August C. Witte Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1558-1559 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	AUGUST C. WITTE, president of the Witte Hardware Company, and one 
of Aberdeen's prominent citizens, was born in the city of Pein, Hanover, 
Germany, on July 6, 1857. His parents were August and Anna (Mueller) 
Witte, both natives of Germany, the former of whom died in 1875. The 
subject was educated in the public schools and in Hildesheim College, 
completing the three-years course in the latter and being graduated in 
1874. He then became an apprentice in a wholesale hardware store with 
the purpose of preparing himself for a commercial career. He spent four 
years in the above establishment, and then entered the German army as a 
one-year volunteer, being stationed in the city of Hanover. At the end 
of his term of one year he was commissioned a second lieutenant. In 
November, 1879, he arrived in America, and proceeding to Faribault, 
Minnesota, he entered a hardware store, where he was employed for one 
year. In 1880 he engaged in the same line of business in Faribault, 
associating himself as a partner with A. W. Mueller, under the firm name 
as Mueller & Witte. This firm continued in business at Faribault until 
1883, when they closed out, in order to give all their attention to 
their hardware business in Aberdeen which they had previously 
established in 1881. This co-partnership continued until the death of 
Mr. Mueller, in 1893, and from that time on until 1902 the subject 
carried on the business by himself. In the last named year the Witte 
Hardware Company was organized, the subject taking in his two stepsons 
as active partners. The company have one of the largest and best 
equipped hardware establishments in South Dakota, and do a large and 
increasing business. 

	Mr. Witte has been a Republican in politics since coming to 
America, and during his residence in Aberdeen has been active and 
prominent in public affairs. In 1885 he was elected to the board of 
aldermen, and, with the exception of two years, has continued a member 
of the board, being at the present time a member from the fourth ward. 
His worth as a faithful city official was recognized by the people in 
1902, when he was elected mayor of the city for a term of two years. His 
administration of the affairs of the office during the term was most 
satisfactory to all concerned. 

	Mr. Witte is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has 
attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and the honor of 
K. C. C. H., which was bestowed upon him by the supreme council; he is 
at the present time commander of Albert Pike Council, No. 4, Knights of 
Kadosh, in this division of the order. He is also a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he was grand patriarch of 
South Dakota in 1893, having represented the grand encampment of South 
Dakota in the sovereign grand lodge for two years. 

	On April 30, 1895, Mr. Witte married Mrs. Carole W. Mueller, widow 
of his late partner. Mrs. Witte, by her former marriage, became the 
mother of three children: Arthur L., Otto E. and Alma. The sons are 
members of the Witte Hardware Company.