Witt, William E. 1855 - 1928

WITT, MUELLER, KRIEG, BUSCHING, UECKER, REINHART, HOCHHAUS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/27/2020 at 12:14:48

Clayton County Register, Thur., 13 Sept. 1928. Pg. 1.

Tuesday, September 11th, marked the passing of one of Elkader's prominent business men - one who had been active in the business circles here for about thirty-seven years - William E. Witt. He passed away here at his home, the result of paralysis, after an illness of about two years.

William E. Witt was born February 24th, 1855, at Priemen, Germany, the son of John and Dorothea (Mueller) Witt. Deceased came to this country and to Clayton county in 1868 and the trip across the waters was accompanied with hardships such as we little know of now. It required six months to make the trip on a sailing vessel. While enroute the ship sprang a leak and for two days and nights all hands on board stood by the pumps so that the ship could be returned to England for necessary repairs. A second sailing was made and a second time the ship sprang a leak, returning to England for repairs. Following this all refused to set foot on the boat again and another ship was taken for America.

Mr. Witt received his education in Germany and in America but he learned his trade as cabinet maker here in Clayton county. December 21st, 1878, at Clayton Center, this county, Mr. Witt was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Krieg and to this union four children were born, three sons and one daughter, namely: George, Otto (deceased), William of Elkader, and Alta (Mrs. Louis Busching).

Besides the widow, deceased is survived by two sons, George of East Chicago, Ind., William of Elkader, and Mrs. Louis Busching of Nashua, Iowa, and also six grandchildren: Lucille Witt, Richard Busching, William, Elizabeth, Donald and Marjorie Witt. Three sisters also survive: Mrs. August Uecker, Mrs. Jacob Reinhart and Mrs. Frank Hochhaus, all of Elkader.

Since coming to America Mr. Witt has lived in Volga, Elkport and Postville besides the forty years residence here in Elkader, thirty-seven of which were in active business life, as cabinet maker, furniture and undertaking, from which he retired in 1924.

Besides being active in business circles Mr. Witt was active also in church and fraternal work. He was a charter member of the Evangelical Friedens church and for many years a member of its choir, and always a regular attendant so long as health permitted. For thirty-four he was a Mason, always a member of Elkader Lodge No. 72 A.F. & A.M. During this time he was Master for several years and passed through all the stations of that organization. No man in Elkader has had the knowledge of Masonry and its teaching as had Mr. Witt. Besides the Masonic lodge he also held membership in the Woodman and Yeoman lodges and in all these he held the highest esteem of brothers. His place in the community will be hard to fill.

Funeral services were held this afternoon, Sept. 13th, 1928, at 2:30 from the Evangelical church and interment was made in the East Side cemetery, with Rev. C. H. Franke, his pastor, officiating.