The Dittmer Families of Clayton County, Iowa

Herman Dittmer is to be considered specially favored in the states that is his as the owner of one of the splendidly improved landed states of his native county and further prestige is his by reason of his being the owner of the farm, in Section 30, Cox Creek township, where he was born, on the 4th of January, 1865, and where he has continued his activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower from his youth to the present time. He is one of the leading exponents of these basic lines of industrial enterprise in his native township and county and is a wide-awake, broad-minded and progressive citizen who well merits consideration in this history. Mr. Dittmer is a son of Peter and Magdalena (Banke) Dittmer, who were born in Germany and who became residents of Clayton county in the early '60s. The father became one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of Cox Creek township, contributed his quota to the civic and material advancement of the county and commanded secure place in the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He remained on his old homestead farm until his death, at the age of 75 years, and here his venerable widow still resides, in the midst of the allowed memories and associations of the past. She is a devout communicant of the German Lutheran church, as was also her husband, and the latter was a Democrat in his political proclivities. Of their children, the first-born was Annie, who died in young womanhood; Lizzie is the wife of Jacob Stemmer, of Elkader; Martin is deceased; Mary is the wife of Adolph Elvers, of this county; and Herman, of this review, who is the owner of the old homestead, where his loved mother remains with him and is accorded the deepest filial solicitude. The district schools afforded to Herman Dittmer his early educational advantages and his long and effective association with the work and management of the home farm have made him doubly appreciative of its value and its manifold attractions. His landed estate now comprises four hundred and seventy acres of fertile land, in Section 30, Cox Creek township, and the residence, a substantial and commodious stone building, is one of the fine rural homes of the county. All improvements on the place are of the best order and the most approved of modern machinery, implements and other accessories are used in carrying forward operations in general agriculture and the raising of the best grades of live stock. Mr. Dittmer has served as trustee of his native township, is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and both he and his wife hold membership in the German Lutheran church, their attractive home receiving service on rural mail route No. 3 from the village of Strawberry Point. In 1894 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dittmar to Miss Clara Meder, who is a representative of one of the honored and influential families of Clayton county, adequate record of the family history being given on other pages, in the sketch of the career of her father, Henry Meder. Mr. and Mrs. Dittmer have three children, all of whom remain at the parental home — Arthur, Irene and Floyd.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Walter C. Dittmer, a native Iowa, was born in Elkader, Iowa, Feb. 14, 1890. His father was a well known citizen and an earnest and worthy endeavor to give to the world the best that was in him marked the course of his life. He was born on the 19th of January, 1858, in Hamburg, Germany, the son of Peter and Magdalena Dittmer. When a boy of three years he came with his parents to America and settled in Clayton county. After the family had lived several years near Communia, they purchased a farm in Cox Creek township, which is now owned by Herman Dittmer, with whom the aged mother makes her home. When a young man Martin Dittmer came to Elkader and engaged in the lumber business with his brother-in-law, Jacob Stemmer. About 1896 they disposed of this business and started in the implement business under the title of Stemmer & Dittmer. Later Mr. Dittmer bought his partner's interest and took into partnership Mr. Stallman, under the firm name of Dittmer & Stallman. In 1911 Walter Dittmer was taken into the firm and an automobile agency was added to the business, dealing in the Studebaker and Velie machines, and meeting with a splendid measure of success. On September lath, 1881, Martin Dittmer was united in matrimony with Katherine Dohrer of Clayton county, and they were the parents of three children: Walter, 26 years of age; Florence, who died when 5 years of age, and Roy, 16 years. Martin Dittmer took an active interest in the affairs of the community, and for seven years, from 1904 to 1911, was sheriff of Clayton county, in which capacity he served the people faithfully and conscientiously. He was a member of the school board at the time of his death, which occurred November 14, 1914. The funeral services were conducted by Elkader Lodge, No. 72, A, F. and A. M., of which he was an esteemed member. The Register & Argus, under date of November 19, 1914, said, "The great man of Elkader has fallen; the good man has been called from out of our midst. A shadow of gloom is cast not only on home and family but over our entire community. Not that death is unfamiliar to our minds, for every day death is exerting his solemn power upon the race of man, but there are instances where it is impressed more vividly on our minds and where it calls forth a prefounder sentiment of sorrow. This is true today when we stand with bowed heads and throbbing hearts beside the last earthly remains of a beloved husband, father, brother, son, relative, friend and citizen, Martin Dittmer." Walter Dittmer received his education in the grade and high schools of his native town, and in a commercial college of Decorah, Iowa, completing his course in that institution in 1911, when he returned to Elkader to join his father in the implement business, as noted above. He is independent in politics and a member of the Masonic order.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Gustav Dittmer, Jr., is a representative of well known pioneer families of Clayton county, where he was born, in Jefferson township, on the ist of February, 1879, and he now maintains his home in the progressive little city of Guttenberg, where he controls a prosperous business as a carpenter and builder. He is a son of Martin and Carolina (Aulwes) Dittmer, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Clayton county, where her parents established a home in the pioneer days and soon after their emigration from Germany. Martin Dittmer was a young man when he came to Clayton county, in 1850, and in Jefferson town-

90 t MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY ship he obtained a tract of land and developed one of the valuable farms of the county. He was one of the successful farmers and honored citizens of Jefferson township at the time of his death, on the 12th of May, 1914, and his venerable widow now maintains her home at Guttenberg. Martin Dittmar became well known for his musical ability, and as a cornet player he was identified with one of the excellent bands early organized in Clayton county. He gave his political support to the Republican party, was influential in community affairs in his township and was an earnest communicant of the Lutheran church, as is also his widow. Of their children the eldest two, Henry and William, now reside at Ireton, Sioux county; the subject of this sketch was the third child; and the youngest, Augusta, is the wife of John Rademacher, of Guttenberg. Gustav Dittmer, Jr., was reared to adult age on the home farm, made good use of the advantages afforded in the public schools and from 1902 until 1912 he had the active management of the home farm. He then removed to Guttenberg, where he purchased a good residence property, and where he has since given his attention vigorously and successfully to work at the carpenter's trade and where he has become one of the representative contractors and builders of this part of the county. He is now serving as assessor of Guttenberg, la., and is the incumbent also of the office of constable. His political allegiance is given unreservedly to the Republican party, and while still on the farm he served two terms as trustee of his native township. He is the owner of a well improved farm in Sioux county, Iowa. Both he and his wife are communicants and liberal supporters of the Lutheran church at Guttenberg. November 12, 1902, recorded the marriage of Mr. Dittmer to Miss Clara Fredelake, who was born and reared at Guttenberg, and whose parents, Henry and Salina (Voss) Fredelake, still maintain their home in this village, the father being in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. Mr. Fredelake was born in Germany and his wife in Clayton county, where her parents settled in the pioneer days. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Fredelake, brief record may consistently be entered at this juncture: Anna is the wife of William Dittman, of Ireton, Sioux county; Mary is the wife of Benjamin Aulwes, of Guttenberg; the wife of the subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth; George resides at Guttenberg and John at Madison, Wisconsin; Augusta is the wife of John Cassatt, of Guttenberg, in which village also reside Henry and Otto; Hilda is the wife of Albert Reed, of Gregory, Missouri; and Elsie remains at the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Dittmer have two children — Leslie John and Dorothy Caroline Marie.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.