Christian Otto (1840 - 1919)
Denison Bulletin and Herald,December 1919FORMER DENISONITE CALLED TO REST
CHRISTIAN OTTO, SR. PASSED AWAY AT CARROLL LAST FRIDAY
Lived in Denison 25 Years and Was Well Known Cigar Manufacturer-Buried Here
At the home of his son William at Carroll on Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock, Mr. Christian Otto Sr. passed away after many months of lingering illness, due to infirmities of old age. He has been gradually failing for several years, a paralytic stroke a couple of years ago being the beginning of his suffering. He passed peacefully away, reaching the age of 79 years and nine months.
Mr. Otto was born at Bremen, Germany, on the 12th day of March, 1840, and there grew to young manhood. On the 18th day of August, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Christine Gottlieb, who died at her home in Denison, September 15, 1907. Since the death of his beloved wife he has made his home with his son William, moving with his family to Manila and later to Carroll.
In the year of 1885 the deceased with his mother and son Chris left the old country and arrived at West Side, this county, on May 24 to build a new home for the family. In this he succeeded so well that in October of the same year Mrs. Otto and the other children followed him to this country.
In 1886 the family moved to Aspinwall, where they resided two years, then returning to West Side, and from there they came to Denison in 1890. Here Mr. Otto established a cigar factory and during his business career enjoyed a large patronage, selling his product not only in this but in neighboring counties. About 15 years ago he retired from business, turning the same over to his sons Chris and William.
He leaves to mourn his death the following children: Henry, of Sauk Center, Minn; Wilhelmine, wife of Mr. Chris. Nissen of Stockholm township; Chris. Jr. of Denison: Frieda, wife of George Luft of Denison, and H. William, of Carroll; also 36 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, one brother and one sister in Germany, and one brother, William, of Aspinwall, besides many friends and acquaintances.
The funeral took place Monday afternoon, services being held at the home of Mr. Chris Otto on East Chestnut St., the remains having been brought here Saturday. Rev. Frese of the Lutheran church officiated at the home and at the grave in Oakland cemetery. Pall bearers were old friends of the deceased (unreadable), C.H. Wiese, Aug. Hammill, Adolph Harder, Adolph Eggert and John Stender. We extend sympathy to the bereaved in this their hour of sorrow.
Submitted by Darlene Taylor
Christine Elisabeth Otto (1836 - 1907)
Denison Review - 18 Sep 1907
DEATH'S CALL
Mrs. Otto an Aged German Woman Responds
On Sunday morning occurred the death of Mrs. Chris Otto, Sr. at the home of her son Wm. in East Denison.
Christine Elisabeth Otto, nee Gottlieb, was born April, 15th 1836 in Bremen, Germany. She was married to Chis. Otto in 1861. Their union was blessed with fourteen children, of which five survive the mother, namely, Henry, residing in Minnesota, Mrs. Willhemeine Nissen of Stockholm township, Chris, Mrs. Frieda Luft, and William of Denison.
In 1885 the family came to America, locating in Crawford county, where they have lived ever since. Besides the husband, three sisters and three brothers, and a number of grandchildren mourn the sudden death of a dear wife, sister, mother and grandmother.
Mrs. Otto was 71 years and 5 months old at the time of her death. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2:30 at the German Lutheran church, interment followed at the city cemetery. Rev. Wm. Frese officiating.
I retyped this article verbatim, including all spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors, as it appeared in the 18 Sep 1907 issue of the Denison Review. Her actual death date was 15 Sep 1907. The folks at the public library were kind enough to send me a copy, but it was too light to scan properly. Christine E. Gottlieb Otto was my gggrandmother.
Submitted by Darlene Thies Taylor