What's New About the Past

A recent search by volunteer researcher Allan Ochs at the San Luis Obispo County Museum, conducted on behalf of Joseph Motz of Indiana, elicited some previously unknown tidbits about former residents of the Biddle House.

Elizabeth Motz Biddle was born in Evansville, Indiana on October 13, 1862. Michael Motz was her father. She came to San Luis Obispo in 1879 with her parents and two uncles. Elizabeth married John Biddle in 1885. He died in 1891.

According to the Morning Tribune, February 27, 1915, On the death of Biddle she managed the affairs of the Biddle estate in such manner as to increase its value by many thousands, and it was but a short time ago that the affairs of the rich estate were wound up when the decree of distribution was ordered.

A few years after his death, she married Charles Smith, with whom she had a son, David Smith.  She died of heart disease on February 27, 1915, after a short illness.

Allan Ochs, Volunteer Researcher for the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society, adds this:

According to a May 30, 1986 Tribune article on the Biddle House, plans for the house were drawn up in July, 1893, and the house was completed about three years later.  Mrs. Biddle died in 1915 at the house which was then occupied by her children until the 1960's.  

One paragraph in the article reads, "John Biddle met Elizabeth Motz in SLO, where they were married.  They moved to a little white house on Pismo Street between Nipomo and Beach streets which they bought from Mr. Motz."

The above is the only mention in the article about Michael Motz.

The 1906 city directory lists three Biddles living at the Biddle House: John F., Minnie, and Philip.  The same directory lists Michael Motz living at 797 Pismo St.  Other Motz listed include Eliza, George, a clerk at the Sauer grocery store, and Clara, living at 1303 Garden St.

The 1914 city directory lists four Biddles living at the Biddle House:  In addition to the above there is Mrs. Elizabeth Biddle-Smith. Elizabeth was married for a short time to a Charles Smith, whom she met on the east coast.

Under Motz in the same directory, there is listed again Michael Motz at 797 Pismo St.  Other Motz include George L. Mott, manager of the Sauer grocery store, and a Clara Motz, widow of George (an earlier George?) both living at 1303 Garden St.

There is no further mention of Michael Motz in later phone books and directories.

Michael is apparently not buried in SLO.

A newspaper article from 1900 says that Michael Motz was the brother of Henry Motz who owned considerable property in SLO.

Under "Smith" in the Oddfellows Cemetery index, Elizabeth's birth and death dates are noted as October 13,1862, to February 26, 1915.  I found Elizabeth's obituary in the February 27, 1915 Tribune.  
 

August, 2006 - Early California Population Project - The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens has announced the availability of a fantastic database of historical records documenting the lives of approximately 110,000 Californians between 1769 and 1850. This database contains the sacramental registers from the 21 missions of California and allows you to browse baptismal, marriage, and death records. Visit the Early California Population Project at Huntington.org/Information.