Ohio Biographies

David Franklin Belt

David Franklin Belt, proprietor of a farm in Spring Valley township, rural mail route No. 4, out of Xenia, has been a resident of Greene county all his life. He was born on a farm in Sugarcreek township on March 27, 1863. son of John and Amanda (Crumbaugh) Belt, both of whom also were born in this county.

The late John Belt, who died at his home in this county in the summer of 1917, was born in Sugarcreek township on June 9, 1834, son of Whiteford and Matilda (Dickensheets) Belt, the former of whom was a native of the state of Maryland. Whiteford Belt was a millwright and was engaged in that vocation at various places until he established his home in Sugarcreek township, this county, where he and his wife spent their last days. On the farm on which he was born John Belt grew to manhood and there remained until his marriage in 1859, after which for a year he made his residence in Dayton. He then lived for a couple of years in Miami county and then returned to this county and settled in the Alpha neighborhood, presently moving from there to a farm in Spring Valley township, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in June, 1917, he then being in the eighty-fourth year of his age. For ten years in the earlier part of his life he was a butcher and he also worked for some time as a carpenter before buying his farm. He was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. John Belt was thrice married and was the father of nineteen children. On November 2, 1859, he was united in marriage to Amanda Crumbaugh, who was born at Xenia, daughter of Samuel Crumbaugh, a carpenter of that place. She died on April 2, 1863, at the age of twenty years. Of the three children born to that union the subject of this .sketch is the only one now living. On October 3, 1863, John Belt married Susan P. Loy, who was born in Ohio, and who died on July 5, 1889. To that union were born fifteen children, Marion, Oliver J., John A., Charles E., Ora C, Harry E., Joseph W., George L., Thomas H., Harriet E., Ida V., Ralph A., Kate M., Anna B., and Perry. On July 23, 1890, John Belt married Elizabeth Parker, who died in 1913. To that union one child was born, a daughter, Amanda Elizabeth, who is now a student at Antioch College.

David F. Belt was reared on the home farm and received his schooling in the Bellbrook schools. He remained at home until he had passed his majority and after his marriage in the spring of 1891 he and his wife began housekeeping on a farm a mile and a half southwest of Bellbrook, a year later moving from that place to the place on which they are now living and have thus been occupying that place for twenty-six years. When Mr. Belt took up his residence there the only house on the place was an old log house, a holdover from pioneer days. In 1900 he bought the farm and has since then made numerous improvements, including the erection of a new house, barn and other farm buildings. Mr. Belt has a farm of seventy acres and in addition to his general farming for years operated a threshing-machine outfit during seasons. By political affiliation he is a Republican. On March 27, 1891, at Xenia, David F. Belt was united in marriage to May Dilts, who was born in that city, March 15, 1867, daughter of Preston and Carrie (Hollingshead) Dilts, the latter of whom also was born in Xenia. Preston Dilts was born at Winamac, Indiana, and was for years a gardener at Xenia. He was twice married and by his first wife, the mother of Mrs. Belt, was the father of six children, those besides Mrs. Belt, the second in order of birth, being Harry, Emma, Frank, Clara and Walter. Of these Mrs. Belt and her brother Walter, the latter now a resident of Michigan City, Indiana, are the only survivors. The mother of these children died on November 5, 1872, and in 1873 Mr. Dilts married Mrs. Susan Wood, a widow, who died on December 7, 1877, leaving two children, Elmer and Albert. Preston Dilts died on October 26, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Dilts are members of the First Reformed church at Xenia.