JACOB GOETZ

GOETZ, HIGGINS, MASTERMAN, RECHTENBACH

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/15/2004 at 22:14:00

"Jacob Goetz, who makes his home on section 9, Summerset township, has resided in Adair county for more than thirty years and is widely recognized as one of its prosperous and representative agriculturists, owning three hundred and fifty acres of valuable land in Summerset and Washington townships. His birth occurred in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 6th of April, 1861, his parents being Jacob and Katherine Goetz, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to the new world din 1858 and took up their abode on a farm in Bureau county, Illinois, there spending the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of three children but our subject is the only surviving member of the family.

Jacob Goetz attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and began providing for his own support at the early age of thirteen years, securing employment as a farm hand. In 1883, when twenty-two years of age, he came to Adair county, Iowa, and here continued working as a farm hand for two years. His wife inherited from her foster father one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Summerset township, which Mr. Goetz operated continuously since, and on which he has made many excellent improvements. Later he bought aother quarter section in Washington township, which he has also improved, and made still further purchase of land until his holdings now embrace three hundred and fifty acres. He cultivates the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. He owns a residence and three lots in Fontanelle and has long been numbered among the substantial and esteemed citizens of his community.

In 1883 Mr. Goetz was united in marriage to Miss Alice Higgins, a native of La Salle county, Illinois, and a daughter of Eugene and Elizabeth (Masterman) Higgins, who were born respectively in New York and in Maine but who were married in La Salle county, Illinois. Mrs. Goetz lost her father when she was but two years of age, at which time the family was broken up and she was adopted by G.G. Rechtenbach. When fifteen years old she came to Adair county with her adopted parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Goetz have been born thirteen children: Emma; Katherine; George, deceased; Eugene; Pearl; Minnie; Alpha, deceased; Bert; Vinice; Edward; Lucile; Clarence, deceased; and Arthur.

Politically Mr. Goetz is a stanch democrat who has done able service in the interests of education as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World, while with his family he attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a host of friends in the community who have found him to be active and enterprising, faithful in the discharge of his obligations and entirely trustworthy in every relation of life."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.