Published in 1918

F. J. Holthaus, cashier of the Citizens State P.ank of Seneca. Kans. was born in Muhlen, Oldenburg, Germany, Nov. 16. 1876, and is a son of Franz and Josephine Holthaus. His father was a mariner who entered the services of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, .when said company only had two steamers. He retired from this company iu 1892, and was pensioned.
After F. J. Holthaus graduated from the schools in his native town, he came to America in 1891, and completed his studies in Denver. Colo., in 1892. He then went to St. Benedict. Kans.. and entered the employ of the firm of Blocker & Hoeffler, dealers in general merchandise. In 1893. he went back to Denver, and entered the employ of the "Colorado Journal" (a German daily) and learned the printing trade. In the fall of 1895, he went to Chicago and worked in a print shop which did all the printing for Marshall Field. In the spring of 1896, he went to Cincinnati, and worked at his trade up to July I, arid then went on a European trip. He traveled eight months on the continent in the interest of his coin and stamp business, and also visited his old home. In April of 1897, he came back to America, and went to San Francisco, and entered the firm of Henry Wolking & Co., importers and dealers in fancy groceries. He was with said firm until 1903.
Mr. F. J. Holthaus' marriage was in 1903, to Miss Mary Haverkamp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Haverkamp, Sr. They have four children: Regina Elizabeth, aged eleven; Clara Josephine, eight; lohn Francis, five, and Alma Bernardine, two. Ever since his marriage he has lived in Nemaha county, the first year on his father-in-law's farm, five miles north of Seneca. In 1904, he moved to Seneca and entered the employ of the First National Bank as bookkeeper. He was elected assistant cashier of the Seneca State Savings Bank in 1906, when J. H. Cohen bought the controlling interest of said bank and moved it into the First National Bank building. In 1907 he was elected cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Seneca, Kans., and is filling this position in a satisfactory and able manner.
F. J. Holthaus is a dealer and collector of rare coins and stamps. He became acquainted with this hobby when a school boy through coming across all kinds of foreign coins which his father brought home from his trips to foreign countries. He saw that the coins are serious historical monuments, that they contain in a nutshell the whole history of the countries which issued them, and-that by an intensive and comparative study of them ancient history can be made real and living. It is a great asset for a banker to have a numismatic knowledge. His collection at first comprised all classes of coins. In recent years he has specialized in United States and early Colonials, Oldenburg, Munster, Bremen and Papal State, with special emphasis laid upon gold and silver coins. . In 1896, on his European trip, he picked up a good many duplicates of rare coins and stamps, and ever since that time he has been a dealer as well as collector. He is an extensive buyer at coin auction sales held in this and foreign countries.
Besides his banking interests, Mr. Holthaus is the owner of a fine farm of 148 acres adjoining the city of Seneca, on which an attractive home is located. He maintains a herd of Holstein cattle.
Mr. Holthaus is a Republican in politics and he and Mrs. Holthaus are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the American Numismatic Association.