SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Gerhard Otten, Page 408

GERHARD OTTEN, an early settler and active business man of Sheboygan, was born in New York City, February 11, 1845, and is a son of Henry and Rebecca M. C. (Dieckmann) Otten.  (See sketch of parents elsewhere in this work).

    Mr. Otten came to Sheboygan, with his parents, in January, 1852, and his education was acquired in the common schools.  He enlisted in the late war in February of 1862, as a private of Company K, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, and served until the close of the war.  He took part in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, the battles of Mobile, Salina, Little Rock and others, serving for some time on detached service in the Western department.  He was mustered out at Brownsville, Tex., in September, 1865, and returned to his home in Sheboygan.

    On his return from the war, Mr. Otten was engaged in clerking for a time in a dry-goods house, going from there to Newton, Iowa, where he was engaged in merchandising for a period of nine years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Sheboygan, and has since been engaged in the real estate business.  At this writing he is erecting for himself a fine brick block at the northwest corner of Eighth and Niagara Streets.  The ground floor is 25 x 100 feet, the height of the building being three stories above the basement.  The first story will be used for merchandising, the second for offices, and the third for a hall.  This is one of the most favorably located business corners in the city, and this adds to the value of the property.  In addition to the above-described premises, Mr. Otten has a number of city lots and other property.

    On the 25th of July, 1871, Mr. Otten was married in Sheboygan to Miss Louisa Kent.  Mrs. Otten was born in Sheboygan, and is a daughter of Alban and Walburga Kent, of whom see sketch.  Mr. and Mrs. Otten have two sons, Edward Henry and Elmer Gerhard.

    The family are members of the Catholic Church.  In politics, Mr. Otten is a Republican, but has never been ambitious for official distinction, his tastes and desires being more in the line of legitimate business.  He has been quite successful in his business, as well as in winning a place of assured respect and confidence among his fellow citizens.