W. B. Witte, 1899 Biography

WITTE, ZITZELSPERGER, BAUER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/3/2007 at 18:47:30

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Words in quotations are original. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

W. B. Witte

The bearer of this name is the butter-maker in the pretty little town of Willey. He was born on 25 January 1868 in Dubuque County, Iowa. In 1869 his parents moved to Cedar County, Nebraska, where Mr. Witte attended public school and received First Holy Communion. He then worked with his father, who was a farmer, until his 18th year, and he then learned the trade of carpenter. In 1889 he moved to Roselle Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he lived for a year and worked at his profession. In the spring of 1891 he moved his activity to Pleasant Valley Township, where he worked at carpentry until 1896. He then obtained a position as butter-maker in the Willey Creamery, and for the last two years he has run the business as his own, and indeed with excellent results. The butter that comes from this well-equipped creamery is the absolute finest and it is in good demand.

On 29 April 1895 he married the widow Zitzelsperger, whose maiden name was Miss Anna Bauer, a popular and well-mannered woman who was the mother of two children named Anna and George. The happy marriage with Mr. W. B. Witte produced three children, and their names are: Joseph, Wilhelm, and Johann. Mr. Witte and his wife enjoy an excellent reputation and are very popular among all their acquaintances.