H. W. Kuteman    

H. W. KUTEMAN.  H.W. Kuteman was of German parentage. His father was German consul at Charleston, S. C., before the Civil War, from which place he moved to Walhalla, where the subject of this sketch was born on May 15, 1861, which was soon after his state, South Carolina had withdrawn from the American Union and one month after Fort Sumpter was fired upon; where, rocked in the cradle of the Old South, surrounded by southern influences, he began life’s battle. It is but natural that he inherited the Southern spirit with all of its noble characteristics and principles. He grew to robust young manhood with the best educational advantages the country afforded.

With a keen analytical mind and a strong determination, Mr. Kuteman took up the study of law and was soon admitted to the bar. Full of hope and ambition, he took passage to Quitman, Wood County, Texas, where he was associated with Hon. James S. Hogg in the practice of law. It was indeed fortunate for any young man to be connected in partnership with a man of the character and standing of Governor Hogg.

Mr. Kuteman married and came to Weatherford early in the eighties, where for a time he was associated with Judge J. M. Richards, and later with Judge F. O. McKinsey in the practice of his profession. He specialized in criminal law, rose rapidly to front ranks and a lucrative practice. Being a good business man, he began early making profitable investments of his accumulating funds. By the year 1906 his business had increased until he retired from the practice of law and gave his time to his private affairs. He gave most of his attention to handling ranch properties, farm lands and vendor’s lien notes. He bought the Carson & Lewis hotel property and erected the commercial and office buildings thereon that bear his name. In 1908 he acquired a controlling interest in the First State Bank, which he later converted into the Parker County National Bank. He also established banks in other towns.
He traveled much, visited many States of the Nation, also the Canal Zone and Old Mexico. In 1923, he and Mrs. Kuteman, with their daughter, now Mrs. Douglas Chandor, circumnavigated the globe, visiting the places of greatest interest in the world from which he wrote many interesting letters which were published and were very much appreciated by the reading public.
Broad-mindedness, toleration and great common sense characterized his life. With a strong personality, affable manners and a pleasing smile, he made many friends. A number of young people were assisted by him in getting an education, who otherwise might not have had such advantages. He had many friends among the plain people—the laboring man and the capitalist looked alike to him and were entitled to the same consideration. His favorite sport was hunting and outdoor life. Good investments proved profitable and he found himself a wealthy man. His health failed just at a time when it seemed he was of most use to his family and the world. After a losing fight for recovery, he died in California, February 13, 1925, mourned and missed by all who knew him.

History of Parker County and the Double Log Cabin: being a brief symposium of the early history of Parker County, together with short biographical sketches of early settlers and their trials, Weatherford, Tex.: Herald Pub. Co., 1937, pages 142-144. View the image of this page online.  Search Hundreds of 1880s-1920s Texas History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Try the family history collection for free for 14 days!