Iowa History Project

Merrill Otis, M.D.

Biographical Sketch of the Life of Dr. Merrill Otis of TAbor, Iowa
Dr. Otis was born in Holmes county, Ohio, May 16, 1830. When 7 years old he moved with his father's family to Henry county, Illinois, where he was educated in the common school and at Oxford Academy. At the age of nineteen he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago and read medicine under the English physician, Thomas Hall. He graduated in medicine from the St. Joseph College of Physicians and Surgeons and began the practice of medicine in Henry county, Ia., in 1852. He formed serveral partnerships after moving to Tabor. The physicians with whom he was associated were Dr. R.R. Hanley, Dr. G.S. Stevena and a Dr. Rust. He began his practice in Tabor in 1866. At the commencement of the Civil War he offered his services with the volunteer corps but was not accepted because the quota had been filled. He served as a member of the county board of supervisors, a member of the state board of registration and also later had charge of the distribution of the funds of the county. He was married twice. His first wife, Margaret, died in April, 1881 at Tabor, Iowa. In 1889 he married Alice Connor of Bartlett, Iowa, who still lives. He acquired considerable property in the town of Tabor, and the surrounding country. He was one of the charter members of the Baptist church at Tabor. A brother, J.C. Otis, was a Baptist minister, and died at Glenwood, Iowa. Another brother, H.W. Otis resided in Red Oak, Iowa. There are 3 children from his first marriage living; C.M. Otis, Tabor; Mrs. Adda German, Persia, Iowa; and Mrs. E.M. Myers, Glenwood, Iowa. A grandson, Dr. Merrill M. Myers is in the practice of medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Otis died from a septic blood stream infection after 4 days illness on March 17, 1889.