Louis & Grover Bittner

BITTNER, NIEMEYER, ERNST

Posted By: DebbieGerischer (email)
Date: 6/28/2005 at 10:45:35

GROVER J. BITTNER.
One of the oldest business firms and establishments in
the town of Bellevue, Jackson County, is the Bittner Lumber Company, a
partnership of which Mr. Louis Bittner is the senior member, with his son Grover J.
associated with him for over twenty years.

Mr. Louis Bittner was born at St. Augustine, July 22, 1848, and was seven
years of age when his parents came to Iowa in 1855 and settled in Clayton
County. He had the advantages of the country schools there, and remained at home
with his father on the farm until he was twenty years of age. He then began
an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and has to his credit over six
years of experience in building work, contracting and as a dealer in building
materials. In 1881 he moved from Clayton County to Bellevue, and carried on
his business as a contractor from that point. Something of his standing in
the community is indicated by the fact that he was awarded the contract for
all the principal buildings erected in Bellevue. He carried on the business
alone until 1908, when his son Grover joined him. The Bittner Lumber Company
today handles all classes of building material and supplies. Mr. Louis
Bittner has been a lifelong Democrat. For three years he was mayor of Bellevue,
was a member of the City Council four years, and for the past twenty-eight
years has held the office of justice of the peace.

In 1876 he married Miss Mary G. Niemeyer, who was born in Clayton County,
Iowa, daughter of Henry G. Niemeyer, who came from Germany. Mrs. Mary Bittner
died in 1915, the mother of seven children, Clara, Arthur, Ella, Grover J.,
Vinson, Chester and Rhoma.

Mr. Grover J. Bittner was born at Bellevue, August 23, 1885. He attended
the grade and high school, and when sixteen years of age began work for his
father and had a thorough training and experience in all branches of general
contracting and building. In 1908 he was made a partner. The business has
steadily grown during the past twenty years. In 1914 they erected a brick office
building, and their own structures and sheds for the housing of materials
occupy ground 190 by 120 feet.

Mr. Grover Bittner is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the St. Joseph
Catholic Church, and is a Democrat in politics. He married, September 29,
1915, Frances Ernst, daughter of Louis and Frances Ernst. Her parents, now
deceased, were well known residents of Bellevue.

-source: A Narrative History of The People of Iowa; Vol IV, 1931
-transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer, co-cordinator of the Iowa History Project
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