The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-15
Otto B. Cutler Began Life in
Printing Office.
Now He's Big Man in the
Wholesale Game.
BIOGRAPHY BEFORE ROTARIANS
He Is Heavy Stakeholder in
POehIer Mercantile Co.
Father Was One of the FOun-
derS of EudOra.

The rise of Otto E. Cutler, vice
president OF the Theo. Poehler Mer-
camille company. from a printers devil
in the office of the Eudora, Kan,
News to his present position was out
| lined recently before the Rotary club
by E. L. Copeland, treasurer of the
Santa Fe, who read Cutters biography
Besides being vice president of his
! firm, Cutler is also director and
heavy stockholder. There is special
| interest in his career at this time fol-
lowing the late convention at Law
rance of the Poehler mercantile in
| interests. His biography as read by
Copeland, follows:
lotto Bernard Cutler was born No
| vember %, 1875, in the town of Eu-
dora, Douglas county, Kansas, situated
in the Kaw valley on the line of the
Santa Fe road. At the age of 10 years
he served as printers devil on the
we'll known editorial journal the Eu-
dora News, and was so proficient in
his work that during the illness of the
editor he got out several editions of
the paper. After attending the high
school at Eudora, his parents moved
to Lawrence, where he entered the
high school in 1889, and later attended
the Kansas university, and in 1891 was
the youngest student enrolled. In
February, 1898, he decided to go into
In6 produce business ana accepted q
position with the Theo. Poehler Mer-
camille company, which was located in
Lawrence and at that time employed
three travelling statesmen. He has been
with the firm since that date, occupy
ing various positions from office boy
to his present position of vice president
and the only reason why he is not
president is because the older mem
bers of the firm have decided to hang
on little longer.
Father Eudora Founder.
His father, Mr.. Anton Cutler, came
from Germany at the age of 81 and
was one of sixteen men who founded
the town of Eudora in 1857. He
bought the first team of oxen used in
hauling logs to the sawmill in that
town. Later he drove an ox-team for
the government provision trains from
Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe, N. NJ.
In 1853 he drove the United States
provision wagons for the army in Ar
kansas under General Blount.
otto B. Cutler is a stakeholder,
director and vice president of the
Theo. Poehler Mercantile company,
which, today is a strong Kansas in
stitution, owning four large distrib-
uting plants in the state at Lawrence,
Emporia, Mcpherson and Topeka, en-
ploying fifty-eight statesmen. He has
immediate charge of the plants locat-
ed in Topeka and Mcpherson. 1 have
heard it said that the Poehler Mercan-
tile company has paid more freight
charges to the Santa Fe railroad than
any other firm on their line in a SINH
lar line of business.
Mr.. Cutters family consists of Mrs.
Cutler and son Bernard, 16 years. old.
He recently sold his residence in Law
renee and expects to build a hand
some residence in Topeka
He's Also a Booster.
'In addition to his ability as a sue
cessful merchant, Mr.. Cutler has al
ways taken an active part in civic
affairs, was president of the Cham
Der of Commerce of Lawrence, presi-
dent of the Douglas County Fair asso-
citation, is member of the Elks lodge
as past exalted ruler, is an active
churchman and is now president of
the Topeka Traffic association.
81 understand his hobby before
coming to Topeka was the prune bust
ness, but since moving here he has
taken on as side line, petticoats and
chocolate drops
ITO sum up the achievements of
this Rotarian 1 should say that by
ability, integrity and fair treatment
OF competitors as well as patrons, he
has climbed from the foot to the top
of the ladder in his chosen line of
endeavor. and altho the rounds NAV
have seemed far apart and at times
hard to reach, still by hard work and
perseverance, he has overcome all OBJ
staeles and never lost faith in himself.
but believed that the man who sue
ceeds not only accepts every oppor-
tunity but makes them and then
crowds them to the limit
We are today happy to count as a
citizen of Topeka and as a Rotarian,
Otto B. Cutler, who has profited By
rendering service and thoroly believes
in the saying that Courtesy is the
great lubricant that makes the wheels
of life go smoothly"