Tulare County Biographies

OTTO LUETHKE

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the east and the 
west are combined in the residents of the section of country of which this 
volume treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and 
makes possible almost any undertaking in the vigorous western states is tempered 
by the stable and more careful policy characteristic of our eastern neighbors, 
and the combination is one of unusual force and power. This happy combination of 
characteristics is possessed by the subject of this brief review, Otto Luethke, 
the well known and popular proprietor of the Central Garage in Tulare. He was 
born in Buffalo, New York, on the 7th day of July, 1879, the son of Christian 
and Lena Luethke. Some years after his birth the family moved to California, 
where the father died and the mother is now making her home in Los Angeles.
        Otto Luethke acquired his education in the public schools of his native 
city and at the age of fourteen years he began to learn the trade of machinist. 
He proved to be naturally fitted for that work and became an expert in it. For a 
time he was employed in large shops in various cities of the east and then, in 
1907, came to California and entered the employ of the Pierce-Arrow Automobile 
Company in San Francisco, with which concern he remained a year. He then came to 
Tulare and for four years worked for D. Helm in the Midway Garage, and was 
successful in building up the business in a very satisfactory manner. The 
following six months he spent in Los Angeles, and then, returning to Tulare, was 
again employed in the Midway Garage. In 1914, in partnership with O. G. Ray, he 
bought a small garage, which they equipped and were so successful in building up 
a business that later they bought the corner where they are now located and have 
one of the leading garages in this section of the state. They carry on a general 
garage and repair business, having a well equipped machine shop in connection. 
Their shop is one hundred and fifty by one hundred and fifty feet in size and 
they can easily store three hundred cars. By careful attention to the needs of 
their customers, and prompt and reliable service they have not only, gained a 
large clientele, but have also won the respect and confidence of the entire 
community.
        Mr. Luethke was married to Miss Lena Trautman, who was born and reared 
in Buffalo, New York, and they have one child, Herbert. Mr. Luethke is a member 
of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In 
political matters he is independent, voting for the men in his opinion best 
qualified for public office. Personally Mr. Luethke is companionable and 
agreeable, fond of outdoor life, and is a popular member of the circles in which 
he moves.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 279