Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1903 — DEATH OF FREDERICK R. OTIS. [ARTICLE]

DEATH OF FREDERICK R. OTIS.

Chicago Ploaaar Who Owm4 Mach Load ia Jasper Csenty, Passes Away. Frederick R. Otie died in Chicago Deo. 17tb, 1908, in the 79th year of hia *R®- > He was well known to the people in -Hie north part of Jaaper and Newton ooantles where he had been interested in the development of land in Union, Keener and Lincoln townships. Hia first purchase of Indiana land in ibis section was from the Government and was made in Jannary, 1866. He continned to purchase land in this locality from time to time until his present holdings amounted to ten thousand acres. This land when purchased was mostly in a wild state, without drainage or roads and on account of its not being dltehed was unsuitable for farming. Twenty years sgo he commenced the construction of ditohes so as to drain this tract of land and make it suitable for farming purposes. This work was continued at a considerable expense to him until most of the land was drained. But it was a wise exexpenditure, for where formerly there was a wilderness, today may be seen the cultivatfd fields and the homes of many a family. Mr. Otis took a great pride in the breeding of fine live stock and conducted on this land a large live stock and dairy business. He had a herd of about fonr hundred cows and made daily shipments of milk to Chicago. When he lived in Ohio he was interested in the baying of cattle through northern Ohio for shipment to the New York market. He was the last one living of the four Otis brothers, James, Lucius 8., Frederick R. aad Joseph E.—all of whom were Chicago pioneers. Mr. Otis suffered a stroke of paralysis in 1899 and had been an invalid ever since. For the last three weeks he had been in failing health. Frederick Raymond Otis was a deCendant of John Otis, who came from England and settled in Hingham, Mass.,in 1635. Frederick Raymond was born at Berlin, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1826, where he engaged in live stock and farming nntil he became of age, when he and his brother James, founded the first bank at Malan, Ohio. News of the “new city” on the great lakes, called Chicago, reached Mr. Otis, and in 1849 he decided to investigate the possibilities to be found there. As there was no railroad connection with Chicago at that time, he drove overland, arriving in September of that year and remaining some weeks, making a general observation of the locality and the existing conditions. From that time on he made frequent trips to Chicago, investing occasionally in real estate, before he located there permanently with his family in December, 1869. On his first visit to Chicago, in 1849, he predicted a great future f or the city, and continued buying real estate, making his investments with much care and judgment. So great was his faith in these investments that he would not sell any of his property, and time proved his wisdom in this particular. His investments, like those of his three brothers, were mostly made in centrally located property, and consequently at the time of the fire in 1871 he suffered a considerable loss. This, however, was largely repaired within a short time, and since then the history of Mr. Otis* holdings in real estate had been similar to the history of Chica-t go’s progress. Mr. Otis was married Dec. 27, 1848, to Miss Emeline Tillinghast, a daughter of OliveF Tillinghast, of Berlin, Ohio. Their children, all of whom are living in Chicago, are Charles T. Otis, Lucius J. Otis, Margaretta E. Otis, Mrs. H. H. Doming, Mrs. Lucius A. Hlue and Mrs. William G. page. One sister, Mrs. A. H. Miller, of Fremont, Ohio, also survives him.