Morris Henry Otte

Morris Henry Otte was born December 15, 1909, in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. He is the son of Edward H. and Doris Schroeder Otte. While still in high school, he worked part time for Fred Otte and Sons, sometimes driving the mill truck and sometimes as a clerk in the grocery store. After graduation from high school he continued this work until he was appointed Ridgeville Corners Postmaster in March of 1933. He succeeded his father Edward Otte, who had served as Postmaster from April 13, 1914, until his death November 24, 1932. Morris served in this capacity besides managing the grocery store and operating his insurance agency.

On June 1, 1933, he married Martha C. Schwiebert who was born June 7, 1909, to Fred and Emma (Heiberg) Schwiebert. I, Martha, graduated from Marion Twp. High School in 1927 and attended Bowling Green College and Manchester College at North Manchester, Indiana. I taught for 4 years (1928-1932) in Monroe Twp. in one-room, 8 grade elementary schools. I did my own janitor work, sweeping the floors, washing blackboards, taking care of the heating stove and shoveling snow. For this work I received $800. a year. The year before our marriage I taught 4th grade in the Holgate Schools and worked 9 months instead of 8. There the salary was a little over $900. a year and of course I didn't have to do my own janitor work.

The Morris H. Otte Family. Standing: Ann, Victor, Sue; seated: Martha C., Morris.

After our marriage we lived with Morris' mother for about four years and in October, 1937, moved into our new home on First Street. By this time we had a son, Victor Arthur Otte who was born April 26, 1937. Ann Christine was born February 8, 1940, and Sue Kathryn was born January 10, 1948. We attend Zion Lutheran Church and all three children were baptized and confirmed there. The children attended Ridgeville Local School for 12 years.

For our summer vacations we took trips to various parts of the U.S. and Canada. We also spent time at our cottage at Lake Wilson, Michigan, fishing, swimming and skiing.

Vic and Ann attended and graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Sue attended there for one year and then decided to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. After working as a nurse, and a secretary for a while she decided to go to

Bowling Green State University and get her Bachelor's degree in home economics. She is now teaching home economics in the Archbold High School. On July 6, 1974, she married Del Thatcher who is teaching 6th grade in the same school system. He is also an associate realtor with Stuckey Real Estate and Auctions. They live in Archbold. Del is very active in the state and local Jaycee organizations and Sue, in home economics related organizations. They both enjoy playing golf, tennis, and traveling to the various historical sights throughout the state.

Ann's field of study is physical education and after teaching in Walther Lutheran High in Chicago and in the Norwalk School System in California, she moved to Portland, Oregon, and has been teaching in the Portland Schools for about 10 years. She received her M.A. degree from Long Beach State Univ. in California. She lives on a houseboat on the Columbia River. Her activities include sailing, fishing, camping, woodworking, painting, and skiing.

Vic's field is physics. After graduating from Valparaiso Univ., he taught for one year in the Ridgeville Local School while the science teacher was on leave. Then he went to Ohio State Univ. for his M.A. He worked for a while for Mandril Industries in Houston, Texas. While there he started working on his Ph.D. which he received at Rice University in Houston. He is now working as a medical physicist with a cancer research team at Texas A&M Univ. in College Station, Texas. Here they treat cancer patients, brought in from M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston, by using A&M's Cyclotron to treat the patients with fast neutrons. Vic's outside interests are jogging, playing handball, and natural foods. He stone grinds his own whole wheat flour and cornmeal, bakes his own bread and makes peanut butter.

I, Martha, was called back to teaching in 1954 when there was a shortage of teachers and continued teaching in the lower grades, mostly first, until May of 1973, when I retired after a total of 24 years of teaching.

Morris continued in his 3 jobs until the post office became third class and he could no longer manage the grocery store. The stock was sold and the post office was relocated in the front part of the store. After more than 42 years as Postmaster, he retired on March 28, 1975.

Now that we are both retired we plan to pursue our hobbies of traveling, fishing, and whatever else we get interested in. I like to sew, crochet and knit and am active in Zion,Ladies Aid, L.W.M.L., the Heller Memorial Auxiliary, and the H.O.M.E. Society. Morris has various interests and is a member of Zion Men's Club. We are both members of the Henry County and Ohio Historical Societies.

Submitted by Martha C Schwiebert Otte

Update on Morris H. Otte family, Henry County, Ohio, Volume 3, page 62

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