My Genealogy Hound

ARTHUR B. OTTAWAY, a resident of Westfield, and ex-district attorney of Chautauqua county, is a son of John E. and Sarah (Boorman) Ottaway, and was born in the town of Mina, Chautauqua county, New York, May 8, 1854. His paternal and maternal grandfathers, James Ottaway and Benjamin Boorman, were among the early settlers in the town of Mina. James Ottaway was a native of Kent county, England, and in company with his brother Horatio, came, in 1823, to that part of the town of Clymer, which, in the following year, was erected into the town of Mina. He was a miller by trade, and ran a mill in England, but after coming to Chautauqua county was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1870. He came into what is Mina, when it had but few settlers, and only seven years after its first settlement had been made by Alex. Findley. James Ottaway settled on lot fourteen, in the eastern part of the town, and reared a family of nine sons and two daughters: James, William, Charles, Edmund, Joseph, Henry, Horace, John E., Susan, Ann and Horatio. The seventh son, John E. Ottaway (father), was born in 1827, and now owns the home farm of two hundred and thirty acres, which his father purchased in 1823, and lived upon until his death. John E. Ottaway has always been engaged in farming, and married Sarah Boorman, daughter of Benjamin Boorman, who came about 1823 to Chautauqua county, and was a farmer by occupation.

Arthur B. Ottaway spent his boyhood days on the farm. Leaving the public schools, he spent one year at Sherman academy, and then entered Westfield academy, where he remained two years, and from which, at the end of that time, he was graduated in 1875. After graduating, he entered the office of William Russell as a law student, and upon the completion of his legal studies was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1879.

After his admission to the bar he entered upon the active practice of his profession, and three years later, in 1882, was elected district attorney of Chautauqua county. At the end of his term of office, in 1885, he resumed the practice of his profession at Westfield, where he has remained ever since. He is a republican in politics, stands well in his profession, and enjoys a good practice.