John W. Burckhalter

JOHN W. BURCKHALTER, one of the prominent farmers of Lincoln Township (Pottawattamie County, Iowa), is of an old American family of German descent. ABRAHAM BURCKHALTER, his grandfather, came from South Carolina to Ohio about 1811 and then removed to Union Co., Indiana, then to Boone Co., same state, in 1831. When he first came to Ohio his wife rode a horse and he walked. He was the father of 9 children: Cason, Jeremiah, James S., Joseph, Thomas, Fannie, Rebecca, Sarah, and a daughter whose name is unknown who married and reared a family. ABRAHAM BURCKHALTER lived to the age of 70 years and died in Boone Co., Indiana. He was a prominent farmer of that county and was able to give each of his children 80 acres of land. James S., son of the above and father of our subject, was born in 1818 on a farm in Union Co., Indiana, and was married in Boone Co. to LEAH BELLES, daughter of WILLIAM and MARY (HOFF) BELLES. The father was born in New Jersey and is said to have royal blood in his veins. He was married in that state at an early day, then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. He afterward settled in Boone Co., Indiana. He was the father of 10 children, all of whom lived to years of maturity: Isaac, Elisha, Eliza, Catherine, Jacob, Peter, Ann, Leah and two others. Mr. WILLIAM BELLES died in Boone Co. at the age of 62 years and his wife, nee MARY HOFF, lived to the great age of 104 years, dying in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. JAMES BURCKHALTER were born 8 children: Daniel A., John W., Thomas W., Abijah C., Eliza J., Cynthia A., Mary F., and Laura A. Mr. BURCKHALTER remained in Boone Co. until 1854 when he came to Marion Co., Iowa, and settled on a farm of 300 acres. At the age of 44 years he enlisted in the War, serving one year, but died on the steamboat on his way home and was buried at St. Louis. His son, Daniel, was also in the War and served three years in Company K, 3d Iowa Cavalry, and was in the battle of Salina, Arkansas; was taken prisoner by the Confederates but soon made his escape. JOHN W. BURCKHALTER, our subject, was born Sept 23, 1845, and at the age of 9 years came with his father to Marion Co., Iowa, where he has grown to manhood. In 1873 he came to Lincoln Township, where he remained one year, and next removed to Cass Co. where he resided one year, returning to Marion County where he resided four years. In 1879 he returned to Lincoln Township and settled on his present farm, then consisting of 80 acres of wil[d?] land but to which he has since added until he now owns 240 acres of improved land. He was married in Marion Co., Iowa, Feb 25, 1872, by Rev. C. M. Bingham, pastor of the Congregational Church of Otley, Marion Co., Iowa, to SABINAH ROBERTS, daughter of SIMON S. and NANCY (DONNELL) ROBERTS. SIMON S. ROBERTS was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Oct 9, 1808; taken when ten years of age by his parents to Ohio; at 21 learned the trade of carpenter and millwright and moved to Indiana, thence to Missouri where he was building water mills for 10 years. Then he returned to Ohio and was married to Miss ELIZABETH CONRAD in 1844; and they were the parents of three children: James P., George and Charles. They removed to Iowa in 1846. He was then married to NANCY M. DONNELL, daughter of JOHN C. and NANCY (McROBERTS) DONNELL, Sept 22, 1850, and they had children: Orin, Sabinah, Eva, Ethel, Millie, Mary E., Sarah, Elsie, Edwin and Maggie. NANCY M. DONNELL was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Feb 12, 1828, came with her parents to Marion Co., Iowa in 1848 and married Mr. Roberts. The grandparents of NANCY M. DONNELL on her mother's side were McROBERTS. Her grandfather, of Scotch descent, was a Revolutionary soldier, was at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and saw the British stack their arms. Mrs. McRoberts, nee NANCY HYLAND, was born in Virginia in 1757. Grandfather JOHN DONNELL married MARY BOYD, died in Pennsylvania and his widow moved to Ohio with her son, John C., when he was 12 years of age. Born in the Keystone State in 1801, he was married August 4, 1825, to NANCY McROBERTS and they had 8 children. In 1848 they moved to Iowa, where they resided until their death, his taking place Dec 14, 1887 and hers Feb 24, 1888. MR. and MRS. JOHN W. BURCKHALTER are the parents of 7 children: Thomas W., Simon R., James H., Mary E., Bertha E.,George C., and infant Eva Irene.
 

Submitted by: Unknown
Source: "1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa"