Otto Witthauer

WITTHAUER, FLEAL, BOWMAN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/18/2009 at 13:57:37

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 720-721

OTTO WITTHAUER, dealer in lumber,
Exira, Iowa, was born in Center County,
Pennsylvania, in the town of Wood-
ward, October 11, 1857. He is the third
child of Herman and Louisa (Fleal) Witt-
hauer, natives of Germany, who emigrated to
America in 1854 and settled in Pennsylvania,
and there remained until April, 1865, when
they removed to Guthrie County, Iowa; here
they permanently settled and still reside, Mr.
Witthauer devoting himself to farming. Otto
Witthauer was only seven years old when his
parents came to Guthrie County, Iowa; there
he passed his boyhood and attended the dis-
trict school. Later he attended the Guthrie
High School at Panora, in which institution
he pursued his studies industriously for eight-
een months. He then began his career as a
teacher at the age of nineteen years, and con-
tinued work in this profession for four years.
In the summer of 1880 he took the United
States census in the two townships, Valley
and Jackson, in Guthrie County. In the fall
of 1880 he entered the employ of Charles
Stuart, of Guthrie Center, Iowa. He took
charge of the grain and lumber business at
Monteith, Iowa, and remained there until
April, 1881, when he came to Exira and took
charge of the same business. Mr. Witthauer
continued in Mr. Stuart's employ until 1884,
when lie was elected to the office of county
recorder on the Democratic ticket. He then
removed to Audubon, and assumed the duties
of the office January 1, 1885. He filled the
office acceptably and was renominated, but
defeated by the small majority of thirty. He
is treasurer of the independent school district
of Exira, and a member of the city council.
He takes an active part in politics, acting as
delegate to State, congressional and judicial
conventions, voting the Democratic ticket.
In January, 1887, Mr. Witthauer returned to
Exira, and embarked in the grocery business
with his father-in-law, Mr. Bowman. May 10,
1887, he lost some property by fire, having little
insurance. He again took charge of Mr.
Stuart's business, and when Mr. Stuart sold
out the business Mr. Witthauer embarked
in the same enterprise on his own account
He keeps a good stock of lumber, posts, and all
kinds of stone and lime. He was married June
13, 1883, to Miss Mattie Bowman, daughter of
William Bowman, Esq. She was born in the
State of Ohio, and when a child came to New-
ton, Iowa, with her parents. Mr. and Mrs.
Witthauer are the parents of two children -
Bessie, and one child that died in infancy.
Mr. Witthauer is a member of the Knights
of Pythias, Lodge No. 181, and is keeper of
records and seal, and trustee of the same.