From "History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)
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WILLIAM C. OTTO
	William C. Otto has the distinction of having opened the first 
general merchandise store now in the thriving town of Republic.  Since
those early days he has been an active business man of the town, and is
today of excellent standing in the community.
	William C. Otto was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on November 21,
1862, being the son of Casper and Mary Otto, natives of Germany and 
immigrants to America in the fifties, when they settled in Michigan.  The 
mother died in 1863 and the father in 1892.  They were the parents of four
children, Fred, Annie McClellan, William C., and Frank.  The father was a 
prominent farmer, whose family had high and influential connections.  Our 
subject was educated in Ypsilanti, Detroit, and Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving
excellent training and being well fortified for the battles of life.  The
first four years after he stepped forth from the parential roof were spent
managing a hotel at Grand Forks, Dakota.  In 1888, he came to Washington
and opened a store at Moses Crossing, Douglas county, where he did business
for two years.  Later, he removed to Almira, Lincoln county, and in 1896
came on to Republic.  In the spring, in company with J.C. Keller, as 
stated above, he opened the first general merchandise store here.  He 
continued in this connection until 1899 when the partnership was dissolved.
Mr. Otto is now associated in the general merchandise business with Mr.
Lester Sly, who is named elsewhere in this volume.  The firm has continued
in business since and now hanldes a fine patronage.  There store is well
supplied with a large assortment of goods, and they are the leading merchants
in this part of the country.  Mr. Otto has collected property in addition
to his merchandise establishment, owning city, mining and farm land.
	In 1885, Mr. Otto married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mary
Stelzer, and a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.  To this union, one child, Mabel
was born, who is now being educated in Indianapolis, Indiana.  On December
29, 1887, at Grand Forks, North Dakota, Mr. Otto was called to mourn the
death of his wife.  On February 9, 1903, in Bayard, Iowa, Mr. Otto married
Mrs. Carrie Hafner, the widow of Walter Hafner and the daughter of J.T. and
Jane (Silcox) Perkins, natives of Massachusetts.  The parents removed from
the bay state to New York and in 1886 to Iowa, where they now live at a 
good old age.  The both have connections with prominent families of 
Revolutionary days.  Mrs. Otto's grandfather, Timothy Perkins, enlisted with 
the early patriots in February, 1776, being a volunteer from Massachusetts.
Mr. Otto is a liberal Democrat, and has held various offices since residing
in Republic, and fraternally, he is a member of the I.O.O.F., the K. of P., 
the M.W.A., and the Eagles.  Mrs. Otto is a member of the Rebekahs, of the
Methodist church, and of the Royal Neighbors.
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