Otto Fischer, born on September 1, 1866 at DeSoto came to Lawrence with his parents when he was two years old. His father, Julius Fischer,had come to Kansas from Chicago as a member of the Neusiedlersverein in 1857 to found Eudora.

Otto began to clerk in the shoe store of his uncle, Albert G. Menger when he was 14 years old. Later he qcquired a partnership in the business.

In 1889 Julius Fischer, who operated an ice house on the bank of the Kaw river near the Santa Fe depot, bought an interest in the business, becoming president of the corporation. Otto Fischer became secretary-treasurer. On the death of his father, Otto purchased the business interests from the estabe. The store was then known as the Otto A. Fischer firm.