Witthauer, Otto E. (1857-1925)

WITTHAUER, WISSLER, STUART, BOWMAN, WOOD

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 9/14/2010 at 21:13:30

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Dec. 17, 1925, pg. 1
OTTO WITTHAUER DIED
FOLLOWING OPERATION

----------
Funeral Services Held Here Yester-
day. Was Representative From
This County Term 1914-1916

----------

Otto Witthauer, one of the best
known and universally loved and re-
spected of Audubon county's former
citizens, passed away at the Congre-
gational hospital in Des Moines, Sat-
urday, December 12, following an op-
eration. Funeral services were held
from the Christian church Wednesday
afternoon conducted by Rev. Henry
Wissler, former local pastor. Burial
was in the Exira cemetery. The local
K. P. lodge had charge of the service
at the grave.

The deceased was born at Wood-
ward, Center county, Pennsylvania on
October 11, 1857. At the age of seven
years he came with his parents to
Guthrie county, where he grew to
manhood. He received his early edu-
cation in the country school, later at-
tending high school at Panora. When
he was about 20 years of age he com-
menced teaching and for several years
followed that profession. In the fall
of 1880 he entered the employ of Capt.
Stuart of Guthrie Center and in April,
1881, was put in charge of the Exira
business of Capt. Stuart.

He was united in marriage to Hattie
F. Bowman on June 13, 1883. To this
union three children were born, two
of them surviving, the other having
died in infancy. The children are Mrs.
John W. Wood of Wichita, Kansas,
and Omar V. Witthauer of Portland,
Oregon. Mr. Witthauer is also surviv-
ed by the wife and one brother.

In the fall of 1884 Mr. Witthauer
was elected county recorder and serv-
ed one term after which he engaged in
the mercantile business here. In 1887
fire wiped out his stock of goods and
he re-entered the employ of Captain
Stuart and was thus engaged until
1888. Following this time he engaged
in business in Exira in different lines,
he was buyer for a grain firm six
years and later was manager of the
Fullerton Lumber Co.

In 1910 he was a candidate for the
office of auditor and was elected in the
fall and held the place two terms. In
the fall of 1914 he was elected repre-
sentative from this county and served
one term in the Legislature. He held
many town and township offices at dif-
ferent times and was always promi-
nent in anything for the good of the
community.

During the world war Mr. Witt-
hauer was a railroad inspector serv-
ing the government. In every position
to which he was called he gave the
most painstaking care, which made of
him a one hundred per cent man in
all that he did.

He was a member of the Christian
church and was fraternally allied with
the Knights of Pythias and the Mod-
ern Woodmen of America.