From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 607.

Cable Belknap, one of the veterans of the Civil war and a man widely known and much esteemed, is a farmer residing on section 11, Jackson township, where he has lived for a number of years. He was born at Bolivar, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 19, 1838, a son of Bissel Sydney and Barbara (Cable) Belknap, natives of Pennsylvania and Vermont, respectively, who were married in Ohio. They spent their peaceful lives upon a farm and were hard-working people. There were four children in their family, as follows: David, who died in Ohio; Joseph, who lives at Canton, that state; Cable, who is the third in order of birth; and Elizabeth Jane, who married Philip Cline, of Vernon, Michigan.

Until he was twenty-two years of age, Cable Belknap rented a farm of his parents, and then, seeking for a broader field in which to -operate, he came to Jones county, Iowa, where his father had entered land in 1854, securing a deed for it signed by President Pierce. Our subject settled on this farm May 10, 1860, and it has been his home ever since. It is located on section 1, Jackson township, and consists of two hundred and eighty acres. In addition to this, Mr. Belknap owns forty acres of timber one mile east of his home, on sections 10 and 11. The property is well improved and he has good buildings he erected.

On October 6, 1864, Mr. Belknap enlisted in Company E, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps and he served for eight months, or until the close of the war. He was with General Sherman at the capture of Savannah, where he was taken sick and forced to go into the hospital, but at the end of three weeks he rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, North Carolina, and had the pleasure of participating in the grand review at Washington. Immediately after his discharge he returned home, having done his duty as a soldier and a man. He now belongs to the Anamosa post, G. A. R. His political faith makes him a republican. For some years he has been a member of the Methodist church of Center Junction and is quite active in church work, being always willing to bear his part in extending its influence.

On April 10, 1860, Mr. Belknap was married to Elizabeth Tripp, who was born in Carlton, Ohio, March 25, 1836, where she resided until her marriage. She was well educated in the high school of her neighborhood and taught school for two years before her marriage. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Haft) Tripp, natives of Pennsylvania, who went to Ohio after their marriage which was celebrated in their native state. From 1835, when they arrived in Ohio, until their deaths they lived near Carlton. Mr. and Mrs. Belknap are the parents of nine children, as follows: Charles S., William Tripp and Joseph E., who are at home; John D., who lives at Anamosa; Oscar W., who lives at Olin; Jennie, who is at home; Etta M., who married F. E. Coder, of Washington; James S., who lives near Anamosa on a farm; and Cora C., who married Jasper H. Ramsey, of Anamosa.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 501.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 650.

John A. Belknap was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity and at the usual age began his education in the public schools, continuing his studies until he was graduated from the high school of Anamosa. He attended Mount Vernon College and afterward pursued a commercial course at Davenport and he made his first venture thus qualified for the onerous duties of business life in commercial fields in January, 1894, in company with his uncle and a brother, the firm name being Belknap Brothers and Company. They bought out Mr. Griffith's interests in a business which was conducted under the firm name of Huggins & Griffith, although Mr. Griffith was then the sole proprietor. The new firm began business with a small capital, manufacturing wagons, bob-sleds and tiling spades, and dealing in farm implements. On the 10th of April, 1902, a fire consumed the entire stock of farm implements, but the business was at once resumed and in 1906 the firm name of the Boss Tile Spade Company was assumed, successors to Belknap Brothers, manufacturers of Boss tile spades. On the 15th of March, 1906, John A. Belknap, having purchased the interest of his partner, became sole proprietor of what is now one of the most important manufacturing concerns of the county. The capacity of the plant has been steadily increasing and the business has been extended over a large territory, its sales covering North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado and Oregon. The output of the house is of such excellent quality and the business methods of the owner so reliable that the trade has constantly increased and the enterprise is now proving a source of gratifying profit. Mr. Belknap was also one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Anamosa and is now serving on its board of directors, also a director of the Peoples Gas Company. His business judgment is sound, his insight keen and his enterprise unfaltering and thus he has wrought his success along honorable lines, winning him the respect and admiration of all.

On the 18th of May 1893, Mr. Belknap was united in marriage to Miss Sylvia Sones, a daughter of G. W. and Margaret (Lockard) Sones, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The children of this marriage are Margaret Evelyn, Marion Ruth, but the last named died in infancy.

Mr. Belknap is known as an exemplary and popular representative of Anamosa Lodge, NO. 46, A.F.&A.M. He also took the degrees of Capitular Masonry in the chapter and of Chivalric Masonry in the commandery and has, filled various offices in the different branches of Masonry, including that of eminent commander. He has likewise crossed the sands of the desert with the nobles of El Kahir Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and his political belief is evidenced in his support of and labor for the republican party. He served as chairman of the republican county central committee for two years and was elected to the same office for the second time. He was treasurer in 1908 of the republican county central committee and does all in his power to legitimately further the interests of the party, for he believes that its principles are most conducive to good government. He is a genial, courteous gentleman, always approachable and interested in the questions which are of vital import to the community or to the country at large. He has always lived in Jones county and the sterling traits of his character are well known to his fellow townsmen, the great majority of whom number him as a friend.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 442.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 650.

JOHN S. BELKNAP occupies no unimportant place among the business men of Anamosa, where he is engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons and is one of the oldest in that trade in the city. He is the owner of valuable property in Anamosa, besides farming lands in Butler County, this state.

Mr. Belknap was born in Harrison County, Ohio, July 4, 1828, and is the son of Thomas E. and Edith (Stoneman) Belknap, the former of whom was born in Vermont. Thomas Belknap was a tanner by trade, which he followed during his early life, but after moving to Harrison County, Ohio, where he was one of the pioneer settlers, he took up farm pursuits, which he followed during the remainder of his life. He served as a soldier in the late war, belonging to what is known as the Graybeard Regiment.

John S. Belknap was educated in the common schools of his native state, and assisted his father in the tannery until reaching his sixteenth year. He was then apprenticed to learn the harness-maker's trade, which he followed for three years and in 1850, when coming to this state, he located in Anamosa and began the manufacture of wagons and carriages. He first formed a partnership with B. Huggins, operating under the title of Huggins & Belknap, but a number of years later our subject sold out his interest to J. E. Griffith and retired from active business, devoting his time to looking after his varied interests.

In February, 1894, Mr. Belknap bought out Mr. Griffith, and taking two of his nephews as partners, John A. and Thomas M. Belknap, again established in business and is now in the enjoyment of a good trade in the manufacture of carriages, wagons and harness. In 1854 our subject was married to Miss Olive E. Gates, who was born in New York and is the daughter of J. B. Gates. Mr. Belknap is an important member of the local government and for some time was Town Trustee. He owns a good farm in Butler County, Iowa, and two business houses in this city which he rents. He is a member of Anamosa Lodge No. 40 I.O.O.F. With his wife he is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he takes an active part. A peaceable and law-abiding citizen, a kind neighbor and a good business man, Mr. Belknap receives his due measure of respect from those about him.

From Dubuque, Jones, and Clayton Counties History, 1894, pgs. 256, and submitted by Becky Teubner.