J. K. Foltz
SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998
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SEBASTIAN CO
page 1314
J. K. Foltz, a prominent fruit grower and dealer in real estate at Fort Smith,
Ark., was born in the “Buckeye State” in 1853, and is the eldest of eight
children born to the marriage of David Foltz and Susan Kimerer, and a grandson
of John Foltz, who was born in Prussia, Germany, and immigrated to the United
States many years ago, locating in Pennsylvania. He afterward moved to Ohio,
where he spent his declining years and died at a ripe old age. David was
reared on a farm near Wooster, Ohio, and there he and his wife, who was born in
the Shenandoah Valley, Va., spent the remainder of their days. Their son, J.
K. Foltz, was educated in Hiram College, and had Gen. James A. Garfield for a
tutor. It was his early intention to adopt a profession, but the death of his
father called him home, and being the eldest of the family he was obliged to
take charge of the farm, which change caused him to give up his intentions of
a professional life, and to follow agricultural pursuits instead. He was first
married in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to Miss Mary Ewalt, who afterward died, having
borne one child, Mary Helen, now the wife of D. W. Loney, of Olna, Ohio. Mr.
Foltz afterward went to Mississippi, and while there was married to Miss Mary
A. Rothell, who was born in Mississippi in 1844, and there made her home until
ten years of age. She was sent to school at Mount Vernon, Ohio, where she
graduated. After her marriage she returned with her husband to Ohio, where they
made their home three years, and then moved to Memphis, Tenn., where they were
engaged in farming until 1881. Since that time they have resided in [p.1314]
Sebastian County, Ark., where Mr. Foltz is engaged in fruit growing and the
real estate business. He is an extensive land-holder, and owns stock in the
Fruit Evaporator of Fort Smith. He and wife are the parents of three children:
Joseph R., a law student at Ann Arbor. Mich.; Jennie O. and Fannie Frances, who
are both attending school at St. Mary's Academy, Knoxville, Ill. Sarah, another
daughter, died at the age of eight months. Both the Foltz and Kimerer families
were of German descent, and the latter family was noted for their large
statures, robust constitutions and great longevity. Mrs. Foltz's parents, A. G.
and Mary (Cannon) Rothell, were both born in Maryland, the former moving to
Mississippi at an early day, where he operated a saw, grist and planing-mill,
and was an extensive dealer in lumber. Mrs. Foltz is the third of their five
children. Her paternal grandfathar was Parrott Rothell, who was born in
France, and established the first circulating library in Baltimore, Md. She is
a member of the Episcopal Church and her husband is a member of the Christian
Church.