- SELDEN E. OTIS, a farmer residing on section 10, Rock Township,
is a native of Saybrook,
- Conn., born in 1827, and a son of Israel and Darbara (BABCOCK)
OTIS, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, and were descended
from old New England families. The father was born of English
ancestry, while the mother was of Welsh descent. He engaged in
the occupation of farming throughout his life, and was a man
who took great interest in political affairs, yet never sought
or desired public office. He was a supporter of the Democratic
party, and his death occurred in 1868, at the age of seventy-four
years. His wife died in 1872, when seventy-two years of age.
She was a member of the Episcopal Church.
- The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in
the common schools of his native State
- received his education. At the age of twenty years he left
the parental roof and went to Long Island, where he took charge
of a farm of 500 acres belonging to Judge S. B. STRONG, which
he managed for a period of two years. At the expiration of that
time he became an agent for the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and
for three years was in that employment, with headquarters at
New York City. In 1855 he made his first trip to the West, and
chose for his future home Rock County, Wis. In Harmony Township
he rented a farm until 1863, when he purchased 200 acres of land
on sections 14 and 15, of Rock Township, but at the end of the
year sold out to F. S. ELDRED, of whom he rented land for the
succeeding twenty-three years. During that period he conducted
a dairy. In the spring of 1888 he again became the owner of a
farm, purchasing sixty acres of land located on sections 10 and
11, Rock Township, where he now carries on general farming.
- In 1849 Mr. OTIS was united in the holy bonds of matrimony
with Miss Mary CARGILL, a native
- of Long Island, and a daughter of John and Elvira (HART)
CARGILL. Her father was a native of Scotland, and during most
of his life worked at the tailor's trade, his death occurring
1845, at the age of forty-one years. Her mother is a native of
the Empire State, and still resides in Long Island.
- Mr. and Mrs. OTIS have been the parents of seven children:
Mary R., who is the wife of John C.
- BURT, Business Superintendent of the Kankakee Insane Hospital;
George S., a resident farmer of Rock Township; Lillian, who wedded
Frank C. EDDY, a bookkeeper of La Crosse, Wis.; Jessie E., wife
of William R. KILMAR, a baker in the employ of the Hospital for
the Insane, at Kankakee, Ill.; Frank, a farmer, residing at home;
Harriet N., who is yet with her parents; and Charles C., who
died in 1867, at the age of two and one-half years. Mr. OTIS
is numbered among the leading citizens of Rock Township, and
has been honored with various offices of trust. Several terms
he has served as Justice of the Peace; is now for the second
time occupying the position of County Supervisor, and for twenty
years was Clerk of the School District. In political matters
he has always taken a deep interest, has been an ardent supporter
of the Republican party since its organization, and is a man
well informed on all matters of public interest, both State and
National. He has done much toward advancing the cause of education
in the community, and by his honest and upright course of life
has won the confidence of all, and is held in high regard by
a large circle of friends.
-
- [Transcriber's Note: The name Darbara in the first paragraph
is what the book says (instead of perhaps Barbara).]
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 326-327.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|