Arthur F. Ottmann Biography


	This biography appears on pages 921-922 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ARTHUR F. OTTMANN. 

	Arthur F. Ottmann, the owner of the Oxnard Hotel at Edgemont, 
Fall River county, was born in Schleswig, Germany, on the 11th of 
April, 1881, a son of Charles J. and Amelia (Rousch) Ottmann. The 
father was born at Berlin, Germany, on the 16th of November, 1857, and 
was given an exceptionally thorough general education. He then 
completed a course in pharmacy and soon thereafter entered the German 
navy as an apothecary. Although his term of enlistment was for only two 
years' he remained in the service for three years, desiring to receive 
additional training. He was connected with the famous Fredrickort 
Hospital near Kiel for two years and there gained experience that was 
of great value to him in his profession. In 1888 he emigrated to the 
United States with his family and they made their way direct to Rapid 
City, South Dakota, where he was employed in a drug store for about a 
year. At the end of that time he opened a branch store for his employer 
at Hill City, which he purchased in 1891. The year 1894 witnessed his 
arrival at Edgemont, where he established a store, but continued 
business in Hill City as a branch store for about a year. In 1896 he 
left Edgemont and removed his stock to Lead, where he was in business 
until his death, which occurred on the 15th of January, 1912. The store 
which he established is now conducted by his son, Richard H., under the 
name of the Ottmann Drug Company. It is one of the best equipped and 
finest establishments of its kind in the state and has a wide 
reputation for the care that is taken to secure pure drugs and for the 
integrity of its business policy. Charles J. Ottmann also had extensive 
mining interests in the Black Hills and was financially independent. It 
was said of him that his kind deeds were almost as numerous as the 
waking hours of a long and busy life and that they were deeds done 
quietly and forgotten by him as soon as they had accomplished their 
purpose. He was not only one of the most successful business men of 
Lead, but his genial personality won him a host of loyal friends. He 
was married in Germany to Miss Amelia Rousch of Schleswig, who was 
throughout his most valued counselor and loving companion. They were 
the parents of four sons. Arthur F., of this review, is the oldest. 
Richard H. is conducting the drug store at Lead which his father 
established. Walter F., a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, is a traveling 
salesman for the Mulford Chemical Company and is also general sales 
manager for the Vegetone Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. Carl R., who 
resides with his mother at Lead, is the only one of the children born 
in America, his birthplace being Edgemont, South Dakota. He served as 
assessor of his native city and proved a capable official. The father 
was to very unusual degree an adviser and companion to his sons, their 
friends became his friends, and he trained them to conform their lives 
to high standards of morality. A short time before his death he became 
a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and passed away in that 
faith. 

	Arthur F. Ottmann attended school at Edgemont and Hill City and 
was a student in the Black Hills College at Hot Springs. When sixteen 
years of age he was employed as a clerk in a general store in Lead and 
held that position for eight years. At the end of that time he was made 
cashier and bookkeeper, having demonstrated not only his thorough 
reliability but his sound judgment and ability. Not long afterward he 
left Lead and went to Omaha, where he was for about three months 
employed in a men's furnishings store. He next obtained a position with 
the Bradstreet Commercial Agency and traveled in their interests for 
about a year. He then returned to Lead and entered the drug store 
belonging to his father and brother, which was conducted under the firm 
name of Ottmann & Sons. After about two years the firm started a branch 
store in Edgemont and Mr. Ottmann of this review assumed its 
management. Three years later he purchased the store, which he 
continued to conduct until December, 1914. About a year previously, 
however, he had bought the Oxnard Hotel at Edgemont, which is operated 
upon the European plan and to the conduct of which he now devotes his 
entire time. He understands thoroughly the needs of the traveling 
public and is always seeking to increase the comfort and convenience of 
his guests. The Oxnard Hotel is one of the best hostelries in the 
smaller towns of the state and receives a gratifying patronage. 

	Mr. Ottmann was married on the 26th of December, 1908, to Miss 
Blanch Gaughen, who was born in this state and is a daughter of R. T. 
Gaughen, a native of Ireland. For a number of years her father was 
engaged in the mercantile business but is now operating a large ranch 
near Nisland, South Dakota. He raises a great deal of stock annually 
and is one of the substantial residents of Lead, where he and his wife 
are living. Mr. and Mrs. Ottmann have a son, Arthur Rudolph, who was 
born on the 3d of March, 1911. 

	Mr. Ottmann is a democrat and is at present serving as assessor 
of Edgemont, discharging his duties with strict impartiality. His 
religious faith is indicated by the fact that he is a devout 
communicant of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally he is identified 
with the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. He is a worthy son of his 
father, who was one of the leading citizens of the Black Hills 
district, and the name of Ottmann is held in still higher esteem in 
Edgemont and its vicinity because of the life and accomplishments of 
Arthur F. Ottmann.