1890 Buchanan and Delaware Counties History pgs. 245-246

EARNEST DITTMER, farmer and stock raiser, of Delaware county, with his post-office at Colesburg, Iowa, was born in Hamburg, Germany, May 1, 1831, and is a son of John and Mary (Bennett) Dittmer, both natives of
Germany, the former born in 1796 and the latter in 1800, and both immigrants to the United States in 1851, and both dying in Clayton county, Iowa, the father in 1873 and the mother in 1870.

Earnest Dittmer is the eldest of a family of four children, the three younger ones being-Henry, who is now deceased; Gustave, a resident of Clayton county, Iowa, and Martin, residing in the same county. Earnest Dittmer carne to the United States in 1849, making the voyage in a Boston sailing vessel called the Newton, which took thirty-five days to cross the ocean. He first located in Fayette county, Pa., where, for a few months, he worked at his trade of cooper, and in 1850 came to Iowa and worked at his trade, and also farmed in Clayton county until 1866, when he removed to Delaware county, where he has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. His homeplace comprises one hundred and sixty acres, which he has highly improved, and which gives in its every aspect evidence of thrift and skill on the part of its owner.

Since his  residence here, Mr. Dittmer has become quite popular with his fellow-citizens, and has served them as justice of the   peace   four   years,   and   as   school director for several terms.    His first marriage took place April 19, 1852, to Miss Ann   Mary  Reddingshafer, a  native  of Germany, and to this  union  were born twelve children, in the following order- John George,  October  16, 1853, now a farmer in Colony township, about one-half  mile   west of   Colesburg;   George Martin, born October 2, 1855, and also a farmer in Colony township; Henry Aaron, born March 5, 1858, is the leading physician of Manchester, Iowa; Mary D., born June 5, 1860, is the wife of Dr. I. P. Van Berg, of the town of Albert Lea, Minn.; Martin E.,  born   August  9,   1862,   is  a prominent medical practitioner at Sioux Falls, Dak.;  Charles  L.,   born  May  30, 1864, is a pharmacist;
Edward B., born December   31,  1866,  resides   under   the parental roof; Earnest G., born February 7, 1869, is attending school at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Benjamin F., born September 24, 1872, died September 10, 1873, and three other children died in infancy unnamed.

Mrs. Dittmer went to her long rest in January, 1877, tranquilly and serenely, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. The second marriage of Mr. Dittmer was in August, 1882, to Mrs. Keziah Moyer, a native of Centre county, Pa., and a daughter of John McKisson.

Mr. Dittmer has led a moral and upright life, as well as an industrious one, and has won the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, he and his family to-day holding an enviable position, socially, in their various communities.

 

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