Otto H. Stegemann
Otto H. Stegemann, who lives on an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 29, Otter Creek township, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising, was born in Germany on the 12th of August, 1859.
His parents, Edward and Caroline (Rohdy) Stegemann, emigrated to the United States with their family in 1870. They first located in Muscatine county, Iowa, and after residing there for six years they removed to Crawford county, where the parents continued to live during the remainder of their days.
Of their children, the youngest died in infancy and those surviving are as follows: Augusta. the wife of John Doerfler, of Soldier township; William who lives in Otter Creek township; Minnie, residing in Schleswig; Ernest, living in Buck Grove; Otillie, who became the wife of John Reimers; Albertine, the wife of A. P. Hollander, of Schleswig; Otto H., our subject; Gus D., residing in North Platte, Nebraska; and Albert, who is living in Schleswig.
Otto H. Stegemann was a lad of eleven years when his parents came to the United States, and the greater part of his education, therefore, was obtained in the district schools of Iowa. He early became familiar with agricultural pursuits and continued to work for his father for some years, the latter owning three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he purchased in 1886. Two years later he bought one-half of section 29, Otter Creek township, where our subject now lives, and subsequently acquired one hundred and twenty acres on section 28. Otto H. Stegemann purchased from his father two hundred and forty acres in Otter Creek township, where he now makes his home, and his wife has one-half of that amount in Charter Oak township. He has met with gratifying success in all of his ventures and is today regarded as one of the substantial and successful agriculturists in his community.
Mr. Stegemann established a home of his own by his marriage on the 14th of October, 1889, to Miss Minnie Meyer, a daughter of Adolph and Catherine (Voglepohl) Meyer.
She is the eldest of the seven children born to her parents, the others being: August, who lives in Soldier township; William, a resident of the same place; Dora, the wife of Henry Nedermyer, of Charter Oak township; Adolph, living in Soldier township; Henry, deceased; and Edward, residing in Charter Oak township.
Mr. and Mrs. Stegemann have two children: Martha and Marcus, both of whom are still at home.
They are of the Evangelical faith and affiliate with the Lutheran church. Ever I since acquiring the full rights of citizenship Mr. Stegemann has given his political support to the democratic party, believing that its policy is best adapted to protect the interests of the masses. He actively participates in local affairs .and has several times been elected to the various township offices, the duties of which he faithfully and satisfactorily discharged. He has been a resident of Otter Creek township for twenty-five years, during which period he has made many friends, the regard of whom he continues to retain.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.