JOHN HENRY OTTO.

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Mrs. John H. Otto         Mr. John H. Otto

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         Among the farmers of Louisa county, now deceased, was John Henry Otto, who died February 21, 1910, the announcement of his death causing a general expression of regret throughout the community where he was well and favorably known. He was for over fifty years an active factor in the agricultural development of the county and gained marked success as a business man and farmer.

         He was born in Marthasville, Missouri, now called Hopewell, in August, 1835, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Rolfe) Otto, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. The parents emigrated to America and made their home for a number of years in Missouri, later removing to Washington county, Iowa. They are both now deceased. In their family were nine children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: George, of Portland, Oregon; Louisa, the wife of F. Feigenbaum, of Wauneta, Kansas; John Henry, the subject of this sketch; Hortense, who became the wife of Henry Droegemeyer, of Burlington; Christian and William, both of whom are deceased; Herman, who is now living in Wapello; and Mary, who married Henry Wagoner, of Ankeny, Iowa.

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         John Henry Otto possessed advantages of education in the district schools and in his youth and boyhood assisted his father in farm work, thus early becoming acquainted with the value and importance of labor. At twenty years of age he secured employment at Burlington, Iowa, in the lumber business but four years later was married and began farming on his own account by renting about sixty-five acres of land eight miles from Burlington. After a year on this place he removed to Wapello and rented eighty acres for one year. He next rented a farm of one hundred and twenty acres for two years and after changing his location once more he bought two hundred acres in Louisa county in 1865, upon which he established his home. He was highly successful in farming and stock-raising and became the owner of over nine hundred acres of good land, which he greatly improved. He was a man of excellent financial judgment, as is indicated by the fact that he served with general acceptance to stockholders and to the people of the community as president of the Wapello State Bank.

         On the 11th of August, 1859, Mr. Otto was married to Miss Charlotte Annie Weckman, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ringler) Weckman. There were two children in the Weckman family, the other being Frederick, who made his home in Missouri and is now deceased. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Otto, the youngest of whom died in infancy, the others being: Henry, of Louisa county; Edmund and George F., both deceased; William, who resides in Louisa county; Leona, at home; Anna Charlotte, the wife of L. W. Gerth, of Wyaconda, Missouri; and Herman Peter, also at home.

         Mr. Otto cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president of the United States and during all his subsequent life saw no reason to change his political views, always being a stanch supporter of the republican party. In religious faith he was a Methodist and was a liberal contributor to that denomination. He was a kind father, a true friend and a citizen who through many years of well directed effort assisted very materially in advancing the permanent interests of Louisa county. His acknowledged honesty and high business standing gave him a prominent place in the regard and confidence of his fellowmen and no history of the county would be complete without adequate mention of him.