Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 567
JACOB L. MOTZ

For more than forty years Jacob L. MOTZ has been living on his present farm, the same being part of the land which his father bought shortly after he located in Harrison county in 1853. Mr. MOTZ is one of the most progressive farmers of Clay township, where he owns seven hundred acres of excellent farming land. Few farms in the county give more evidence of thrift and progressive methods than the farm owned by Mr. MOTZ, and for this reason he may truly be ranked among the most enterprising farmers of the county.

Jacob L. MOTZ, the son of Jeremiah and Leah (KAYWOOD) MOTZ, was born August 27, 1873, on the farm where he is now living in Clay township. His parents were born in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively, and located in Indiana before their marriage. After their marriage in that state they came to Iowa, and located in Harrison county in 1853. Jerry MOTZ bought a farm in Clay township, and on this he and his wife reared a family of eleven children, Jacob L. being the youngest of the family. For additional details regarding this family the reader is referred to the biographical sketch of George W. MOTZ, presented elsewhere in this volume.

The education of Jacob L. MOTZ was received in the country schools of his immediate vicinity. He remained at home until his marriage and during that time learned the rudiments of general farming and stock raising. He is always at the forefront of the progressive farmers of his neighborhood, and now does his plowing with gasoline tractors, which is only one of the many modern methods which he has instituted in his farming. He has a beautiful country home, excellent barns, granaries and cattle sheds of all kinds. He annually feeds about one hundred head of cattle and a carload of hogs for the market.

Mr. MOTZ was married September 3, 1895, to Ella BOZWELL, who was born August 18, 1876, in Mills county, Iowa, a daughter of Thomas BOZWELL, a native of Indiana. To this union were born six children, all of whom are still living, as follows: Clarence, born April 10, 1898; Emma, born December 12, 1901; Nellie, born March 25, 1904; Hattie, born September 19, 1907; Ray, born June 30, 1909, and Lester, born November 13, 1912.

Mr. MOTZ is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the encampment at Mondamin. The Democratic party has received his hearty support since he reached his majority, but on account of his extensive farming interests he has never taken an active part in political affairs. Mrs. MOTZ is a member of the Christian church and while Mr. MOTZ is not an active member, yet he is a supporter of that denomination.

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