Bio: Lemke, Otto C. (1870 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lemke, Giese, Underwood, Nickel

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Lemke, Otto C. (1 October 1870 –19??)

OTTO C. LEMKE, president and treasurer of the Underwood Veneer Company, manufacturers of veneers and panels at Wausau, Wis., has been identified with this important business enterprise for some eleven years, first as bookkeeper and afterward assuming his present responsibilities. Mr. Lemke was born on a farm in the town of Berlin, Marathon County, October 1, 1870, and is a son of Fred and Ernestine (Giese) Lemke. They were born in Germany and came to Marathon County in 1868. The father died on his farm in 1900, but the mother survives.  

Otto .C. Lemke spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the country school; afterward took a commercial course in a business college, and attended state normal school, following which he taught school for a number of years. In 1895 he came to Wausau where he was engaged in clerical work for a time, and then bought a part interest in a country saw mill in the town of Hamburg, Marathon county, which he operated for a number of years, and when he retired to become bookkeeper for the Underwood Veneer Company returned to Wausau, but for some time afterward still was interested to some degree in his former business. As time went on his responsibilities in the Underwood Veneer Company increased and he became assistant secretary, treasurer and manager, subsequently becoming head of the business. The officers are: O. C. Lemke, president, treasurer and general manager; S. W. Underwood, vice president; A. W. Underwood, secretary. The products of the company are veneers and panels, birch, basswood, oak, ash, elm, maple and mahogany woods being utilized. Shipments are made to all the states and Canada and the North America and British Islands.

Mr. Lemke married Miss Bertha Nickel, of the town of Maine, Marathon County, and they have three children; Helen, Alvera and Margaret. As a citizen Mr. Lemke is very active. He was one of the organizers of the Wausau Commercial Club and became its first president, but finding his private business making constant demands on his time and attention, resigned that office although his interest in the organization continues. He is known as a man of business ability and equally so of business integrity.