Baron Edgar Von Uchtritz
Baron Edgar von Uchtritz, one of Germany's most celebrated explorers and a retired officer oi the German Hussars, was born in Castle Tzschocha, Silesia, Germany. He is a man of high educational attainments, speaks seven different languages and is Doctor of Medicine. Philosophy, Natural History and Geology. He attended college at Hirschberg and Dresden, and later the Universities of Halle, Frankfort and Berlin. In 1889-1890, he made several trips into the unexplored regions of Brazil, principally in quest of game, and from 1891 to 1893 explored southwest Africa in the interest of the German Government, with a view to establishing German colonies in that country. He was the first white man to succeed in crossing the Sahara Desert, pushing his way forward and encountering the many dangers from savage natives and unsalubrious climate with an indomitable will power and characteristic energy and bravery. It was Baron von Uchtritz's favorable report of the great value of this vast country, which induced the German Government to retain it instead of selling it to Great Britain, as had been recommended by the German Secretary of State. During 1893-1894, Baron von Uchtritz was chief of an expedition from Cameron to Lake Isod, the success of which placed him among the bravest and most celebrated of African explorers. Numerous battles were fought with powerful and fanatic Mohammedans, but the brilliant military tactics and genius of the leader made every engagement a victory. The greatest success was in accomplishing the surrender of the powerful state of Bubanzidah, which had been regarded as almost unconquerable. Baron von Uchtritz, having acquired some vast tracts of land for the use of the German colonies, returned to his native land. Having gathered some very valuable data while on these expeditions, from his notes he compiled and published a book of 573 pages, a work of much merit. In appreciation of the results accomplished on this expedition, the German Emperor conferred upon the Baron a very high decoration, with an additional decoration for personal bravery. He was soon after his return united in marriage with Miss Viola Lytle, oldest daughter of Hon. and Mrs. James R. Lytle, of Delaware. Ohio, an event which marked his retirement from the field of exploration, although he has since made some very interesting trips into Northern Norway, Sweden and Lapland, bent on sport and scientific research. He has always been accompanied on these trips by his wife, who is a fine shot and an enthusiastic horsewoman.
Baron Edgar von Uchtritz comes of one of the oldest and wealthiest families of Germany, and is youngest son of Baron Otto von Uchtritz. Members of this family served as chiefs of their clans in the days before Germany was Christianized, and a very early record in Prague mentions the name, with the information that its bearer was a relative of Unata, a powerful Bohemian king who lived about the time of Charlemagne the Great. From that time the name appears frequently in the pages of German history. The mother of our subject was Princess Wartenslaben, who also was of a distinguished old German family and was a descendant of General Wartenslaben, who was one of Frederick the Great's most trusted and honored generals. One of her brothers is still living and is a celebrated general and personal friend of the Kaiser. Baron Edgar has one brother and two sisters. The brother, Baron Bolco, was court chamberlain to Emperor Frederick and serves in a similar capacity to Emperor William, this being a distinction granted for life. He is one of the official ministry of the Royal household, first lieutenant in the Garde Landwehr Cavalierre, and a Knight in the Order of St. John. The older sister is the wife of the Austrian ambassador to Spain. Count Welsersheimb, who also represented Austria at the international peace conferences at The Hague and at Algeria. The Countess was considered one of the most charming women at the Court of Vienna and was a great favorite of the Empress, from whom she received the title of honor, "Palast Dame," or in English, Palace Lady. The younger sister of Baron Edgar married a distant relative of the Hungarian line of Uchtritz, his title in English phraseology being Lord Count von Uchtritz. He is a man of note in Hungary and his father, Count von Uchtritz, paid for the education of Liszt, the great composer. Castle Tzschocha, the present home of the Uchtritz family, was originally built more than eight hundred years ago, but has been rebuilt and modernized and is now one of the most beautiful and interesting castles in the German Empire. Connected with it are several thousand acres of land and numerous beautiful hunting forests.
Baroness Viola Lytle von Uchtritz, eldest daughter of James Robert and Cornelia (Chase) Lytle, is a native of Delaware, Ohio. Her early education was received under the direction of a private tutor and later in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, from which institution she was graduated with high honors in the class of 1894. She is a musician of marked ability on the piano, harp, violin and cymbal. After completing a special course in literature under Prof. John H. von Cleve, she, accompanied by her chaperon, went to Berlin, Germany, to complete her musical education and to get a more perfect knowledge of the German and French languages. Her brilliancy and originality, together with a charming personality, soon made her a great favorite in society. During the first winter in Berlin she made the acquaintance of Baron Edgar von Uchtritz, who was attracted by her beauty and personal accomplishments. Congenial in their tastes, friendship soon ripened into a deeper attachment and in 1895 they were married. Several months were spent by them in touring America, visiting the many points of scenic beauty and historic interest, and both being fond of travel they have since visited the various countries of Europe and foreign lands. A mutual interest in hunting and in natural history and geology led them into Northern Norway, Sweden and Lapland. Both are musically talented and are devotees of outdoor forms of sport, the Baroness developing into a fine horsewoman under the instructions of her husband, whose military training in the Hussars made of him a superior rider. Besides English—her native tongue—the Baroness is conversant with the French, German and Italian languages, and has attained success as a writer of stories, many of which have appeared in both German and American magazines.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908