Cutting, Elmer W. 1868 - 1923

CUTTING, PRESTON, HEADINGTON, STORTZ

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 16:32:18

Elmer W. Cutting, attorney at law of Decorah, has here followed his profession for the past seventeen years and has been accorded a gratifying and well merited clientage. He is likewise prominent in fraternal circles, now acting as grand master of the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Iowa. His birth occurred in Howard county, Iowa, on the 2d of June, 1868, his parents being Charles and Almeda (Preston) Cutting, who were natives of Massachusetts and New York respectively. Charles Cutting accompanied his parents on their removal to Howard county, Iowa, and on attaining his majority turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, which he followed in that county until the time of his death in 1874. His wife was called to her final rest in the year 1900.

Elmer W. Cutting was reared and educated in his native county and when a lad of ten years came to live with his grandparents. After leaving the common schools he began teaching, following that profession for two years. In 1889 he came to Decorah, Iowa, and entered the Breckenridge Institute, being graduated from that institution in 1892 and then spending about three years as one of its teachers. Subsequently he took up the study of law in the State University of Iowa at Iowa City and was graduated therefrom at the end of two years, in June, 1896. While pursuing his law course he also taught school. Coming to Decorah, he has here practiced his profession continuously since and has been accorded an enviable and gratifying clientage. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He has remarkable powers of concentration and application and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. In connection with his legal work he deals in farm mortgages and also loans money. He is likewise a stockholder in the Calmar Savings Bank and the Burr Oak Savings Bank.

On the 26th of June, 1901, Mr. Cutting was united in marriage to Miss Josie F. Stortz, a daughter of John and Emily (Headington) Stortz, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Winneshiek county, Iowa. John Stortz immigrated to the United States with his parents in a very early day. He enlisted as a member of Company A, Sixteenth United States Regulars, and when the Civil war broke out was sent to the front, serving throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south. Returning to this county, he followed farming for a number of years or until 1910, when he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Decorah, where he is now living retired. His wife also survives. Mr. and Mrs. Cutting have four children: Almeda E., Carroll E., Hester E. and John S., who are ten, nine, eight and two years of age, respectively. Mr. Cutting owns a handsome residence and ten acres of land on Pleasant avenue. He is greatly interested in high-grade stock and raises thoroughbred cattle and hogs and also chickens.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Cutting has supported the men and measures of the republican party. As above stated, he is well known in fraternal circles, his membership being with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For nine years he acted as a member of the board of instruction of the grand lodge of Iowa and served as grand warden of the grand lodge for one year. The following year he was elected deputy grand master and at the end of a year became grand master, in which important office he has served to the present time. The weight of his character and ability has carried him into important relations and his present standing in professional and fraternal circles represents the fit utilization of the innate talents which are his.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913

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