The
centennial year and month of American independence witnessed the birth,
in Iowa City, of the subject of this sketch,. It was fourteen days
subsequent to the national anniversary however, that the hearts of Max
Otto and Katherine McInnery were gladdened by the arrival of their
first son, Ralph, who was the fourth child of the family, three
daughters, Agnes, Clementine, and Mary, having preceded him. Later, the
stork made three visits to the household bearing Joseph, Lucia and
Helen. These seven children had a worthy father and mother in Max and
Katherine Otto, a happy union of German and Irish blood which, under
the favorable conditions existent in the American great west, is
productive of progressive progeny.
Max Otto was a native of
Germany, and saw the light of day on Christmas, 1842, near Dusseldorf.
Katherine McInnery, his wife, was born in Ireland, August 13,
1843, and came to Iowa in 1854. The former received a liberal
education in Dusseldorf, and when twenty four years of age, came to
America, reaching Iowa City in the latter part of 1866, where he at
once entered upon active work as a school teacher in the building in
the northern part of the city, which afterwards was known as the
Convent School, corner of Brown and Johnson streets.
Five years
later he began business as a dealer in musical instruments and taught
music in connection therewith. His classical German education had
fitted him for the work of instruction, and coupled with this he
possessed the most delicate and discriminative natural | 
| taste, the whole combining to make him one of the most competent and
popular instructors of the west. Throughout his life, though in after
years active in other lines, his love and taste for music were
preserved. Perceiving the necessity for a German newspaper in this
section of Iowa, in 1881 he established the Iowa City Post, which he
conducted with ability until his death, twelve years later.
Mr.
Otto was called to the responsibilities of public office in the spring
of 1882, when he was elected city clerk, an office to which he was
re-elected in 1883, '84, '85, and '86, making a consecutive term of
office longer than that of any previous incumbent. In 1887 he was
elected to the office of clerk of the district court of Johnson county,
being re-elected to second and third terms without opposition, and
receiving the nomination of his party by acclamation. In addition to
discharging the duties of the two offices above mentioned, Mr. Otto
served as a member of the Iowa City school board.
His marriage
to Miss McInnery took place April 4, 1869. She was a school
teacher in Iowa City for six years, doing her work in a two-story brick
building, which on being burned in 1869, was replaced by a new brick ,
and the school work continued therein by Mrs. Otto until 1871. |  |
Max Otto died
March 14, 1893, and the Johnson County Bar Association adopted very
complimentary resolutions, reciting his sterling character and
invaluable public services as clerk of the district court. Mrs. Otto
is still living.
Ralph
Otto is a graduate of the Iowa City high school and of the Department
of Liberal Arts, S.U.I., 1898, and the Department of Law, 1900.
The year of his graduation he was admitted to the bar and began
the practice of law in his native city, continuing without interruption
until the present time. That he is a worthy son of a worthy sire
is proven by the fact that he was chosen as mayor of Iowa City and
filled that office and professor of law at his alma mater. His
legal practice is very large, and his property holdings in the city and
county are extensive.
His marriage to Miss Alma Moffitt, of Iowa
City, took place July 29, 1903. The bride was born in this city
November 9, 1878, her parents being of English descent. One
daughter, Gretchen, four years of age, brightens the home at 415 East
Brown street.
Joseph M. Otto, the second son, brother of Ralph,
was born at Iowa City, September 29, 1878. He graduated from the
Iowa City high school in 1894 and from the Department of Liberal Arts,
S.U.I. in the class of o1898. He served as deputy clerk of the
district court until 1901, when he became deputy county auditor,
serving for about one year. Thereafter he became assistant
cashier of the Citizens Savings & Trust Company, holding this
position until 1908. He was admitted to the bar in 1906, and has
been an active practitioner ever since. He is a member of
B.P.O.E. and Knights of Columbus.
Of the five daughters of Max
Otto, Agnes is supervisor of drawing in the Iowa City public schools
and Lucia is a teacher in the high school.
The student of
biography cannot fail of being impressed by the rise and progress of
this family in America. The situation is one fraught with
compliment alike to the talented and energetic German father and his no
less talented and vigorous Irish wife and to the gifted children who
have brought honor and further distinction to the name of Otto; but it
is also a significant commentary on the great country of liberty,
where the social, educational, and economic conditions make such
successes possible. "A Lesson in American Family Development" might
fittingly be the title of this brief story of Max Otto and his
descendants.
(Source: Leading Events in Johnson County, IA, Cedar Rapids, Western Historical Press 1912-13; pgs. 145 - 148)
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