KITTERMAN, ELIAS

KITTERMAN, DAMER, ARCHIBALD, KOONTZ, REDMAN, BOWLAND, THOMPSON, COOPER

Posted By: Virginia Perry (email)
Date: 11/1/2001 at 14:35:49

ELIAS KITTERMAN, an honored pioneer of Wapello County, Iowa has been a resident of the Hawkeye State since the spring of 1843, and in a period of forty-three years spent in this locality has earned the high esteem of his fellow-citizens. He has been a man of high moral character, upright and honorable in his transactions, industrious and enterprising, and possesses all the qualites which constitute an honest man and a good citizen.
The subject of our sketch is a native of Virginia
and was born in Franklin County, near Richmond, on the first day of September, 1809. He is the son of HENRY and ANNA (DAMER) KITTERMAN, of Pennsylvania, and his father died in Virginia, leaving his widow with a family of eleven children.
Soon after the death of her husband, MRS KITTERMAN, removed to Indiana and settled in Perry County, where she entered a tract of wild land, and with the assistance of her children, opened up a farm in the midst of the heavy timber.
She was a lady of great energy and business talent, and determined to keep her little family together, which she accomplished. She trained them carefully to honest and worthy lives and to habits of industry and economy, and presented to them an example of a sincere and worthy Christian life. She was prominently connected with the United Brethren Church, and died upon the homestead which she had established in Perry County. Of her large family of children only two survive, the subject of our sketch and his brother PETER KITTERMAN.

ELIAS KITTERMAN, was reared among the wilds of Indiana, and received his early education in the pioneer schools, which were conducted in rude log cabins. The first structure wherein he begain his rudimentary studies was built of round back-logs, with puncheon floor and slabs for seats, and one end of the floor was occupied by the huge fireplace, and chimney being composed of mud and sticks. Daylight was admitted through a square place sawed in the logs, with greased paper for windowpanes, and the school books of those primitive days passed from the eldest to the youngest of the family and were perused as long as they would hold together, which system was widely different then that of the present day with its frequent changes of text books. As soon as able ELIAS KITTERMAN, assisted in the labors around the homestead, and remained with his mother's family until his marriage, which occured in 1828. The maiden of his choice was MISS SARAH ARCHIBALD, who bore him two children--WILLIAM, who is now deceased, and MARY ANN, who became the wife of MARTIN KOONTZ, of California.
MRS SARAH KITTERMAN, only remained the companion of her husband for three years, dying in 1831.
MR KITTERMAN, for his second wife married MISS LYDIA REDMAN, and of this union there were born four children: SARAH, wife of ALFRED BOWLAND, of Highland Township, Wapello County, Iowa; NANCY, married to JEFFERSON THOMPSON, also of this county; JOHN, a resident of Mitchell County, KS and GEORGE W of Ottumwa, Iowa.

In 1842 MR KITTERMAN removed from Indiana to Bureau County, Illinois, where he spent the winter, and the following spring came to Wapello County, Iowa and located in Dahlonega,Township, where he entered a claim and commenced the opening up of a farm. He had previously learned the trade of blacksmith, and he now worked alternately upon the farm and in the blacksmith-shop, and was the first man to build a shop of the kind in the township of Dahlonega. In early manhood he exhibited those traits of character which afterward earned for him so thououghly the respect and confidence of his associates. He was well informed and intelligent and kept himself posted upon general matters of interest. He was elected the first Justice of Peace in Dahlonega Township, serving four years, and was intrusted with other local offices.

MRS LYDIA KITTERMAN, departed his life in Ottuumwa, Iowa 1875. She was a most estimable Christian lady, and highly respected by all who knew her. Her kindness of heart was proverbial, and it was remarked of her that she was always seeking to do a kind action. Her name is held in kindly remembrance by a wide circle of friends and acquaintance, and also by numbers of those to whom her inherent charity and benevolence had been of great assistance. The third marriage of MR. KITTERMAN took plce on the 19th of November 1876, the lady of his coice being MISS KATE COOPER, of Illinois. They occupy a handsone residence in Ottumwa, and are surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life in a home which possesses all the appliance of cultivated tastes and ample means.

When MR KITTERMAN first cam to Wapello County, Iowa he was obliged to have his milling done at Bonaparte, in Van Buren County, the trip frequently consuming a week's time. He commenced life at the foot of the ladder and has climbed up to his present position soley through his own effort and the inheritance of enterprise and industry transmitted to him by his excellent and worthy parents, in the old pioneer days he was somethimes complelled to work for twenty-five cents per week, but was always disposed to make the best of circumstance and do the very best he could, whatever might the difficulties by which he was surrounded.

MR KITTERMAN, cast his first voite for Andrew Jackson and subsequently affiliated with the Whig party, and when the latter was abandoned by the substitution of the new Republican party, he cordially supported the principals of the latter and has uniformly cast his vote in their support since that thime. He is now living in the enjoyment of the fruits of his earlier toil, and looks back with satisfaction over a well-spent and honorable life.

SOURCE: A HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY, IOWA BY CAPT. S.B. EVANS - 1901.