pgs. 397-398

John P. Belcher was born in Milo township, Delaware county, Iowa, September 19, 1856.  He is a son of Miles and Celia T. (Lilliebridge) Belcher, natives of New York State.  Miles Belcher was born in Alleghany county, N. Y., February 7, 1830.  His parents, John and Rachel Belcher, moved to Boone county Ill., and lived there until 1850, when they came to Delaware county, Iowa, settled in Milo township, and took up the farm, where our subject now lives, from the government.  Miles Belcher was an invalid for three years before his death, which occurred March 7, 1862. He was a man in moderate circumstances, but universally respected. His father died in Illinois and his mother in Colorado. Mrs. Celia T. Belcher was born May 23, 1837, in
Madison county, N. Y., and died April 19, 1882. She was a daughter of John and Mary Rexford Lilliebridge, who were highly respected in the community in which they lived. Miles and Celia Belcher had two children the subject of this sketch and Jay W., the latter of whom was born March 19, 1858, and died January 26, 1863.

John P. Belcher was raised in Milo township, and has spent almost all his life on the farm where he now lives. He has one hundred and sixty acres in section 32 of Milo township, and is milking fifteen cows, and is doing regular farming in connection with his dairy industry.

In politics he is a democrat and is serving his second term as township trustee of Milo, and is besides an honored member of the Iowa Legion of Honor.

October 6, 1878, Mr. Belcher married Miss Hannah M. Cromwell, of Adams township, Delaware county, Iowa. This lady was born November 30, 1857, and is a daughter of James and Martha (Royly) Cromwell, natives respectively of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and England. Four children have blessed this happy union, and are named Miles J., Martha C., Florence A. and John L.

Back to Biographies

Back to Main Page
Back to Iowa AHGP
Back to AHGP