Benjamin S. Witter is
another of the native- sons of the Hawkeye State who
is contributing materially to the advancement of the
agricultural interests of Clayton county, where his
well improved farm of one hundred and nine acres is
eligibly situated in Giard township, with mail
service on one of the rural delivery routes emanating
from McGregor. He is a progressive farmer and
substantial citizen of the county and properly finds
representation in this history.
Mr. Witter was born in
Dubuque county, this state, on the 27th of August,
1861, and is a son of Simon and Annie (Myer) Witter,
the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter
in the State of Pennsylvania. Simon Witter was reared
and educated in his native land, where also he
learned the trade of blacksmith. As a young man he
emigrated to America and became one of the pioneer
settlers of Dubuque county, Iowa, where he engaged in
the work of his trade and where he finally turned his
attention to agricultural pursuits, in connection
with which he achieved independence and substantial
prosperity. He is now one of the venerable pioneer
citizens of that county; is a staunch Republican in
his political adherency and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his devoted
wife, whose death occurred a few years ago. Of their
children the subject of this review is the eldest;
Louis and Carrie died young; and Peter and Henry are
still residents of Dubuque county.
Benjamin S. Witter is
indebted to the public schools of his native county
for his early educational training, and there, after
leaving the home place, he was employed for seven
years as a farm hand. In the meanwhile he carefully
conserved his earnings and about the year 1890 he
came to Clayton county and purchased a farm in Mendon
township. There he continued his activities as an
industrious and successful agriculturist and stock
grower until 1911, when he sold the property and
purchased his present excellent farm, in Giard
township, where he has not failed to uphold his
reputation as a vigorous and resourceful exponent ot
the basic industries of agriculture and stock
growing, through the medium of which he achieved
substantial and worthy success. Though not imbued
with any ambition for public office he is loyal to
all civic duties and responsibilities and is
unwavering in his support of the cause of the
Republican party. Both he and his wife are zealous
members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Giard.
October 27th, 1889, recorded
the marriage of Mr. Witter to Miss Annie Ollett, who
likewise is a native of Iowa and who is a daughter of
Herman and Annie (Thomas) Ollett, her parents having
come from Germany to the United States when young
folk and having first resided at Colesburg, Delaware
county, after establishing their home in Iowa. From
that county they came to Clayton county, where Mr.
Ollett became a prosperous farmer and where he and
his wife passed the remainder of their lives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Witter five
children have been born, four of whom remain members
of the home circle, as follows: Lucile, Amanda,
Deborah and Herman. Emma died in early childhood.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 450-451
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
