Jacob Beltzhoover

Jacob Beltzhoover was a pioneer of St. Clair Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He and his family received a land grant from the Penn family. He was one of six sons of Melchior Beltzhoover,^[1] a tavern keeper from Hagerstown, Maryland who immigrated from Metterzimmern, Germany in 1752.

Jacob Beltzhoover
Born	(1770-05-16)May 16, 1770 Washington County, Maryland
Died	August 7, 1835(1835-08-07) (aged 56) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Spouse	Elizabeth Saams
Children	Mary Ann, Sarah
Parent(s)	Melchior Beltzhoover, Elizabeth Schunk

Ferry and bridge on the Monongahela

Monongahela Bridge
Coordinates	40.435135°N 80.001957°W / 40.435135; -80.001957
Carried	Smithfield Street
Crossed	Monongahela River
Locale	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Preceded by	Beltzhoover Ferry
Followed by	Roebling's Monongahela Wire Suspension Bridge
Characteristics
Design	covered bridge
Material	Wood
No. of spans	8 of 1188 feet (57 m)
History
Constructed by	Louis Wernwag
Construction end	21 November 1818
Opened	10 October 1818
Collapsed	north end, 21 January 1832, re-opened 29 October 1832
Closed	10 April 1845
Statistics
Toll	yes
Location
References
Structurae database listing

He owned a ferry that ran from the end of Wood Street across the Monongahela. The ferry was operated by William Graham, who kept a tavern at the northwest corner of Wood and Water Street. The ferry was in operation until 1818, when it was replaced by the Monongahela Bridge, in which he was a shareholder. One of Beltzhoover's coal wagons was on the bridge when it collapsed in 1832. ^[2] The collapsed north end of the bridge was re-built, and the bridge re-opened on 29 October 1832. The bridge was destroyed in The Great Fire of Pittsburgh on 10 April 1845. ^[3]

Mine

In 1825, he opened a mine on the northern side of Mt. Washington, across the river from the town of Pittsburgh. This penetrated the hill to the southern side in 1861, and was later enlarged to become the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel.

Slavery

He was a slaveholder, with child slaves registered in the county courthouse.^[4]

Death and interment

Beltzhoover died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 7, 1835.^[5] His grave is located at the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh (section 16, lot 135).