Christopher Ottosen

OTTOSEN

Posted By: Karen AD (email)
Date: 8/18/2006 at 20:49:45

Christopher Ottosen was born September 26, 1862, at Haugesund, Norway. He came to America with his parents settling in Ogle County, Illinois in 1867. In 1886 he went to Graham County, Kansas where he established a sheep ranch. Later, he studied law at Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri. He came to Iowa, in 1894, buying a grain elevator in Humboldt. He was a grain and cattle buyer and came to Russell's Siding in 1895, to buy grain. Seeing the possibilities of the area he was instrumental in getting a post office named for him, in December, 1895. The following year he got the railroad officials to set up a depot. The location was moved one-half mile further northwest on the tracks. The town of Ottosen was established. Chris was the first postmaster of Ottosen at its present site and became its first mayor when it became incorporated in 1909. Chris also served as State Food and Dairy Inspector for 15 years, manager of first rural phone company in Humboldt County, druggist, manager of the first elevator and a politician. He headed the Ottosen delegates to the county convention and was quite often the delegate to state conventions. In 1912, he was candidate for Congress in the tenth congressional district. In his later years, ill health confined him to his home and town. Chris died November 25, 1941. At the time of his death, he was mayor of Ottosen. He is buried at Union Cemetery.