- HON. FRANCIS R. DITTMER, president of the First National Bank of Seymour, Wisconsin, postmaster of this city, and in 1887-88 a member of the Wisconsin State Legislature, has been so vitally connected with the progress and development of this place that he may be justly named as one of its most distinguished citizens. He was born February 26, 1848, at Friedeberg, Prussia, Germany, and is a son of Carl William and Ernestina (Krueger) Dittmer. The parents of Mr. Dittmer were natives of Germany and the father passed his life there, dying in middle age, the mother surviving until 1877, passing away at the home of a son, at Green Bay, Wisconsin, in her seventy-third year. The father was a freeholder and a carpenter and during life provided well for his family, but at death left but a small estate. Of the four children, Francis R. was the youngest in order of birth. Ludwig and William, the two eldest, reside at Green Bay, Wisconsin, while the only daughter, Augusta, died in Germany when aged thirty-three years. Francis R. Dittmer was eleven years old when his father died, but this domestic calamity did not prevent his securing an excellent education and before he began to learn a self-supporting trade he had passed creditably through the High school of his native place. He then went to Berlin, with the idea of becoming an engineer, but discontinued his efforts and was persuaded by his eldest brother to go into the boot and shoe business, with whom he learned the boot and shoemaking trade. When twenty years old he decided to accompany, and was the cause of bringing his brother William to America, and in 1868 they crossed the Atlantic ocean and landed at Quebec, Canada, and from there entered the United States. The older brother was pleased with the appearance of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and stopped there, but Francis pushed on to Milwaukee, where he secured his first work in the shoe factory of Bradley & Metcalf. He spent but a short time there, however, going then to Columbia county, and in the closing days of the year 1868 located at Green Bay. In spite of an excellent German education Mr. Dittmer already realized the hampering effect of an ignorance of the English language, and hence began to devote all his spare time to acquiring facility in its use. In the spring of 1869 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, but as the climate did not agree with him, one year later he went to Williamsville, Illinois, and from there back to Green Bay early in 1871. The fall of 1872 he came here for a short time and bought his first farm. In 1873 he came to Seymour and established himself in the boot and shoe business, in which he continued until 1881, when he turned his attention to real estate and insurance, being the pioneer in the insurance business here. He is now the representative of fifteen companies, the leading ones being: The Northwestern Mutual Life, the Wisconsin National Life and the Fidelity and Casualty Company of Baltimore, Maryland, and many other good companies. In 1902 Mr. Dittmer entered into the banking business, the First National Bank of Seymour being organized in December of that year, with a capital stock of $30,000, and began business in January, 1903, with J. H. Taylor, of Green Bay, as president, and William Larson, of the same city, as vice-president. The first board of directors was made up of the following capitalists: J. H. Taylor, William Larson and Samuel H. Cady, all of Green Bay; Jacob Freund, Peter Tubbs, Robert Kuehne and Francis R. Dittmer, of Seymour. In 1894 changes came about and Mr. Dittmer became president, Peter Tubbs vice-president, and Charles Freund cashier. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Larson as directors were succeeded by John Vecke and Fred Dorow. As a banker Mr. Dittmer enjoys the confidence of the public and in his able and careful management of the affairs of this financial institution he has but given another evidence of an unusual amount of business sagacity. Not only has Mr. Dittmer been an active agent in promoting the best business interests of Seymour, for his activities have been beneficial both to himself and his fellow citizens, but he has been a recognized leader in public affairs. His popularity has been shown in innumerable ways, his fellow citizens calling upon him to accept public responsibilities during a prolonged period, and the duties of official life have been performed with the same thoroughness and exactness that has marked his business transactions. His political convictions make him a Republican and he has filled every office in the gift of the people at Seymour. For a number of years he was supervisor of Outagamie county, was chairman of the board and served on all committees, at different times, and. during this time he applied his business methods to the curtailment of public expenditure. In two years he had brought about a saving of $2,600. For twenty-two years he has been a member of the school board at Seymour, and during his incumbency he has, mainly through his personal effort, secured the erection of the High school, at a cost of $25,000. In 1882 he was elected city clerk, and filled that office for twelve years, while for fifteen years he has been a justice of the peace, being the second justice elected at Seymour. In 1886 Mr. Dittmer was elected to the state legislature and served out his term with the greatest measure of usefulness. He was largely instrumental in having the Tramp law passed, which affects Outagamie and adjoining counties, and also secured beneficial legislation for Seymour, securing an amendment to the city charter making two additional wards and another justice of the peace. On November 15, 1897, he was appointed postmaster being the fifth incumbent of this office, his predecessors being Messrs. Dix, Mitchell, Le Mieux and Falck. When he took charge it was in the fourth class. After one year it was advanced to the third class, and when rural free delivery was inaugurated he applied to his Congressman for a route, the first one being started in 1902, and now five routes go out from this office. The volume of business has been increased one and one-half times. Mr. Dittmer is additionally interested, being secretary, treasurer and a director in the Security Guaranty and Loan Company of Seymour, which business enterprise was organized in 1903. Local improvements of a public character always claim his attention, and if his judgment approves, his liberal support. In 1884 the Seymour Fair and Driving Park was organized and he served two years as its president and seven years as its secretary. In 1871 Mr. Dittmer was married to Minnie Rost, a daughter of Carl Rost, and eight children were born to them. Francis, the eldest of the family, is manager of the Schlafer Hardware Company, of Appleton; Ella married Hans Hanson and they live at Green Bay; Edwin is a veteran of the Spanish-American War and participated also in the suppression of the Boxer uprising in China, and is now at San Francisco, California; Edith is the wife of Edward J. Falck of Seymour; Delia is the wife of Dr. J. F. Heintz of Green Bay; Roger resides at San Francisco; and Arthur and Alma are deceased, the former dying at the age of nine months and the latter when aged twelve years. The mother of the above family died January 21, 1889. On May 22, 1890, Mr. Dittmer was married (second) to Emily Vecke, a daughter of Rev. G. Vecke, and they have had three children, namely: Winfred Cyril Columbus, who is a student of law at Madison, Wisconsin; Beatrice, who died at the age of one year; and Cedric Kenneth, who is attending school at Seymour. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Dittmer was an acceptable school teacher and something of a social favorite. Mr. Dittmer is identified with the Royal Arcanum and with the different branches of Odd Fellowship at Seymour, and the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. By action of the circuit court, on November 14, 1878, Mr. Dittmer was made a citizen of the United States, having taken out his first naturalization papers in 1868.
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1848 - Yes, date unknown
Biography
