Paul Witteck

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Germany has contributed many stalwart and energetic citizens to the upbuilding of the United States and it is worthy of note here that Paul WITTECK, one of the foremost business men of Butler, New Jersey, was born and reared to manhood in that country. Mr. WITTECK holds the responsible position of superintendent of the American Hard Rubber Company at Butler, and is a director in the First National Bank of this city. All his time, however, is not taken up with business duties. He has served with honor on the council and for the past ten years has been the popular and efficient incumbent of the office of mayor of Butler. His regime as administrator of the municipal affairs of this place has been fraught with infinite good in connection with the introduction of many important improvements in the internal workings of the government.

July 21, 1861, in the city of Trier, Province of Rhine, Germany, occurred the birth of Paul WITTECK, who is a son of John Michael and Maria (HERBERT) WITTECK, both of whom are now deceased. The father was an artificer in metals and he died in Germany, March 23, 1893, aged seventy-four years; his cherished and devoted wife died November 12, 1895, aged seventy-two years. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Michael WITTECK as follows: Maria, wife of Frederick FISHER at the time of her demise which occurred in Chicago, Illinois, March 1, 1891, at the age of thirty-two years; Marguerita, wife of Nicholas BECKER, of Trier, Germany; Katherina, wife of Fred EBBERHART, Sulzback, a mining engineer in the vicinity of Saarbrucken, Germany; Paul, of whom further.

To the public schools of Germany Paul WITTECK is indebted for his early educational advantages, and for three years he was a student in the school for the advancement of tradesmen in the city of Munich, Germany. He served in the German army for three years and for a time was an under officer in the Bavarian Guard at Munich. In 1882, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to America and for the ensuing two and a half years worked as a silversmith for the firm of Whiting & Company in New York City. In 1885 he established his home and business headquarters in Butler, Morris county, New Jersey, here engaging in the trade of toolmaker for the following ten years. In 1895 he entered the employ of the American Hard Rubber Company as master mechanic and since 1905 he has filled the responsible position of superintendent of the Butler plant of that concern. The American Hard Rubber Company was founded by William Kiel in 1876 and he is now general superintendent of the same. While running at full capacity the Butler plant of the American Hard Rubber Company employs a force of one thousand men, a specialty being made of the manufacture of hard rubber. He is also director of the Pequanoc Rubber Company of Butler, New Jersey.

Mr. WITTECK is affiliated with Silentia Lodge, No. 168, F. and A. M.; Immanuel Lodge, No. 200, I. O. O. F.; Paterson Lodge, No. 60, B. P. O. E. In politics he supports the principles promulgated by the Republican party and he is an active factor in the local councils of that organization. He served as a member of the town council from the time of the incorporation of Butler until his election to the office of mayor, in 1903. In the latter capacity he has proved himself diligent and highly efficient and Butler has profited in every way through his administration. He is financially interested in the First National Bank of this city and is a member of its directorate. He is a man of fine character and pleasing address and he numbers many loyal friends amongst his acquaintances. His high place in business and public life has been won by his own diligence and devotion to duty and therefore is the more commendable.

In 1886 Mr. WITTECK was united in marriage to Wilhelmina KIEL, daughter of William KIEL, mentioned above. Four children: Paul, aged twenty-six years, in 1913, is a mechanic by trade and unmarried; Wilhelmina, wife of Howard TALLMAN, a toolmaker in Butler; Virginia, died November 8, 1896, at the age of six years; Marguerita, at home with her parents.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)