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Jo Daviess County Illinois Biographies
 John George Dittmar, a prominent and very successful farmer of Derinda Township, Jo Daviess County, comes of sturdy German ancestry, and was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Dec. 6, 1836 and in his native place received a good education. There his life was passed until his eighteenth year, when his father determined to try his fortunes in the New World. The family left their native village on Sept. 15, 1854, and after more than two mouths spent in travel arrived in New York Nov. 23. followiug. George Dittmar, father of our subject, was born Oct. 18, 1799, and his mother, Margaret (Grebner) Dittmar, June 24, 1810. both in Bavaria. Her parents were deceased before she left her native home. This couple were the parents of five children, of whom three now survive. Albert was married to Annie Preager, a native of Prussia, who died, leaving four children, one of whom is since deceased. His present wife is Alary Wuster, a native of this township, and is also the mother of four children, of whom three are living. They own a fine farm in this township. Adam married Emma Preager, also a native of Prussia, who is now deceased. His present wife is Louisa Preager. Adam owns a farm in Derinda Township, which he has rented, he being in Chicago, where for twenty years he has been a member of the police force. Adam is the author of the following lines, entitled: Derinda, the home of my childhood, Near the banks of the Father of Streams, In the hills of old Jo Daviess County, I'm often with thee in my dreams. No tourist will seek thee for pleasure.
But dear to my heart are thy prairies.
How often at night when I'm lonely.
I see thy prairies bedecked with wild (lowers,
O how glad when the harvest is over.
When the swallow, the thrush and the starling
Thou school-house on the banks of the streamlet.
Derinda, I'll never forget you,
On arriving in this country, the Dittmars staid
but a few days in New York, thence going to Detroit.
Mich., where for six weeks they staid with the
uncle of our subject. From Detroit they moved
to Galena, Ill., arriving in the latter place Jan. 18,
1855. A farm of eighty acres was soon purchased
in Derinda Township, on which some improvements
had been made, and on which was a small log cabin
covered with clapboards, its foor made of oak
plank twelve inches wide, and its door secured by
a latch and string. Here the elder Dittmar began
life in the new country, in the hope of making for
himself a home and a competence for old age, and
this hope was not disappointed, as he became moderately well off before his death.
He died June 10, 1885. his wife having preceded him to the grave
more than a score of years, dying March 12, 1864.
The subject of this sketch was eighteen years of
age when he came to America. In his native land
he had acquired a fair education, and his efforts
were for years after coming here directed to help
his father sevure a family homestead. At that time
this part of the State was thinly settled; neighbors
were few audfar between, and markets distant, but
stout hearts and willing hands, as we have seen,
carried the day.
Our subject has been three times married, his
first wife being Miss Dorothy Thain, a native of
Bavaria, who came to this country with her parents
when small. By this union there were five children, of whom four survive and are living with
their father. They are:
William Adam, born Feb.27, 1869;
Fridolin A., born March 16, 1871;
Rudolph Otto, born June 20, 1873, and
George F., born Oct. 18, 1875.
Mr. Dittinar's second wife was Miss Lizzie Baur, of Scales Mouud, Jo Daviess County, who died, leaving two children, who
are living with their father, and are named Caroline Louisa, born Feb. 22, 1880, and Louis Edward,
born May 10.1882. The present wife of Mr. Dittmar was Miss Elizabeth Bartenstein, a native of Bavaria, and born Aug. 4.1845. who came to America
in 1882. and. fuming direct to Illinois, settled in
Savanna, in Carroll County. There are no children by this marriage, which was celebrated July 9, 1884.
When the subject of this sketch came to this
country, he determined that before long he would
own a home of his own. How faithfully this determination has been carried out, his prosperous
circumstances show. A man of exceedingly good
judgment, always energetic, enterprising and practical, he has been more than ordinarily successful.
He is now the owner of his father's homestead of
120 acres, to which, by his own exertion, he has
added 160 acres more, giving him now one of
the best farms in this locality, and making him a
man of mark in the community. His farm shows
the results of careful cultivation, and is thoroughly
well-improved, with commodious buildings for
every purpose. Our subject, John George Dittmar. removed with his father's family, Feb. 17,
1855. to the old homestead, which he now owns.
Mr. Dittmar is. in politics, a strong Republican,
and has always voted the ticket of that party since
his first vote, which was cast for Abraham Lincoln.
He has held several township offices; has been Assessor for three years. School Director for nine
years, and Constable for four years, and in every
position which he has been called upon to fill has
discharged bis duties with a fidelity equally creditable to himself and gratifying to the neighbors who
elected him. He and his wife are both members of
the Lutheran Church.
Contributed by Christine Walters -
Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)
 
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