----Source: Clark County Republican & Press (Neillsville, Wis.) 11/03/1921

Plathner, Otto (30 JUL 1845 - 28 OCT 1921)

On the evening of Oct. 28, 1921, there passed away quietly at the home of his nephew, Albert Degener, in chili, Clark County, Wis., a man well known for about 13 years for his good character, citizenship, loyalty to all good causes in and around Spencer, Otto Plathner.

He was born in Wagenfield, Province Hanover, Germany, the 30th day of July, 1845, brought up in the Christian faith by his father, who was a minister of the gospel. He clerked in furnishing stores in Hamburg and other places in Germany until the fall of 1871, when he came to this country, found work in dry good stores in New York and then, following the trend of the time, came west to Wisconsin, working in the store business in Sheboygan, Chilton and other places, coming to Spencer, Wis. in 1877 or 1878, where he worked for the Walter Brewing Co. Next he clerked in the store of John Gardner, the old time mill man. From 1883 to 1884 he was in company with Will Hartman. After that time he established himself in the feed commission business for a good many years. His store burned down once; in 1892 he built a store of his own, where he stayed until 1919, when he sold out to Grant Heath. He was postmaster from 1893 - 1897 under President Cleveland’s administration, and was a justice of the peace for many years. His interest in public affairs always was very strong and definite, sometimes causing the enmity of his fellow citizens. He left Spencer and came to Chili to live with his relatives, Albert Degener and Emil Bosselmann. For a short time he worked for Chas. Hall of the town of Sherman, where he almost lost his life when he fell down a hay chute. He also was for a short time in Fall Creek. In the summer of this year he commenced to fail, the heat being too much for him. In spite of medical treatment he became weaker until he could not take care of himself anymore, and after much suffering he passed away, as a child goes to sleep at nigh. He was a lifelong strong adherent of the Lutheran faith, always wishing the best and praying for the best for the country of his adoption. Nobody ever doubted the sincerity of his convictions. The unusually large attendance at his funeral gives a testimonial of the esteem of his old and new neighbors and friends. Up to late years he always entertained at wedding and other occasion with poetry and prose.

His age at the time of his death was 76 years, 2 months and 28 days.