Otis, Col. George Henry, was
born October 10, 1838, in Keesville, New York, and
was the son of Thomas Jefferson Otis. His parents
were both natives of that state, although the mother
was reared in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and it was
there her marriage took place. Thomas Jefferson Otis
was a boot and shoe manufacturer at Elmira, New York,
and subsequently saw service in the Mexican War. He
was affiliated with the Republican party in politics,
and was a member of the Methodist church. He located
in the State of Iowa with his wife and family in
1856, but afterwards removed to Austin. Minnesota,
where he died in 1874, his wife following him in
death in 1882 at McGregor, Iowa. Of the four children
born to this union, George Henry, the subject of this
sketch, is the sole survivor. Edmond R., William and
Elizabeth are deceased.
George H. Otis received his
elementary education in the schools of Elmira, New
York, Racine, and Mineral Point, Wisconsin. At the
age of fourteen years he entered the office of the Mineral
Point Tribune as an apprentice in 1852, but nine
years later, at the outbreak of the Civil War, he
enlisted in the service of his country. His war
record is a brave and enviable one. He was mustered
in as a private and in recognition of excellent and
courageous service received rapid promotion through
the ranks of corporal, sergeant, second lieutenant,
first lieutenant, and captain of Company I, Second
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in the famous Iron
Brigade. Still higher honors were bestowed upon him
when he was made major and promoted lieutenant
colonel of his regiment. Still later he was
transferred by the war department and received a
commission as major of the Eighth United States
Reserves. He gave long and honorable service to his
country, extending over a time of four years and two
months, and participated in all the engagements of
the Army of the Potomac, beginning with the first
Battle of Bull Run.
He was married at
Dodgeville, Wisconsin, February 14, 1868, to Marie E.
Owens, who died March 31, 1871, leaving no children.
On February 19, 1874, he took for his second wife
Kate M. Seitz, of McGregor, Iowa, and four children
were born to them: Edmund R., who is married to Dora
Entwisle, and is a prominent and successful lawyer
and real estate dealer, with headquarters at Des
Moines and Denver; Irving J., who is a linotype
operator in San Francisco, California, and married to
Clara L. Curtis; George Stanley, married, and
secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of Miles City,
Montana; and Marian Rebecca, wife of Herbert
Buchanan, of Monona, Iowa.
Mr. Otis is an aggressive
and consistent advocate of the doctrines enunciated
by the Republican party, and has served the city of
Monona as mayor, was postmaster for nine years and
filled minor offices in a thorough and acceptable
manner. In religious belief he is a Methodist. He is
a member of the Masonic lodge, the Community Club,
the Grand Army of the Republic, in the last of which
he has served as Commander of Monona Post No. 495.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 312-313
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
