Person:John Botthoff (1)

Biography

John H. Botthoff11 History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri (1886) p. 267 (Postmaster, Kingston, MO) Mr. Botthoff’s father, Jacob Botthoff, a carpenter by occupation, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., as was also his wife, whose maiden namewas Mary A. Trout. The senior Mr. B. with his family removed to Montgomery county, O., in 1855, living there until ten years later, when they came to Caldwell county, and here he followed agricultural pursuits. He was the owner of the farm known as Salem Farm, somewhat noted for having been the site of the old Mormon town of Salem. Jacob Botthoff died July 30, 1880, from the effects of an accident caused by falling in a well. He left two children, John H. and Horace. His widow still survives and finds a pleasant home in the family of her son, John H. Botthoff, who was born in Lancaster county, Pa., October 29, 1848. His knowledge of the world was only such as could be learned on the home farm until his twenty-fifth year, when he commenced a mercantile career. He first entered a drug store as a clerk; this was in 1873, and May 5, 1879, he engaged in the drug business on his own account. June 14, 1882, he suffered a severe loss in the burning of his establishment, with only a partial insurance, but he has long since recovered from the effects of this misfortune. Re-engaging in business he built up a prosperous trade, carrying a large and extensive stock in his line and personally superintending the concerns and details of the establishment. Mr. Botthoff is a first-class druggist and pharmacist, and a reliable, popular business man. In the summer of 1885 Mr. Botthoff, at the solicitation of certain friends, became an applicant for the postmastership at Kingston upon the expiration of the term of the then incumbent, A. B. Mills. Although not a strenuous and unreasonable partisan, Mr. B. has always been a Democrat in politics. Exercising a freeman’s privilege, he has at times refused to indorse certain nominations of his party, but in its principles and its cause he has ever been a consistent believer. The selection of postmaster was left to the Democratic patrons of the Kingston office. Opposed by a popular and worthy gentleman, Mr. Botthoff was three times declared the choice of the voters, each time by a large majority. He had insisted that the first, or at least the second, election was final and determining, it might have been so declared, but he waived all considerations that were in his own favor, declaring that the choice must be entirely satisfactory to everybody. As before stated he was chosen by a large, clear majority, received the recommendation of Congressman Dockery, and in the early fall the appointment from Postmaster-General Vilas. Everybody was gratified, and had the whole people, irrespective of politics, been given a choice in the selection of a Democrat to the place, the result would have been the same. Upon his retirement Mr. Botthoff sold his drug business to Mr. Geo. Alexander, and now devotes his attention almost solely to the duties of his office, giving entire satisfaction to its patrons. Mr. Botthoff was married August 4, 1868 to Miss Rettie Arowood, who came originally from North Carolina. To them have been born three children, two of whom are living, “Cutie,” a bright, winsome and accomplished young lady, admired by all who knew here, and Prior Essie, the beautiful little pet of the family. One child, Archie, is deceased. Mr. Botthoff is a prominent member of the A.O.U.W.