Person:Gottlieb Otto (2)

Gottlieb Otto was Pfarrer in Talheim from 1694 until 1710. He remained in Talheim until his death in 1718. It appears all his children were born before he came to Talheim. I have not seen Georg Friedrich in the Talheim records, but if he were born in one of his fathers earlier parishes and married in Schwenningen etc. it is possible that he is not mentioned in Talheim. Gottlieb earlier had parishes in Englstatt near Balingen 1673- 1688 and Tailfingen 1688 - 1693. Perhaps the childrens births would be listed in those parishes, but I have not looked for them. Have you Kevin? Gottlieb was born 12 Oct 1639 in Winnenden to the parents Johann Michael Otto & Anna Maria. Johann Michael was a surgeon specializing in gallbladders, kidney stones, and hernias. Some have also interpreted his occupation as stonecutter. This may indicate a connection to Gottlieb in b) below. The Gottlieb below would not be the son of Gottlieb Pfarrer as his son Gottlieb was a beck and his birth and death accounted for, but he could be a grandson or even a nephew.

From K. Tempel to Donald R. Jerge, 1978: Gottlieb Otto achieved the academic degree of a "magister" (master of divinity) on March 12, 1662. [he was deacon of Talheim, Tuttlingen] from 1694-1710. He died as a retired pastor at Talheim 29.5.1718.

From "A 'Rustic Pastor'" out of the life of M. Gottlieb Otto by Wolfgang Seiffer (1970): In the last year of the "Tuttlinger Heimatblatter," Gebhard Fetzer descries in his essay "Unrest in Denkingen" an 18th century village priest with a special personality...

Gottlieb Otto was born on October 12, 1639 in Winnendent. His father Johann Michael Otto....

The theologians until far into the 19th century came mostly from the native upper middle class, especially from civil service and pastors' families. ...

A special event helped Gottlieb Otto to further his career. During the 30-years' war (1618-1648) population losses were great and the ministry was hard hit, too. Years after the war a lot of parishes yet had no pastor. Also Talheim, the parish of Pastor Otto from 1634-1651. In this situation many persons were called to parishes that normally would not have had a chance. Among them, i.e., the "foreigners," persons not born in Wurttemberg. Pastor Otto's successr in Tahleim, Paul Mayer, from Zusmarshausen near Augsburg was one such.

Here was a good opportunty for th egifted sons of tradesmen, one of which was TGottlieb Otto, who started with his studies at the Univesrity of Tubingen in 1659. Before this he was prepared for it at the Evaneglical Theological Seminary in Bebenhausen, where he lived for the time being during his university days until they had a place for him at the "Stift" (Collegiate Church ) in Tubingen where the future theologians were lodged. At the university he acquired the Magister title (Master) through an academic test on March 12, 1662 and was allowed from then on, like many of his colleagues, to use the title "Magister" abbrievated "M". His name was "M. GOttlieb Otto" now. His theological studies lasted four years and he had to pass a few more special exams before he was appointed to the clergy. His career baegan with a vicarice, which brought him for four weeks to Hofen near Brackehneim afterh that 1-1/2 years to Maichingen (office Boblingen). Then in 1666 he was a deacon or helper in Balingen where he stayed for seven years. THis was connected with an assured income, so he coul afford to start a family, and he probably entered matrimony the same year he got this position at the age of 26. [Gottlieb married June 19, 1666 at Magstadt (formerly Magstatt) to Anna Maria d/o Pfarrer Andreas Hartmann.]

To him and his wife, Anna Maria, their first children were born in Balingen. As of 1673 he had his own parishes, firs tin Englstatt near Balingen (1673-1688), then in Tailfingen (1688-1693), last in Talheim. Naturally the name Talheim interests us mostly, and most of the news about him are from this period...

In the Talheimer Visitationreport from 1706 it says about the Vogt overseer (Village Governor), Martin Kohler and the judges (Village Counselors) - "are honorable, but ashamed in son." They di dnot participate in church singing. This was apparently a special Talheimer custom, for already at the vistiation in 1676 this was complained about with the presiding Vogt...

The [1706] judgement about Ott's professional qualifications were almost all very favorable right up to the end of his employment. It says of him, he has "fine gifts," his theological knowledge is good, and he devotes time to required private scientific reading... Especially mentioned is his clear and precise language, out of which we can conclude that thse were not always th e best in other cases. Also he was given credit for his manner of speaking and the composition of his sermons. In the reports, his superiors always emphasize the attentive and eager fulfillment of his duties. "[Otto] shows a goo dhead in writing and preaching, that he did something and read a lot, because the work is good, the pronunciation clear, no complatins about faithfulness and diligence in office." His superiors... report about him leading a quiet and examplary life with his family, proper for a pastor. Later views about him will change.

[Talheim was affected by the Spanish War of Succession, during which time French troops repeatedly invaded the region-- in 1702, then 1704.]

First in 1697, then repeatedly after 1702, the isitation reports mentioned his uncontrolled temper. He is called: quarrelsom and hot-tempered, then again sullen. While he was learing an exemplary marriage for decades according to his superiories, this seemed to have changed. In 1704, it was said they had "difficult hosuekeeping" and after his death it was said about the widow's maner of living "since her husband's death, she lives quietly." ...

Because he had an argument in some private matter with Hans Fuess, he would not receive the latter's wife or son in the Confessional and refused to let them take private conferssion, which was quite common at the time in the "Wurttembergische" Evangelical church. .. his case was brought to the attention of the Ducal CHief Advisor, who was responsible for disciplinary actions. He also acted improperly against his superior, the Dean of Tuttlingen. He insulted him repeatedly and was very obstinate.

[He later conflicted with the ducal finance officer in Tuttlingen, "Keller" about the tithing of his farming property.]

Otto didn't limit his farming activities to the parish properties. He tried to acquire his own farmland and work it.... As none of his sons wanted to become a pastor, "he could not leave this profession" to anybody, and so at leaset he wanted to "leave" a farming estate... he built his own home in Talheim at the turn of the century. This is today's house of Christian Schweitzer in the "Koll". Pastor Otto was very much involved with the building of his house, "did much work with his own hands." ...

The clerical superiors didn't like it that Pastor Otto moved into his own home. But he refused to live in th eparsonage any longer because it was so dilapidated. [Apparently, he also refused to deliver sermons anywhere but his own home; the parsonage was finally repaired/renovated in 1709, but Otto stayed in his own hom; by no w he was impossible as a pastor.]

... 7 sons and 1 daughter reached adult age... the daughter married a farmer. Of the sons, one became a farmer, the other 6 learned a trade: 2 became barbers, 2 harness-makers, baker, cobbler and tailor; most of them lived in 'hard circumstantes' per a 1721 report about the conditiosn of pastors' widows in the Tuttlingen district. Five sons married in Talheim and lived there; and only one's wife was not from the village. They were all resepcted in Talheim. One, the barber Josef Otto, whose father-in-law was a judge, more or less inherited this office later from him. Gottfied Otto, the harness-maker, was later inn-keeper of the "Krone," and left his harness-shop and inn to his son. Gottlieb Ott, the baker, died in 1714 at the age of 35. His widow married Matthias Haug of Trossingen and so became the ancestress of the Talheim Haug family.

... In 1708, Otto was almost 69 years old, it was also said the service was missed quite often. Finally it had to come to a collision. Later there was a nice story told about this in Talheim. Max Schneckenburger, the poet of "Wacht am Rhein," who occupied himself with the past of his native village Talheim, wrote it down in 1837. He says, Pastor Otto, who was plowing a field, was surprised by a visit of the "Special" (Dean), therefor hs next sermon was "That if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he woould have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up (Matthew 24:43), then he resigned and became a farmer. Unfortunately, we cannot know how much truth there is to this anecdote, but it is not improbably due to Otto's personality that it happened this way, except the voluntary resignation. This happened in 1709. In the Synod-Protocol of this year it says the pastor "is all countrified" and treated the "Special," despit the threatened dismaissal, at his visitation very badly. This agrees with Schneckenburger's report.

1. ↑ Schwenningen Evangelische Kirchenbücher
   1658745, Marriages 1697, p. 28.

   22 Jun: Jerg Friederich Otto.... Herrn M. Gottlieb Otto's son (of Thalheim?) und Maria, Conrad Rapp, burger alhier hinterlassener (deceased)'s daughter.