JACOB B. (W.) BENZ.

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Mr. & Mrs. Jacob W. Benz         Mr. & Mrs. Mathias Benz        Mrs. & Mrs. Louis Beik
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         A good farm of two hundred acres located on section 2, Port Louisa township, is being cultivated by Jacob W. Benz, who engages in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Muscatine county, Iowa, his birth having occurred on the 14th of December, 1866. He is a son of Mathias and Lucy (Schneider) Benz. The father was originally from near Baden, German, and the mother from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Muscatine county, Iowa, following which event they located upon a farm which they bought in Louisa county and in the cultivation of which the father engaged for eight years. At the expiration of that period they disposed of the property and removed to Washington county, where he purchased another farm, which he operated until 1892. Again selling their homestead they returned to Muscatine county, buying some land in Lake township, upon which they resided until the mother passed away in 1903. Since then the father has made his home with his children. They were the parents of six children: Lydia, the wife of W. F. Nelson, a resident of Louisa county; Mollie, who married H. J. Jeffries of Muscatine county; Annie, who became the wife of O. J. Derby, of Louisa county; Jacob W., the subject of this sketch; Albert, who died at the age of eighty years; and Zula, the deceased wife of J. W. Hintermeister, of Louisa county.

         The district schools of Louisa and Washington counties provided Jacob W. Benz with his education, following the acquirement of which he assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm, remaining a member of the parental house- . . .

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. . . hold until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1891 he left home to begin working for himself and for eight years thereafter he farmed as a renter. As his efforts were rewarded with very good returns he managed to acquire sufficient means during that period to enable him to purchase a farm of two hundred acres of finely improved land, all of which is under a very good state of cultivation with the exception of sixty acres in timber.

         Mr. Benz established a home for himself in 1904 by his marriage to Miss Nettie Beik, their wedding being solemnized on the 18th of February. Mrs. Benz is a native of this county, her natal day being the 20th of April, 1866, and a daughter of Louis and Lovey (Godfrey) Beik. The father was born in Baden, Germany, and the mother in Indiana but they were married in Louisa county. They began their domestic life upon a farm in this county, which now constitutes a portion of the homestead of their son-in-law, Jacob W. Benz. Here Mrs. Beik passed away in July, 1903, but Mr. Beik survived until the 13th of December, 1907, always having been engaged in the cultivation of his farm. Three children were born to this union: Nettie, now Mrs. Benz; Luella, who married C. W. Graham, of Grandview, Iowa; and May, the wife of C. E. Wilson, of Louisa county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benz has been born one child, Nola May, whose birth occurred on the 27th of June, 1907. They are raising the son of Mr. Benz’s sister, Hershal Oliver Hintermeister.

         Both Mr. and Mrs. Benz are Christians and affiliate with the Church of God. His political support he gives to the republican party but not being an office seeker he does not prominently participate in local affairs but meets the requirements of good citizenship by casting a ballot on election day. Enterprising and energetic he is one of the progressive agriculturists of Port Louisa township who is contributing toward the development and advancement of the community in which he resides.