Bio: Walters, Otta F. (History - 1845)

Contact: Janet Schwarze

Surnames: Walters Schoengarth

----Source: 1819 History of Clark and Jackson County, Wisconsin, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge, page 304

Otta F. Walters, another one of the thrifty farmers of Clark County, resides in section 33, Grant Township. He was born in Saxony, Germany, September 30, 1845, and came to Washington County, Wisconsin, with his parents when he was nine years old. His father had a family of six children, four sons and two daughter. The youngest child is deceased, and the parents also died, in Washington County. Mr. Walters' father was a very industrious man. After he came here he cleared eighty acres of land, and when he died he left a fin farm of 100 acres.

The subject of our sketch remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years old. December 23, 1872 he was united in marriage with Augusta Schoengarth, also a native of Germany. They have seven children, namely: Hulda, Albert, Ida, Melvina, Otta, Selma and Paulina. five of them are attending the public schools. Previous to his marriage in 1868, Mr. Walters bought his present farm, sixty-five acres of which he has cleared, there being 200 acres in all. At the time of purchase it was covered with heavy timber, and there were no roads near. He hat once went to work to clear the land and helped to build the roads, and soon the place began to assume a different appearance. Four years ago he built a nice barn with a basement under it. Like many of the pioneer settlers of this district, Mr. Walters spent much of his time in the lumber camps during the winter. In speaking of his early experience here, he says that the first cow he bought he was unable to pay for, so he borrowed the money of three different persons and made the payment. He is a member of the Town Board, is Assessor, and for several years has been District Clerk of Schools. He was elected to the latter office the first year after he came here, and has held it ever since. Mr. Walter's sold the first reaper that was sold in the county. He is now acting as agent for the Concordia Fire Insurance Company of Milwaukee.

Walters Schoenzarth