Jeannette S. (Spotts) Hofmeister ~ wife of Louis Hofmeister of Los Angeles
IOWA
ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION
VOLUME III
1804-1926
J. E. SPOTTS
Jacob E. Spotts, long numbered among the progressive farmers of Ida county,
is now residing in Battle Creek, and his standing in the community is
indicated by the fact that he has been called to the office of mayor, which he is
now fulling. He was born January 26, 1859, near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and
his parents, Abraham and Mary (Stouffer) Spotts, were also natives of the
Keystone state. In 1880 the father came with his family to Iowa, settling near
Battle Creek. He gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of
a large and valuable farm, ranking with the foremost agriculturists of the
district. To Mr. and Mrs. Spotts were born eleven children: Elizabeth, John
F., William, Sadie and Mary, all of whom are deceased; S. Laura, the widow of
Danile Reeder, of New York City; Katie A., the widow of James Line, of
Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Alice and Daniel T., who have passed away; Jacob E.; and Rettie, the wife of James Warnock.
Jacob E. Spotts was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and aided
his father until he reached the age of twenty-one years, becoming familiar
with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. For six
years he operated the homestead and was then able to purchase a farm of his
own, acquiring a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. From time to time he
bought additional land until his place at length comprised three hundred and
twenty acres. He worked diligently and methodically and brought to his
occupation a true sense of agricultural economics, never allowing a foot of the land to be unproductive. He equipped the place with labor-saving devices and
gradually transformed it into one of the most valuable farms of the county. Having accumulated a substantial competence, Mr. Spotts purchased an attractive home in Battle Creek, where he has since resided, devoting his energies to civic affairs.
On February 17, 1886, Mr. Spotts married Miss Jessie Crawford, a native of
Scotland, and ten children were born to them, namely: Laura C., who is the
wife of George Foster, of North Dakota; Jeannette S., now Mrs. Louis
Hofmeister, of Los Angeles, California; Mary, who married H. M. Schmidt, of Battle Creek; Bertha, the wife of Julius Ikow, of Iowa; Edward A., James O., Daniel T., Alvin L. and Earl H., all of whom are residents of Battle Creek; and Edith A. who lives in Los Angeles, California.
Mr. Spotts has been for four years mayor of Battle Creek. The good of the
community is his first concern and he has been strongly commended for his
economical oversight of public expenditures as well as for the constructive work
which he has accomplished. He is an earnest member of the Presbyterian
church and a man of sterling worth, who has faithfully discharged every trust
reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature.
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