My Genealogy Hound

OTTO HILKE is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of very fine farm land in township 46, range 27, Johnson County, and has here made his home for the past fourteen years. The homestead is well improved, and on it stand a good orchard, fences and buildings. A reservoir on the place holds five thousand barrels of water, clear as crystal, and this Mr. Hilke intends to stock with fish. He has also been interested in many enterprises, and nearly everything which he has undertaken has turned out well.

The parents of our subject were Henry and Annie (Fraise) Hilke, both natives of Prussia, the former of whom died during the early ‘60s, aged about fifty-five years, and the latter about four years ago, when past threescore and ten years. They were Catholics in religious faith, and lived a quiet agricultural life. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are yet living. George is a grocer in St. Louis, Mo.; Gerhardt, a blacksmith by trade, is engaged in the dairy business in St. Louis; Christian, also of St. Louis, is engaged in the wholesale feed business; Annie is the wife of John Sack, who has lived in this county since before the war; Arnold is still living in Germany; and our subject completes the number of those living.

The birth of Otto Hilke occurred in Prussia, September 29, 1844. In company with his brother George, he sailed for the United States in 1859, and from New York City at once proceeded westward as far as St. Louis. He had a little money, but it became necessary for him to find employment at once. Going to West Point, Iowa, he worked for an uncle on a farm for some five years, receiving his board and clothes the first year; the second year he received $50 additional, and later had his salary gradually advanced. He was economical and saved most of his earnings. At length, returning to St. Louis, he learned the baker’s trade, but as it was not to his liking, he drove a team for two years. Next, going to St. Charles County, he chopped wood during one winter, after which he was employed by a peddler for two years. Going back to St. Louis, he and his brother Edward were in the grocery business for five years, the latter then buying out the other’s interest. For the following six years Otto and Christian Hilke were in business together, commanding an extensive trade in groceries, hay and general produce, but later their brother George succeeded to the business.

In 1881 Mr. Hilke embarked in farming in this county and has since persevered in this direction with marked success. Besides raising general crops of grain, hay, etc., he has realized large sums of money from raising and feeding stock for the markets. He has surrounded his family with many of the comforts and luxuries of life, and is now well-to-do.

In February, 1889, Mr. Hilke married Minnie (Roth) Lindeman, who was born in Germany, and who was brought to the United States by her father, Lucas Roth, in her childhood. He is now living in Franklin County, Mo., near Frisco Station. Mrs. Hilke was at the time of her marriage with our subject the widow of Herman Lindeman.

When Otto Hilke arrived in the United States he had no knowledge of English, and has been self-taught, both in reading and writing, in this language. The only office which he has ever held has been that of Clerk of the School Board. Politically he is an advocate of the principles set forth by the Democracy. He is a Catholic, and collected the money for the building of St. John’s Church after Sanford Rankin had donated the ground.