McDonough ILGenWeb

GELTMACHER, Oscar J., whose life was spent in farming in connection with his father until 1905, when the family home was established in Good Hope, McDonough County, Ill., was born in the vicinity of Canton, Fulton County, that State, on December 14, 1869. He is a son of William H. and Barbara E. (Cosier) Geltmacher, born respectively in Maryland and Ohio. William H. Geltmacher has been a successful farmer, and always followed that occupation until his abandonment of active pursuits. He left Maryland at an early period and located in Fulton County, Ill., where he lived until 1874, when he moved to Sciota Township, McDonough County, and conducted the John Ash farm for twelve years. At the end of that period he purchased of William Heath the farm of 160 acres, of which he is the present owner. This he cultivated until his removal to Good Hope, in 1905. Oscar J. Geltmacher received his early education in the district schools of McDonough County, and has always lived on the farms operated by his father, assisting the latter in general farming and stock-raising until his retirement. They made all the improvements on the farm now belonging to his father, and devoted considerable attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle.

On December 24, 1895, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage at Prairie City, Ill., with Mattie Adams, who was born in Harris Township, Fulton County. Mrs. Oscar J. Geltmacher is a daughter of David and Martha J. (Jeffries) Adams, and her father was a resident of Iowa, who was an early settler in Fulton County, where he was engaged in farming until a recent period. Of late years, he has followed the occupation of a painter. His wife is a native of Missouri. The union of Mr. Geltmacher with Miss Adams resulted in two children: Orville Guy and Harry Raymond. In politics, the subject of this sketch is a supporter of the Democratic party. He is a man of excellent character and his record is beyond reproach.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 884-885, extracted 04 Jan 2019 by Norma Hass.