James J. Otis

OTIS, EDMONDS, VAN ORDER, VANORDER, SIMMONS, WELMAN, AMBROSE, SOALS

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/5/2006 at 04:15:08

James J. Otis, was for forty-nine years actively engaged in farming and stock raising in Forest township, Winnebago county, and, while now living retired, he still resides upon the old homestead where he devoted almost a half century to the work of tilling the soil. He has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in the state of New York on the 17th of October, 1834, his parents being William H. and Lovina (Edmonds) Otis, who were also born in the Empire state. They removed to Illinois in 1836 and took up their abode at Chicago when it was but a trading post, the city not being incorporated until the following year. The most farsighted could not have dreamed that a great city of two million and a half population would there be found in less than three-quarters of a century. Both Mr. and Mrs. Otis continued to spend their remaining days in Cook county and there they reared their family of eight children, three of whom are now living.

James J. Otis spent the period of his boyhood and youth in Illinois and on attaining his majority went to Michigan, where he worked in a lumber mill until he was thirty years of age. He then removed to Floyd county, Iowa, where he resided for two and one-half years and during that period be engaged in farming. He became a resident of Winnebago county in 1868 and his first purchase of land covered one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Forest township. His first house was a little slab shanty in which he lived for a year, but soon more modern improvements were added to the place. With characteristic energy he began to break the sod and till the fields and he now has a splendidly improved farm, having carefully and systematically cultivated his land until it is most productive. He afterward purchased more land and owned six hundred and forty acres, but later sold one hundred and sixty acres to his son, so that his present holdings comprise four hundred and eighty acres. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he always gave much attention to raising and feeding stock and that branch of his business proved very profitable.

Mr. Otis has been married three times. He first wedded Calista Van Order and they became the parents of four children, but all have passed away. Following the death of his first wife he wedded her sister, Emeline Van Order, and to them were born the following children: Laura, deceased; George, a resident farmer of Winnebago county; William; Anna, the wife of William Simmons; Ella, the wife of William Welman; Jesse and Frank, who are engaged in farming; Maggie, deceased; Lydia, the wife of Irvin Ambrose; Fred, who is engaged in the jewelry business; and Jerome, who follows farming. The present wife of Mr. Otis was formerly Mrs. Anna Soals and she has two sons, Albert E. and John A., who are farmers of this county.

Politically Mr. Otis follows an independent course, voting for the man rather than for party. He has served as school director for twenty years and was trustee for seven years. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His has been an active and useful life. He has worked hard and made good use of his time and his opportunities. Thus as the years went by he accumulated a comfortable competence that now enables him to live retired, enjoying a well earned rest, his capital being sufficient to supply him with all of the necessities and comforts of life and some of its luxuries. He well deserves mention in connection with the -history of Winnebago county, where he has so long resided. Through almost a half century be has been a witness of the growth and progress of this section of the state and has lived to see it converted from a pioneer region into a populous and prosperous district. He has always delighted in its progress and has cooperated in many movements leading to its upbuilding.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917,Vol II, page 87