Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
AART VELTHOEN is a native of Holland,
and is one of the industrious farmers of
Anderson County. He owns a desirable
farm on section 20, Union Township, and
may be truly proud of the success he has achieved
in the land of his adoption. For over thirty years
he has taken his share in the advancement and
prosperity of this county, of which he is justly esteemed one of the leading agriculturists.
Our subject was born in the southern part of
Holland, March 10, 1828, and passed his boyhood
in the usual manner of farmer lads. Much of his
time was devoted to raising flax, in which he has
very successful, and for a period of about six years
he was employed as an overseer, as he was considered an expert in the business. His parents were
also natives of Holland, where they passed their
entire lives. His father bore the same Christian
name as our subject, while his mother was in her
maidenhood Miss Heltje Fisher. Their family
comprised three children, namely: Leander, John
and our subject.
Believing that he could better his condition, Mr.
Velthoen took passage on a sailing-vessel on the
10th of March, 1856, bound for America. The
voyage consumed fifty days, his destination being
New Orleans, where he arrived early in May. He
only remained in the Crescent City for about two
days, and thence proceeded up the Mississippi
River as far as Keokuk, Iowa. After prospecting
in the west to some extent, he located in Marion
County, Iowa, which was his place of abode until
April, 1861, the dale of his arrival in Anderson
County. He at once settled in what is now Union
Township, where he has since been one of the
prominent residents. He had only limited means,
which he invested in one hundred acres of land,
but as the years rolled by he found himself enabled to purchase more land, until at the present
time he possesses some six hundred acres.
The union of Mr. Velthoen and Mrs. Henrietta
M. Enochs was celebrated in Greeley, Anderson
County, on the 31st of August, 1862. The lady
was born in Darke County, Ohio, April 20, 1831.
Her maiden name was Lawrence. She became the
wife of George Enochs, and came to this county
in October, 1859, settling in Union Township,
where Mr. Enochs was accidently killed on the
29th of October of the following year. Their son,
William H., is now a farmer of Union Township.
Our subject and his wife have a son, John S., who
married Miss Mary J. Alexander, and resides in
Union Township. The father of Mrs. Velthoen,
Clark Lawrence, was a native of Pennsylvania,
while her mother was born in Maryland.
In his political affiliations our subject is a stanch
supporter of the Republican party and nominees.
He is a liberal contributor to church and benevolent enterprises, and adheres strictly to the teaching of the Golden Rule. He has a pleasant home,
and has found in his wife a kind and trusty helpmate, who has aided materially in his success.
Return to
Anderson Co. KHHP
|
© 2011-2012 Kansas History and Heritage Project
|