Biographical Sketch of Otto Hilke, Johnson County, Missouri,
Columbus Township.

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.
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Otto Hilke, substantial retired farmer of Holden, Missouri, had very
little of this world's goods when he left Germany fifty-eight years ago
to seek a home and fortune in this land of opportunity.  His worldly
possessions were but a few cents and he owed his passage money, but he
was endowed with a good mind, strong body, and a willingness to work
hard in order that he might realize his ambitions.  Opportunities were
here in this new country in plenty and he would be unhampered with the
governmental and cast restrictions which prevail in his native land to
this day.  Here, Otto Hilke found that one man is as good as another,
that the only standard of measurement by which the worth of citizens is
gauged includes ability to do things, honesty, integrity, and individ-
ual worth.  He found a way to surmount the difficulties, which beset a 
poor man's way and, during the thirty-six years which he has spent in
Johnson county, he has accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods
to keep him and his in comfort for the remainder of their days.  Otto
Hilke was born in Germany September 29, 1844.  He imigrated to America
in 1859 and located in Iowa and, in 1864, in St. Louis where he was 
employed as laborer and resided on Broadway and Fifth Avenue.  When he
came to Johnson county in 1881, he purchased 120 acres of land in Col-
umbus township, later added ninety-eight acres to his holdings, and
engaged extensively in stock raising.  Mr. Hilke's theory of successful
farming on Johnson county land, followed by the most successful agri-
culturists of the county, calls for less plowing and more live stock, a
method of farming which restores worn out land to a better condition of
fertility and conserves the soil to a greater degree than intensive
cultivation.  During Mr. Hilke's career in this county he has accumula-
ted considerable property and is owner of the old Cockrell farm, where
on Senator Cockrell was born.  For a number of years Mr. Hilke special-
ized in the raising of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and was very
successful in this important branch of animal husbandry.  For some 
time, he also bred Shorthorn cattle.  Mr. Hilke concluded to retire 
from the active labors of the farm in 1911 by reason of advancing age
and he moved to a comfortable home in Holden.  Otto Hilke was married
in 1891 to Wilhelmina Roth, of Franklin county, Missouri, who was born
near Versailes, Missouri.  Mrs. Hilke resided in St. Louis at the time
of her marriage.  Mr. and Mrs. Hilke have two children: Matthias, who 
resides on the home farm and is a successful farmer; and John, who 
resides on the old Cockrell farm, which was purchased by his father.
Mr. Hilke is a Democrat in his political belief.  He always took an
active and influential part in local civic affairs in Columbus town-
ship, and has served as school director and road commissioner.  He was
the most influential factor in the building of the Blackwater or St.
John the Baptist Catholic church, a mission of the Holden Catholic
church, with which Mr. Hilke is now affiliated.  Mr. Hilke is highly
respected in his home community and is one of the useful and valued
citizens of Johnson county.

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