Otto Hile

HILE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/15/2010 at 13:12:31

Boone has been singally favored in the class of men who have occupied her offices, for on the whole they have been public spirited citizens, loyal to the interests intusted to their care and faithful in the discharge of their duties. To this class belongs Otto Hile, who is now serving for the ninth year as city clerk, haing made a splendid record in teh postion. He was born at Cedar Rapids, Iowa August 23, 1864, and is a son of Henry and Barbar (Otterbein) Hile. The father became one of the pioneer grocers of Boone, to which city he removed in the fall of 1865. For a considerable period he was connected with commercial activity there and was regarded as one of the progressive and representative business men. Both he and his wife are now decease. In their family were but two children, the daughter being Miss Kate Hile of Boone.
The son, Otto Hile was a pupil in the pubic schools of Boone, where he has made his home from infancy.He also pursued a business course at Burlington, Iowa and upon his return joined his father in the grocery business, remaining with him until the father's death. Otto Hile afterward contined the business alone until April 1898. Subsequently he was connected with other mercantile lines as saleman until 1905, when he was appointed city clerk by the city council and has since continued in that position, making amost creditable record in the office.
In July 1896, Mr Hile was united in marriage to Miss Emma Coleman, a naitve of Omaha, Nebraska, and to them ahve been born two children, Ruth and Frances. Mr Hile is independent in his political views, supporting men and mearsures rather than party and voting as his judgment dicated without regard to party ties. There is an interesting military chapter in his life record, for in 1886 he joined the Iowa National Guard, with which he was connected until after the Spanish- American war. Offering his services to his country for active duty in the war with Spain, he was mustered in on April 26, 1898, as major of the Fifty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and remained with that command until mustered out in the following October. Mr Hile's life has at all time been honorable and upright, commanding for him the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact. No higher testimonail of his capabiltiy in office could be given than the fact that he has been so long retained in this position. He is systematic and methodical in the work of the office, prompt and painstaking, and his loyalty to the best interests of the communtiy both as an office-holder and as a private citizen is widely recognized.

1914 Boone County History Book