wollwebero
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
OTTO WOLLWEBER, who resides about
eight miles north from Reardan, is one of the progressive and well known
men of central Washington, and is a man of broad experience in various
lines. He has been a close student all his life and is now, in addition
to handling his estate, carrying on various lines of enterprise.
For eight years and more he has kept a correct weather report and for four
years has been a regular government reporter of the weather bureau.
He is also a regular appointed crop reporter and in addition to this, is
deeply interested in searching out early historical records.
Otto Wollweber was born in Weimar, Germany,
in September, 1858, being the son of Franz and Caroline Wollweber.
The father was born in the some place as our subject and is still living
in Germany. During his life, he gave his attention to the business
of brewing and farming. The Wollwebers came from a very old and prominent
family traced back to about 1300. The mother of our subject died
sometime since. Otto was kept in school until fourteen years of age
at which time he was apprenticed to learn the locksmith trade. In
two years, he became very proficient in this, then followed the same for
two years more in Liepsic and afterward in Bavaria where he was also
occupied in the manufacture of scientific instruments. After this,
we find him in Vienna steadily pursuing his trade but on account of failing
eyesight he was forced to give it up and repair to the mountains for leisure
and recuperation. He crossed the Alps, visited Italy and returned
to south Germany through Tyrol. After his vacation, he started in
Bavaria again working on scientific instruments. About that time
he was conscripted but on account of failing eyesight was discharged.
After this, he was appointed agricultural inspector on a large estate at
Posen, Germany, and four years later, came to Muscatine, Iowa. Afterward,
for a time he was occupied on a farm in Illinois, then came to Montana
where he labored both on a farm and in the mines. After this, a year
was spent in the Butte smelter and in 1885, he came on to Lincoln county
and homesteaded a quarter section where he now resides. Except one
year and in addition to doing general farming has experimented largely
in various grasses and also in sugar beets, finding which is adapted to
this climate. He raised sugar beets here in 1886, being the first
produced in the territory.
On October 22, 1889, Mr. Wollweber married
Miss Agnes Golland, a native of Michigan, and to them three children have
been born, Gottfried, Henry and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Wollweber belong
to the Lutheran church and are highly respected people.
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