Untitled
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 936-937
JOHN C. BELLMYER (deceased) was a native of Germany, came to this country when a young man, and applied himself to his trade of blacksmithing. He worked hard, denied himself many of the pleasures and recreations which young men were wont to regard as necessary in his time, and became forehanded and prosperous. All his life he sustained a high reputation for honesty and veracity, and now that he has passed on to the better world those who knew him long and well bear wiling testimony to his native manliness and genuine worth.
Mr. BELLMYER was born in Germany in 1814, and after coming to this country worked at the blacksmith's trade in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. In 1853 he entered Wisconsin, and not long afterward married Miss Minna KUEHNN, of Platteville. Her parents, Casper and Minna KUEHNN, lived and died in Germany, where Mrs. BELLMYER was born in May, 1828. She grew to womanhood in her native country, and when she reached the age of twenty-five came to Wisconsin, living in Kendalltown, where her brother, Frederick KUEHNN, had purchased a farm. Mr. BELLMYER bought a farm near Platteville, and made extensive improvements. He owned 200 acres, which he developed into a fine rural estate, on which he made his home until his death, in 1873. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and lived the life of a good man. He was always a Whig, and after the organization of the Republican party acted therewith.
Mr. BELLMYER was twice married, and by his first marriage had two children, Lizzie and Dennis, the latter a farmer in the town of Platteville. Of the children born to his second union, Fred, the eldest, is mentioned below. Albert, after reaching manhood went to Arizona, and resided there until after his death, being killed by the Indians in 1893. Carrie, widow of John HARMS, lives in Platteville, and has three children, Dennis, Fred and Nellie. Minnie, now Mrs. John BOLDT, of Platteville, is the mother of five children, Frank, Charles, Jesse, Edwin and Benjamin. Charles married Lillie BAILEY, of the town of Platteville, and is now living in Elk Grove; they have four children, John, Adelbert, Lenys and Estella. Mary is now the wife of Frank HABEL, of Platteville; they have three children, Shirley, Delmer and Lester. Henry married Louisa MEHREN, and lives in Platteville, where he has a fine farm; they have three children, Edwin, Pearl and Emerson. Dennis has a family of six children, Gertrude, George, Nellie, Frank, Albert and Sarah. All the family were born in Platteville.
Mrs. BELLMYER is a member of the Lutheran Church, where she and her husband worshipped since the building of the new church, Mr. BELLMYER being one of the original supporters of the denomination here. He was an old pioneer, and a highly-respected citizen of the county. The family are all well-to-do, and hold an enviable place in the community.
Fred BELLMYER was born Dec. 16, 1857, on the farm where he lives, and of which he is now manager and part owner, owning 227 acres of valuable land. He was educated in the public schools. Mr. BELLMYER is largely engaged in farming and stock raising - Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs - and ships to the Chicago markets about three carloads of hogs and one carload of cattle annually, usually going to the market himself and taking charge of the sales. He raises large quantities of corn and hay, all of which is fed out on the farm, thus keeping the soil at its best continually. Politically Mr. BELLMYER is a Republican, and is treasurer of the school board of his district; he attends the Lutheran Church. He is unmarried.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck