From Familysearch 1880 Census:


name:
Joseph Beckholt
residence:
Melrose, Adams, Illinois
birthdate:
1872
birthplace:
Illinois, United States
relationship to head:
Son
spouse's name:

spouse's birthplace:

father's name:
B. Beckholt
father's birthplace:
Germany
mother's name:
Christine Beckholt
mother's birthplace:
Germany
race or color (expanded):
White
ethnicity (standardized):
American
gender:
Male
martial status:
Single
age (expanded):
8 years
occupation:

nara film number:
T9-0174
page:
244
page character:
A
entry number:
839
film number:
1254174
 
Household
Gender
Age
parent
B. Beckholt
M
57
parent
Christine Beckholt
F
39

Henery Beckholt
M
19

Harman Beckholt
M
17

Barney Beckholt
M
15

Frank Beckholt
M
12
 
Joseph Beckholt
M
8

Antone Beckholt
M
5

John Beckholt
M
2

From David F Wilcox Quincey and Adams County History and Representative Men

George Joseph Bookhold.

The large and handsome property represented at his home five miles southeast of the courthouse on Payson road in Melrose Township George Joseph Bockhold has acquired and developed in a comparatively brief time, having made his start as a farm owner and farm manager less than twenty years ago.

Mr. Bockhold was born in Melrose Township, near St. Antonius Church, May 7, 1872, son of Bernard and Christina (Voegeding) Bockhold. Some of the experiences and incidents in the life of his father are referred to on other pages. At his father's death George Joseph Bockhold was executor of the estate. He was at home to the age of sixteen, and then worked five years for his brother Henry at wages of $12.50 a month. However, the wages went to his father. Later he worked in a brickyard in Quincy at $1.50 a day for one season, and during the winter was employed in a pork house. Then for three years he was in the stove foundry at Quincy, receiving $8.50 a week. He had a rather particular job, one requiring skill and experience, in charge of feeding the cupola for melting the metal. When the company moved to Chicago they held out inducements for him to follow, but he decided to remain behind, especially since he had married and had made plans to become a farmer.

For a few months Mr. Bockhold fired lime kilns. He then rented a farm in Melrose Township and continued as a renter until he bought his present place, the William Schneider farm, containing eighty acres. This was in 1900. He paid $4,600, assuming a debt of over $6,000, part of it for tools, teams and other equipment. It was a strenuous program he laid out for himself, and he satisfied it in every particular and a number of years ago got clear of debt. For some years he rented much land besides that in his own farm, and has pursued a very effective policy in building up the soil. He has followed the plan of deep plowing and the rotation of clover in addition to a variety of other crops. He has kept all the stock his farm would carry, and has never sold a ton of hay or grain. He has a fine herd of cows, and feeds a bunch of hogs every year. Mr. Bockhold has also built some important out buildings, including hog houses and silo, and his farm is in every sense in a high class condition.

Mr. Bockhold besides his work at home has found time to serve the public welfare in various ways. For three years he was road commissioner and four times he was nominated by the democrats for township supervisor, being defeated by a small margin each time. He is township committee man of his party, was delegate to the state convention of 1918, and has a large acquaintance among those prominent in politics over the state.

In 1895, at the age of twenty-three, Mr. Bockhold married Miss Anna Matilda Blaesing, daughter of Bernard Blaesing. Her father was born in Germany and married Mary Goesina Kroner. The Blaesings were long prominent as farming people of Melrose Township. Mrs. Bockhold was born in that township. Mr. and Mrs. Bockhold lost three children. Those still living are Stella, Rosena, Elizabeth Florence, Agnes Anna, Alois George, Helen Mary and Margaret Anna. All these children are still at home. The family are members of St. Antonius Catholic Church 1 1/2 miles from their home.