Holter, Carl 1847 - 1940

HOLTER, BURLING, OLESON, MARSTON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/29/2012 at 10:40:00

Postville Herald, Wednesday, May 22, 1940.
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Oldest Citizen Passes Away. Carl Holter Was Prominent In Community Affairs.

Carl Holter, the oldest resident of Postville, passed away Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock in the home of his son-in-law, W. H. Burling, after an illness of four months' duration. Mr. Holter would have been 93 years old if he had lived until June 30.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in the Community Presbyterian church with the Rev. J. Ian Fraser officiating. Earlier services were conducted in the Burling home.

Burial was in Postville cemetery where Masons took charge of graveside services with Ray R. Douglass leading the ritual.

Pallbearers were L. O. Beucher, R. F. Topliff, A. C. Webster, Fred H. Luhman, Elmer Weihe and Herman Webb.

Carl Holter was born near Christiana, Norway, on June 30, 1847, the son of Ole and Martha (Oleson) Holter. His father spent his entire life farming in Norway, passing away in 1860. Then in 1869 Carl Holter came to the United States, finally settling in Postville in 1873. His mother, who came here in 1871, passed away in 1903.

In Norway Mr. Holter received an education by attending the public schools. He also worked as a government clerk in business, providing a background of experience for his career in this community. After locating in this county he supplemented his education by attending school for another year.

Before locating in Postville he spent four months in Chicago, Ill. From Chicago he went to Memphis, Tenn., and worked for six months in a large bakery, returning at the end of that time to Chicago. After two months he came to Postville, working upon a farm for the next two years.

Mr. Holter left the farm to work as a clerk in the general store of Skelton & Roberts. For ten years he worked for this firm, but being ambitious to engage in business for himself, he founded the firm of Holster, Schultz & Welzel. After one year he withdrew from the firm and established the clothing store of Armstrong & Holter. The association continued from 1883 to 1892, when Mr. Holter purchased his partner's interest. This continued to be his principal business until his retirement in 1915.

Mr. Holter found a parallel business interest in banking. In 1886 he organized the Northeast Iowa Loan and Trust Company, which grew into the Citizens State Bank. He was a director of the bank since its organization in 1891, president for the last five years and also served many years as vice president.

Prominent in civic activities, he served 12 years as a member of the town council. He was affiliated with the Masonic Order and last November received a certificate in recognition of 50 years of membership. He was a charter member of the Community Presbyterian church of Postville, having come from the Methodist church which was one of the constituent churches in the present organization. In January, 1924, he was ordained a ruling elder and served in that capacity until his death.

On May 22, 1883, Mr. Holter was married to Miss Mary Marston, a life long resident of this community. To their union was born one daughter, Edna Holter Burling, who passed away in 1937. Mrs. Holter also preceded her husband in death in 1930. He is survived by his son-in-law, W. H. Burling, and three grandchildren, Carl, Bernice and Robert Burling.

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Sumitter is not related.

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