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PUTNAM COUNTY,
OHIO
History & Genealogy
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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Putnam County, Ohio,
by George D. Kinder,
Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Inc.,
Indianapolis, Indiana
1915
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GERHARD H. OTTE.
The great English poet, Pope, has said that
the proper study of mankind is man. No truer
statement was ever made. To be able to trace one's
ancestry back to past generations, and find that
they have occupied high and honorable positions in
the history of their country, is a source of genuine
satisfaction, and deep gratification. To be the son
of a man who is identified with the pioneer life of
a community and who, during his lifetime, figured
prominently in pioneer affairs, is an honor of no
mean importance. The father of Gerhard H. Otte
was one of the first settlers in Monterey township,
and in his day one of the influential citizens of
this township. Gerhard H. Otte is
descended from a long line of illustrious ancestors,
who have been, influential on two continents. Mr.
Otte's grandfather and father both were named
Gerhard H., and Mr. Otte himself
has a son named Gerhard.
Gerhard H. Otte was born on October 8, 1870, in
Ottoville, Ohio. He is the son of Gerhard
H. and Anna (Wurst) Otte.
The father of Gerhard H. Otte, the subject of
this sketch, was a prominent citizen of Ottoville,
who was born on May 13, 1834, on his father's farm,
near Osnabruck, Germany. His father, also
named Gerhard, was the owner of fifty-six
acres of land in Hanover, which had been held by the
Otte family for many generations, and
on which the grandfather of Gerhard H., the
subject of this sketch, passed all his life. He
married Agnes Barlag, and they had
eight children, only two of whom ever came to
America. They were Joseph and Gerhard H., the
father of the subject of this sketch. The
grandfather lived to be eighty-three years old.
Gerhard H. Otte was educated in Germany, and at
the age of sixteen, years, he sailed from Bremen,
making a tedious voyage of eight weeks and three
days, finally landing in New York in June, 1851.
From New York city he went to Albany by a Hudson
river steamer, in company with his second cousin,
Henry Esch, who later located in Ottawa,
and still later returned to Germany. From
Albany, New York, Mr. Otte, the father of our
.subject, went to Buffalo, by way of the Erie canal,
and then by Lake Erie to Erie, Pennsylvania, thence
by canal to Beaver, Pennsylvania, and by the Ohio
river to Cincinnati. Finally, he reached
section 10, at Delphos, on the Miami & Erie canal.
A few days later he came to Ottoville, and in the
latter part of the year settled on section 16, in
Monterey township. He first engaged in driving
an ox-team, hauling logs. He was not
accustomed to the climate and was soon taken with a
fever and ague and was compelled to retire to
Delphos. As soon as he recovered, he began working
in a cooper shop at that place. He learned the
trade, and followed it for nine years, and then
returned
to Ottoville, where, in i860, he started a
mercantile business, and became one of the first
merchants in that town. W. H. Beckman,
alone, having preceded him. Mr. Otte
at once formed a partnership with Mathias
Winkleman, but in 1887, the latter sold his
interest in the business, and Mr. Otte
held control until 1891, when he sold out and
retired, after an experience of more than thirty
years. Mr. Otte was a Democrat
and was appointed the second postmaster of Ottoville
by President Buchanan; his partner,
Mr. Winkleman, having been the first.
After Mr. Winkleman's death, Mr.
Otte served the unexpired term, about 1880
was reappointed and held the office until 1893.
He was an honored and trusted citizen of this
locality for thirty years, having filled the office
of township treasurer, and other minor offices. He
was a notary public during the war, and a member of
the home guards, stationed at Camp Lucas, Ohio.
Mr. Otte was a devout Catholic.
He was a member of the building committee, when the
church at Ottoville was erected. Gerhard H. Otte,
Sr., was married to Anna Wurst,
who was born in 1842, in Crawford county, Ohio.
She was the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Keever)
Wurst, of Bavaria, Germany, who were early
settlers in Ohio. To Gerhard H. and Anna (Wurst)
Otte eleven children were born, Joseph G.
married and lives in Ottoville; John died in
infancy; Anna A. married John Scherer,
and lived at Defiance. She is now deceased;
Mary C. is the widow of Edward
Wannemacher, who died in 1899. She has two
daughters, and they live in Ottoville; Gerhard H.
is the subject of this sketch; Henry F. died
on May 26, 1907; Elizabeth E. is the wife of
Charles Rechart. They live in
Jackson township; Louise is the wife of
Charles Huffart. They live at Toledo,
Ohio; Ferdinand W. is deceased; Leo J.
lives at Toledo, and William M. lives in
Ottoville.
Gerhard H. Otte, Sr., carried on his general
store up to the time of his death, which occurred on
December 22, 1904. His daughters conducted a
millinery shop, connected with the store.
Mr. Otte's wife, the mother of the
subject of this sketch, died on March 26, 1891.
After the death of the father, Gerhard H. Otte,
the subject of this sketch, and his sisters, carried
on the father's store until 1907, when they
sold out. Gerhard H. then entered
business in association with his brother, Leo,
in the hotel at Ottoville. This partnership
continued about four years, when Leo sold out
to Gerhard, and the latter is now running the
hotel alone.
Gerhard H. Otte was married on April 15, 1907,
to Barbara Thithoff, the daughter of
John and Mary (Reiger) Thithofif. John Thithoff
was a native of Germany. His wife, Mary (Reiger)
Thithoff, was born in Ohio. To Gerhard
H. and Barbara (Thithoff) Otte there have been
six children, Marcille, Eulitte, Alvera, Elmer,
Henry and Gerhard W.
The Otte family are all members of the Catholic
church, and Mr. Otte is a Democrat. He
has spent his entire life in Ottoville, and is a
highly respected and honored citizen.
Source: History of Putnam County, Ohio, by
George D. Kinder, Publ. 1915 by B. F. Bowen & Co.,
Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page 1177 |
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