J. G. Eicholtz submitted by Conley Wolterman Jacob Gabriel Eicholtz was born at the historic place of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on April 1, 1843. He was the son of John and Margaret (Meals) Eicholtz, also natives of Pennsylvania. Their ancestors originally came from Germany, but for three generations back have been residents of the Keystone State. J. G. Eicholtz's father died in Gettysburg in 1890, he had been a wagon-maker by trade. J. G. and Samuel H. Eicholtz had been in the army during the Civil War. Samuel enlisted in February, 1865, in Co. A, 103 Pa. Volunteer Infantry and was mustered out as a Lieutenant-Colonel just before the war closed. J. G. served 9 months in Co. A, 156 Pa. Vol. Infantry. J. G. was reared on a farm in his native county and spent a portion of his youthful days working in the wagon shop with his father, John. In March 1868, he came as far west as Nachusa, Lee County, Illinois, where he was engaged in manufacturing wagons two years. At the end of that time, he and a partner purchased 160 acres of prairie land in Guthrie County, Iowa, and he worked at his trade, while his partner cultivated the land. This was in 1870 and 1871. In January, 1872, Mr. Eicholtz went back to Illinois and was married, returning with his wife to Guthrie County. Mr. Eicholtz was married January 14, 1872, to Miss Ella Fish, who was born in Maine on May 5, 1851, daughter of Ebener and Oseola (Mason) Fish. They had a family of four children: Mary (married in October 1892 to William F. Kapplin); Burton E.; Edward J.; and Ethel. In May of 1873, he took charge of his mother-in-law's farm at Nachusa, Illinois, and remained there until 1881. Since March, 1881, he was a resident of Ida County. He located on 160 acres of prairie land in Section 31, Blaine Township, which he had purchased three years previous, and on which he made his home until 1884, devoting his time to its cultivation and improvement. In 1884, he bought property in Ida Grove and moved to town. A year later, he went back to the farm and spent another year. In the fall of 1886, he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and the following spring again established his home in Ida Grove. The rest of that year he was engaged in the grocery business. In July, 1887, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Sheriff's office, and that same fall was elected County Treasurer of Ida County. He was the incumbent of that office starting January 1, 1888. th

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