Biography of Charles F. Lotze
Charles F. Lotze was born on February 22, 1857, in Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio, to George and Catherine Lotze. His father, a German immigrant, was a merchant in Ohio. At age four, Charles moved with his family to Girard, Ohio, where he completed his public school education. In 1875, he moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, and started a jewelry business. In 1879, he relocated to Vermillion, South Dakota, where he expanded his business to include books and music. A successful entrepreneur, Lotze also participated in the Masonic order. He married Martha C. Hurd in 1885, and they had three daughters: Hazel C., Marie L., and Laura B.