Person:John Betz (2)

1900 Soundex: Living with mother, 3 sisters, and the children of two of those sisters, all at 26 West Avenue.

1901 city directory: Betz.John C. (Schneider & Betz) 507-509 Washington r 26 West Avenue

1905 (FHL Film #825,700, 5th E/D, 21st Ward, Block J, page 49: 26 West Avenue:

• Betz, John head W M age 45, born in the U.S., jeweler
• Betz, Hannah, mother W F age 73, born in the U.S., housework
• Betz, Elizabeth, sister W F age 43, born in the U.S., clerk
• Klabeaux, Johanna, sister W F age 53(?), born in the U.S. seamstress
• Grass, Jenn(?) sister W F housework
• Grass, Willard, nephew W M actor
• Grass, Elmer, nephew W M clerk R.R. freight office

Buffalo Express, November 27, 1921: John C. Betz dies after short illness
Apopleptic attack following nose bleed hastens his death
Prominent in politics
Served on board of councilmen and later was appointed as assessor.

John C. Betz, assessor, and one of the last of the city officials who served both under the aldermanic form of government and under the [recent?] councilmanic system, died at his home, No. 42 Clarendon Place, yesterday morning. He will be buried from his home at 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon.

Assessor Betz served his first term of office as a member of the old board of councilmen for five years following his election in 1905. He took office with the late mayor J.N. Adam. After the end of this term Mr. Betz was chosen a member of the board of assessors for the next four years. His third election came when he was selected in 1916 to act on the board of councilmen. Two years later the present system replaced the aldermanic form. Last year Financial Commissioner Rose Graves reappointed Mr Betz.

While attending a dinner party last Saturday night at Williamsville, Mr. Betz had a severe nosebleed and had to be taken home by his friends. On Sunday he had an apopleptic attack, which caused his death. An operation two years ago is thought to have hastened Mr. Betz's end.

Assessor Betz was a Democrat. He was a member of the Eagles, Moose, Orioles, Masonic order, Shrine, Royal Arcanum, and for many years was tresasurer of a social club on Grand Island called the Smooth and Suck.

Assessor Betz was born in Buffalo 61 years ago. He attended school No. 32 in Cedar Street. Formerly he was amember of the firm, Schneider & Betz, manufacturing jewelers. Mr Betz left business to take up politics.

He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Johanna Clebau [sic] and Elizabeth M. Betz, with whom he lived. He was not married.

Buffalo News, November 26, 1921:
City Assessor is Victim of Apoplexy

John C. Betz, city assessor, died suddenly at his home, 43 Clarendon Place, at 3 o'clock this morning. He had been fit for a week. The funeral will be held on Monday afternoon. Death was due to apoplexy.

Mr. Betz was 61 years old. He was a member of the old comon council and had been in the assessor's office for the last 12 years.

Two years ago he underwent an operation and had been in poor health since that time. He suffered a stroke at an outing at Williamsville last Saturday.

Mr. Betz was a member of the Elks, Orioles, Eagles, Washington Lodge of the Masons, and was treasurer of the Smooth and Suck club.

Mr. Betz was born in Buffalo and educated in the public schools of the city. For a number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of jewelry. He served four years in the old common council and then entered the assessor's office to finish out the term of Assessor Voltz, who died while in office.

Surviving Mr. Betz are two sisters, Mrs. Johanna Clabeau and Elizabeth M. Betz, both of Buffalo.

The Rev. F. A. Kahler of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will conduct the services at the funeral, which will be held at ?? o'clock on Monday afternoon from the family] home.

Buffalo Courier, November 27, 1921

Funeral services for John C. Betz, city assessor and former councilman, who died following an apoplectic stroke, will be held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the residence, No. 43 Clarendon Street. Burial will be in Forest Lawn.

Betz suffered a hemorrhage while dining with a party of friends at Williamsville a week ago. An apoplectic stroke, from which he never recovered, followed. Two years ago he underwent an operation which left him physically weakened.

Elected to the board of councilmen in 1905, Betz took office with Mayor J.N. Adam the following year, when he was chosen president of the common council. He served continuously as councilman until 1910 when he was elected a member of the board of assessors for four years. He was re-elected for a six-year term, and under the commission charter, had continued as a member of the board. Born in this city and educated in the public school No. 32, he entered the jewelry business and later became a member of the firm of Schneider and Betz, manufacturing jewelers.

Betz was a member of Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, the BPOE, the Loyal Order of Moose, FOE, Orioles, Royal Arcanus and other fraternal organizations. Two sisters, with whom he resided, survive, Mrs. Johanna Clabeau, and Miss Elizabeth M. Betz. Betz was unmarried.

Buffalo Times, November 28, 1921

John C. Betz, for 12 years city assessor, who died early Saturday was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The funeral service, at which the Rev. F.A. Kahler officiated, was held from his late residene, No. 43 Clarendon Place.

The word of Mr. Betz's death, who had been at his desk in the assessors office as late as a week ago, came as a shock to numerous friends in the City Hall and among various fraternal organizations. The pall bearers who carried him to his grave were: William J. Burk, Frank Back, William L. Landerfield, Joseph G. Schaff, John Graham, Frederi J. Mumm an dMr. Ruehling.

Mr. Betz is survived by two sisters with whom he made his home, Mrs. Johanna Clabeau and Miss Elizabeth M. Betz.

Buffalo Courier, November 29, 1921
Many Attend Betz Funeral

The funeral of City Assessor John G. [sic] Betz was held yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the family residence, No. 43 Clarendon Street. All the members of the board of assessors and members of the common council, of which Mr. Betz formerly was president, were in the funeral cortege. The serice was conducted by the Rev. F. A. Kahler of the English Lutheran church. The bearers were William Lanndefelt, Charles J. Reuling, Frank Beck, Edward Beck, Fred mumm, Joseph Schaff and John Grimm. Interment was at Forest Lawn.

1. ↑ Forest Lawn Cemetery Records.

   Parents: Phillip and Hannah Betz

2. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
   p. 95.

   John Caspar Betz is identified as the son of Philip Betz.

3. ↑ Forest Lawn Cemetery Records.

   Place of Birth: Buffalo, NY
   Date of Death: November 26, 1921
   Age: 60 years, 10 months, 8 days

4. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census - NY
   Buffalo, Ward 5, M593, p. 177, line 19.

   John is 10.

5. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
   Page 95.

   "John Caspar Betz was born in Buffalo, January 18, 1860."

6. ↑ Forest Lawn Interment Record.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8} Buffalo Express Obit of John C. Betz 27 Nov 1921
   Obituary, November 27, 1921.
8. ↑ Buffalo Express Obit of John C. Betz 27 Nov 1921
   Obituary, November 27, 1921.

   Apoplexy.

9. ↑ Forest Lawn Cemetery Records.

   Heart.

10. ↑ Forest Lawn Cemetery Records.
11. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
    Page 96.

    "Councilman Betz attends the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church."

12. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
    Page 95.

    "He was educated at Public School No. 32 in the city."

13. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
    Page 95.

    "When fourteen years old, he left school and began work for John Howell & Company, manufacturers of mineral waters... until he was seventeen."

14. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
    Page 95.

    "(at age 17), when he entered the employ of King & Eisele to learn the trade of manufacturing jeweler... apprenticeship of nine years..."

15. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
    Page 96.

    "He associated with him Henry G. Schneider, under the firm name of Schneider & Betz... first located at 116 Clinton Street, later at North Division and Washington Strs, in 1896 moved to present location at 507-509 Washington Street. Messrs. Schneider & Betz do a large business as general manufacturig jewelers, and in addition, are the most important manufacturers of badges, fraternity pins and similiar articles of any concern in this part of the country."

16. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census Soundex - NY.
17. ↑ Memorial and Family History of Erie County, v. 2
    Page 96.

    "... fall of 1905, when he was nominated for Councilman on the Democratic ticket. In the ensuing election, Mr. Betz received a handsome plurality..."

18. ↑ Erie County NY Surrogate's Records General Index
    Case #65874.