Adrian Otte  Page 177-178 - Adrian Otte is the founder and president of the Otte Brothers-American Laundry, Inc., located at 634 South Division avenue, a wonderfully successful business which grew to its present proportions from the start in 1881, and was then known as the American Laundry. Mr. Otte was born in the Netherlands, December 23, 1858, and at the age of ten years came to Grand Rapids with his parents, Peter and Helena (Jason) Otte. The father had been a merchant in their native land but spent the remainder of his days in Grand Rapids, his death occurring in 1899 at the age of seventy-eight, his wife surviving him until 1905, when she passed away at the age of eighty-four years. The subject of this narrative attended the public schools in Grand Rapids, but started in at early age to make his own way. He followed various employments until 1881, when he engaged in the field that became his line of successful business endeavor, the laundry business. From the lower rungs of the ladder in this service to the community he has progressed until his plant is counted one of the finest in its line in the country. In 1888 he engaged with his brother, John, in a partnership venture, and in 1902, upon incorporation the present title, Otte Brothers-American Laundry, Inc., was adopted. The story of its expansion and progress is reflected in the magnitude of its present quarters, a main building 193 x 132, with buildings added for dry cleaning, rug cleaning and garage. The brother, John Otte, is now deceased, and the business is carried on by Adrian Otte, president, and his sons, John P. Otte, secretary-treasurer, and Edward F. Otte, vice-president. Besides a number of other business interests, Mr. Otte is also a member of the Association of Commerce, both local and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America at Washington. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar, and holds membership in Saladin Temple of the Shrine. He is a director of the Young Men's Christian Association, trustee and treasurer of the South Congregational church, and trustee of the Women's Home. He is also a member of the Knickerbocker Society, the Peninsular Club, the Optimist and the Cascade Hills Country Club. On April 28, 1882, he was united in wedlock with Margaret DenHerder of Zeeland, Michigan, and this union has been blessed with a family of five children. The two sons have been heretofore mentioned as associated with their father in business. John married Mary Pennington, of Grand Rapids, and they have one son, John P. Otte, Jr. The other son, Edward F. Otte, married Florence Church, of Grand Rapids, and they have one daughter, Barbara. The eldest daughter married Archibald A. Muir, of Grand Rapids, and the fourth child, Myrtle, became the wife of E. W. Cleveland, of Grand Rapids, but they now make their home in Lansing, Mich. They are the parents of two sons, Robert and Donald. The youngest member of the family, Gladys, is living at the home of her parents, 1942 Sherman street, southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Transcriber: Terry Start
Created: 6 January 2003