Otto Lerche

Who is Otto Lerche?

Otto Lerche was a farmer and cement contractor from Potter, Wisconsin. He was elected in 1918 as a Socialist state representative, the first Socialist ever elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly from Calumet County. He served one term.

Lerche was born in the Town of Rantoul in Calumet County and was educated in the district schools. Prior to his election to the Assembly, he had been director of a mutual fire insurance company since 1886; school clerk since 1887, supervisor from 1893 to 1902, town clerk from 1902 to 1914; and had served as a justice of the peace. He was elected to the assembly in 1918, receiving 1,265 votes to 831 for James L. Cooneh, a Democrat.