious residence, which at that time, was the largest in the locality. This
latter has cost him over $1,500, and is a model in its way, surrounded by various
other outbuildings, used in carrying on the- general farming business in which he
indulges exclusively, and a fine grove and orchard, which are of his own planting.
He has also operated a threshing machine for the past fifteen years, and during
harvest time does an extensive business in this line. Mr. Belkey possesses an
inexhaustible fund of energy and perseverance, combined with good, sound judgment in
all matters, and a capacity for hard work, which have been the only tools he has
used in gaining his present state of prosperity. This is attested by the fact that
he had nothing on arrival in Union county except those attributes, a team, and $2.50
in cash, and everything he now possesses has been earned by the legitimate result of
his own labor. As every good citizen should, he takes much interest in local affairs
and politics, and has been a member of the school board, as well as holding the
position of treasurer of that body. He votes the Populist ticket.

Mr. Belkey was married in 1866 to Miss Augusta Bartz, a native of the same province
in Germany in which he was born, she coming to America the same year our subject
did. She was born August 2, 1846, and is a daughter of John Bartz, who now makes his
home with his daughter and son-in-law, our subject. Seven of a family of nine
children born to this union are now living, viz.:	Huldah, wife of John Heldt, whose
life history will be found on another page of this volume; Emma, the wife of Bert
Knight, who lives in Alcester township; Lizzie, the wife of Weidler Hoover who lives
in Hudson; Clara, who married L. Beverly, of Beresford; Augusta, Walter and George.
All the children have had the advantage of liberal educations to fit them for the
battle of life and Mr. and Mrs. Belkey are members in good standing of the Lutheran
church, in which Mr. Belkey is also an official.


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