Burial #2 - Simon Motz

Born: October 25, 1844 - Died: February 6, 1908 (age 63)

Burial Location

Longitude: 38.88546
Latitude: -99.31797

Early Life

Simon Motz was born in 1844 in Centre County, Pennsylvania and was raised in Union County. He graduated from the Union County Seminary. In October 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Second Colorado Cavalry. In June of 1867, he was one of the early citizens of Rome which was the first town to be established in Ellis County. However, Rome failed to become much of a town. Hays City was founded and flourished just a few miles east of Rome. It benefited by having the newly laid train tracks come through Hays City.

Life in Hays City

Businesses

Motz moved to Hays City where he clerked at a general store until 1868 and eventually became a businessman. He was a dealer in general merchandise and all kinds of grain. He opened the business of merchandising in 1871 and the grain business in 1876 with the first grain elevator built in Hays City that same year.

Politics

He became the first mayor of Hays City and served as a Representative in the Kansas Legislature in 1869 - 70 and 71. Mr. Motz was elected to the Kansas State Senate in the fall of 1880 and held all the county offices except Treasurer and County Clerk. During that time, he also studied law, and in 1881, he was admitted to the bar of practice.

Family

He married Miss Bertha Hall of Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1881. Her white tombstone is located next to Simon's grave and reads: "Bertha Hall – Wife of Simon Motz – Dec 22, 1858, Dec 12, 1917."