Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-29

my funeral service broke bright ane
clear and as there were q great man3
soldiers funerals in those days, tht
people came to mine In great numbers
from all over the country and by the
time the minister had arrived gooc
crowd gathered at my home. The min
lister was Rev. Nose Downing OF be-
tween Bloomfield and Floris and livine
at that distance could not be Informed
of my apparent resurrection. Well the
upshot of it all was thank service In
stead of funeral, for was there II
the flesh, a little the worse for looks
and possibly some lighter in weight
but there nevertheless"
As support to his claim OF being
the oldest living native child. Mr.. Kit
terman has the following family his
tory to. back his statement and tax
ing some pride in the claim, has made
an effort to locate another az old as he
who was born in Wapello countys but
has failed in the attempt.
Born in smithina Shop.
George Washington Kitterman is
the younger son Of Elias and Lydia
Kitterman. His father was native OF
Virginia and his mother hailed from
Kentucky. His parents with his two
sisters and one brother came to Iowa
from Indiana. They crossed the line OF
Jefferson into Wapello county, April i.
1S43 at midnight. The elder Kitterman
was a blacksmith by trade and like
many another Of the hardy pioneers he
live. With. his smithing tools he erect
ed a pole shanty In the town OF
Dahlonega which was to be the birth
place OF the subject of this sketch, for
on November 5 Of that year, George
Washington Kitterman was born.
In brakes Command.
The family later moved to farm
east OF the town. in Dahlonega town
was spent there. He was still living on
the farm when on January /, 1854, he
enlisted in the 36th Iowa Infantry and
left for the war. He served in the bat
ties Of Elkin's Ford, Prairie de Ann,
Marks Mills and other engagements
and served under the command Of Gen.
f. M. Drake, later the governor Of
Iowa. He is an enthusiastic member Of
Cloutman Post No. 50. G. A. r. and an
ardent republican in politics.
Welded in 1866.
After returning home he again re-
sumed his duties about the home place
and August 20, 1866, he was welded to
Barbara King, the daughter Of Enos
SduQ DdTUdId w yuldA 1AAhSS A0SANOS Va
Pennsylvania Her father was a
Methodist minister and both parents
were German. For time George Kit.
terman served the country as justice
of the peace in Highland township and
was member of the school board and
its treasurer In the same township for
nine years. For the past twenty seven
years he has lived In Ottumwa and the
family home is located at 1929 North
Van Buren, avenue. Mr.. Kitterman Is
q stationary engineer by trade and for
fourteen years followed this calling
with the Ostdeik Brick Co. at Its old
plant northeast of the city. For sew
eral years he served on the city's po-
lice force under different administra-
tions and was made janitor Of the
court house about six years ago. He
was ousted from this job by a change
OF administrations and followed the
work Of stationary engineer for the
Public Water Co. on the island above
the city where he had charge for
three years of the pumps. BY the Old
Soldiers, preference law in which he
was victor over the county in long
he was again made janitor
and resumed his duties March /, and
is at present acting in that capacity.