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In 1874 Daniel Kotz opened his studio in South Bend, Indiana. In 1875 Kotz returned to <br />Chicago and entered the studio of H. A. Elkins, who was to furnish all the paint and canvas, <br />as well as room and board, in return the young Kotz give all his time and all his work. <br /> <br />After eleven months of hard work, Daniel discovered he was getting the worst of the <br />bargain, so he decided to open a studio of his own. This he did on a capital of .40 cents, a <br />bottomless chair, an old easel, and pieces of canvas. In his first week’s work, he sold two <br />pictures that brought him $70.00 dollars. But then suddenly he couldn’t sell any additional <br />pictures. Daniel’s studio was located on 108 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. It was here that <br />Daniel Kotz painted two of his best paintings titled, “Trappers Last Camping Grounds” and <br />“October Woods”. <br /> <br />In 1878 Daniel opened a studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he painted “The Wayside <br />Spring” and “Monarch of the Meadow” which became the valued property of Peter E. <br />Studebaker, one of the five brothers who organized the Studebaker Manufacturing <br />Company. <br /> <br />Daniel Kotz painted numerous pictures for the Studebakers. One such masterpiece, <br />considered one of his best, was commissioned by Studebaker and was eventually, after <br />many years, gifted to the South Bend Public Library in 1921. There it hung in a place of <br />prominence. That Studebaker painting, according to a recent query in 2025, at some point <br />mysteriously disappeared and is now unfortunately unaccounted for according to <br />representatives of the South Bend Public Library. It is now believed hat this once <br />unaccounted for Kotz painting may indeed have made it’s way to the Midwest Museum in <br />Elkhart where it is now on display. The painting depicts Clem Studebaker's prize- <br />winning cattle. <br /> <br />Painting for Clem Studebaker by Daniel Kotz It is believed that this painting is the missing <br />masterpiece that was originally given by Clem Studebaker to the South Bend Public Library <br />where it hung in a place of prominence for many years. It is currently unclear how this <br />painting ended up in the Elkhart Midwest Museum.