McDonough ILGenWeb

GELTMACHER, William H. — Of the men who have come from the sunny South to take from the fertile acres of McDonough County the competence which should permit their retirement from active life in Good Hope, mention is due William H. Geltmacher, occupying a pleasant home on three acres of land in the west end of town. Mr. Geltmacher represents one of the early and worthy families of Maryland, in which State he was born February 16, 1838, and where he received a limited education in the public schools. His father, John Geltmacher, went as a young man from his native State of Pennsylvania to Maryland, where he married Elizabeth Jones, and spent the balance of his industrious life. He was a weaver by trade, and his industrious and continuous efforts at the loom brought him a modest and wisely expended income. Desiring larger opportunities than those presented in Maryland, William H. Geltmacher came west by rail to Bloomington, Ill., in 1861, and a year later arrived in Canton, Fulton County, whence he removed in 1874 to McDonough County. Purchasing a farm of 160 acres of Mr. Heath, on Section 26, Sciota Township, he made many improvements in addition to those made by the former owner, erecting at first a modest, but in 1891, a pretentious country residence, which he occupied until his retirement to Good Hope in November, 1905. He was a practical and business-like farmer, engaged in the raising of stock and general produce, and lived always within his comfortable income. His farm now is occupied by his only son, Oscar J. His only daughter, Minnie F., is the wife of D. C. Monninger, of McDonough County. Before her marriage in Fulton County in 1867, Mrs. Geltmacher was Barbara E. Cosler, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Cosler, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Maryland, and both early settlers of Fulton County. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Geltmacher has served as Highway Commissioner of Sciota Township. In religion, he is identified with the Lutheran Church. He is a broad-minded and well informed retired farmer, and his career illustrates the worth of industry, integrity and loyalty to friends and worthy interests.

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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, page 885, extracted 04 Jan 2019 by Norma Hass.