The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-01
Death of Mr.. &. G.. Belt.

Mr. C. C. Belt, whose illness we noticed
last week. died on Monday morning at s
O'Clock. He was sick only about ten days
but, for three or four days previous to his
death, no hopes were entertained of his
recovery. Mr.. Belt was born in Newark,
Licking Co. Ohio, February sth 1904, con-
seQuent!y was in the Y year of his age,
and has been resident Of this County
since 1868. His ancestry emigrated from
Maryland, among the first settlers of the
territory OF Ohio, soon after the revolution
AIRY war. His father was Capital in the
war of 1872, serving under General Harri-
son in that conflict. He and a younger
brother were left at home with their moth
err, who attended to the education OF the
children. The school houses at that time
were very primsure in their construction,
the windows being simply an open space
covered with oiled paper. The lessons for
the school, were frequently written on a
shingle prepared for that purpose, there
not being perhaps, more than halt dozen
books in use. His father died soon after
the war. His mother afterward married a
united in one, moved to Indiana in the
year 1920, and settled at Terra Haute, Nigo
county. it being then mere hamlet OF
about dozen houses. Corn was the sta
pie crop. bringing four to ten cents per
bushel in the market. About this time
trade with New Orleans was pretty well
established and Mr.. Belt was employed to
superintend lot of fiat boats, to be loaded
with corn and pork, destined for that mar.
ket. But the boats must first be built, and
the lumber sawed by hand with the old
fashioned whip saw. At that time there
were no saw mills in the state, and rail-
roads were things Of the future. He wen,
down the Miss issippi river during the sum.
mer Of 1928 and disposed of the cargo tt
the satisfaction Of the owners. Soon aftel
this, steamboats, began gradually to take
the trade. Mr.. Belt was married in 1926
to Miss Chloe w. Allen, daughter of Gen
Peter Allen descendant of Ethan Allen o
revolutionary fame. They settled OH Fl
Harrison prairie near Terra.Haute. In con.
versation with the writer of this article liz
stated that it was not possible to get sail
for table use, and during the first three
months Of their house keeping, the cook.
ing was done without that necessary article
and the first purchase OF salt was from a
steamboat in exchange for watermelons
which caused a day Of general rejoicing Al
home. Cook stoves were than unknown,
saleratus was made by burning corn cobs
and starch from potatoes, bran and flour
Their grain was manufactured into bread.
stuff by the use Of the pestle and mortar
The mortar, was cavity burned in thu
end Of log, and the pestle piece OF hard
wood fitted to match. Tea and coffee, and
wheat -four, were Sunday luxuries. Their
clothing was all home made with the ex.
[ceptions OF boots and shoes. His first pail
OF boots were purchased after he was TWEEN
ty-five years OF age aud were considered
worth COW in that market.
Business gradually improved and thu
country settled up, hut the breaking up o
the land caused it to he very unhealthy
About the year 1s49, the country was $.
unhealthy the physicians decided that h
must either move to a healthier climate o.
bury his family. Without delay he movee
to Wisconsin. When their health improv
ed he purchased land near Fond du Lac
which at that time was about as new q!
Terra. Haute in 1920. The family remain
ed there until the death OF his wife in 1856
Shortly after he moved near Madison, Wis
and lived there until 1868, when he moved
to Redwood Falls Mimi. In October 1871
he was married u his second wife Mrs
Charlotte J. Hanawalt Mr.. Belt was ,
western man in the full sense Of the term
He was never farther east than the place O
his birth, WAS man Of fair educstion, kind
and generous. In him Ne have lost 4 wor.
lthy Citizen, iet us hope that orr loss Il hi
| gAin.
new suppy 81 legal blAnks de,ds,
IInOgtgAees, cha44le mortrAaee Juaeicea
lboanA1, 6c--for ea1o = thf1 = -. & 81 s1