Theodore Guittar, United States Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 20, 1842. He attended the common schools of that city until twelve years of age, when, in 1855, his parents removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and consequently Mr. Guittar is one of the early settlers of this place. He is of French descent, his ancestors having come from that country to Canada, settling near Quebec. His grandfather, Vansaw Guittar, was born in France, but subsequently came to Canada and engaged in farming. He was married in the latter country, and soon afterward removed to St. Louis, where all his children, four sons and one daughter, were born. One son, Francis, the father of our subject, when twelve years of age engaged on a boat for the American Fur Company a short time, and afterward became an agent for the same company, remaining in their employ until 1840. In that year he engaged in the same business on his own account as an Indian trader. In 1852 he opened a store of general merchandise at Council Bluffs, continuing the same until 1878, when he retired, and still resides in Council Bluffs at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. He was in this city as early as 1825, when it was an Indian camping ground; it afterwards became an Indian trading post. He traveled from St. Louis to the mouth of the Yellowstone in keel-boats. Mr. Guittar was married in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1841, to Miss Eugenia Bono, who was born July 8, 1824, and is still living. They have three sons: Theodore, Francis, Jr. and Frederick. Francis and Frederick are engaged in farming, and reside in St. Louis County, Missouri, near St. Louis.

Theodore, our subject, attended school and also clerked in his father's store until August 11, 1862, when he enlisted in the Second Iowa Battery, Light Artillery; thought not twenty years old and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, Nashville, Tennessee; Tupelo, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and was in both battle and siege of Raymond, Hurricane Creek, Old Town Creek, Oxford, Black River Bridge, and others.

At the close of the war Mr. Guittar returned to Council Bluffs, and remained as clerk in his father's store until 1870. He then purchased a farm two miles east of this city, where he engaged in farming and fruit raising. He remained on this farm five years, and then settled in Council Bluffs.

In January, 1875, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, served two years, and was then elected Constable of this city. He held this office one term, and was re-elected; but after serving half of his second term, was elected County Sheriff in 1881, and re-elected in 1883. At the expiration of his second term, in January, 1886, he engaged in the real estate business, purchasing and renting houses of his own. April 1, 1890, he was appointed by Lewis Weinstine, Deputy Collector for the Fourth District of Iowa.

December 20, 1869, Mr. Guittar was united in marriage, in this city, to Miss Elizabeth Beecraft, a native of England, and the daughter of Henry Beecraft, who resides in Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Guittar have one daughter, Eugenia I., born December 17, 1873.

Mrs. Guittar is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Guittar is a member of the I.O.O.F., Council Bluffs Lodge, No. 49, and also of Abe Lincoln Post, No. 29, of Iowa, and is a Republican politically. He is one of our representative citizen and business men, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him.