My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN D. OTSTOT. Clark County has been the home of this gentleman since 1836, at which time he accompanied his parents hither from Lancaster County, Pa., where his eyes had opened to the light April 26, 1822. His birthplace was the town of Columbia, in which his father had carried on the trade of wagon-making for many years, although a few months prior to the removal to the Buckeye State had been spent upon a farm. The incidents of the overland journey, which was accomplished with teams, and the pioneer life here, are well remembered by our subject, and many a tale can he tell of those early days. At the age of eighteen years he began an apprenticeship at the trade of a cabinet-maker, and after serving three years began his labors as a journeyman. After six or seven years spent in that manner he became a pattern-maker in the shop of James Leffel, since which time he has been continuously engaged in this occupation.

The lady, who for more than forty years has been Mr. Otsot’s faithful companion and efficient helpmate, bore the maiden of Jane Grant. She was born at Home Green, near Appleton, England, July 1, 1826, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Grant, whose history is given on another page of this volume. She became the wife of our subject in 1847. To them have been born two sons and five daughters: Daniel and Alfred, both deceased; Elsie, Lora, Emma and Mary, who are still living; and Jennie, deceased. The oldest daughter resides with her parents; Lora is the wife of James Todd, and Emma of O. B. Trout, and both reside in Springfield; Mary, whose home is in Columbus, married U. B. Renner. In politics Mr. Otsot is a Republican. He has always been strictly temperate, and is a strong advocate of temperance. He and his wife and their children belong to the Central Methodist Episcopal Church. The lives of both have been such as to merit the esteem of their fellow-citizens, and they have many friends wherever they are known.

John Otsot is a descendant in the fourth generation from a German couple, who emigrated to America in Colonial times, settling in York County, Pa. On a farm in that county they passed the remainder of their days. In their family was a son Adam, who was about three years of age when brought to America, and who, after reaching man’s estate, removed to Lancaster County. He had learned the trade of a wagon-maker and upon changing his residence opened a shop in Columbia. There he carried on the manufacture of wagons until 1830 or 1831, when he made an overland journey to Ohio. He lived in Franklin County three years and a half, and then came to Clark County, purchasing a farm two and a half miles from Springfield. After living on the farm a few years he became an inmate of the home of his son Jacob, dying in February, 1848, at the age of eighty years. He had married Mary Sophia Gove, who died on the home farm in February, 1840. She is thought to have been a native of York County, Pa. Of the nine children born to this worthy pioneer couple, all but one passed the allotted age of man. Daniel reached the age of eighty-six years; Catherine and Jacob were eighty-three when called hence; Mary died when eighty-six years old; John, who is now living in Columbus, has reached that age; Sarah died when thirty-six years old; William, whose home is in Springfield Township, is now seventy-nine years old; George, who lives in the city of Springfield, is seventy-seven; and Sophia died at the age of about sixty years.

Daniel Otsot, the father of our subject, was a native of York County, Pa., his natal day having been April 27, 1795. He was but four years old when his parents removed to Lancaster County, in which he was reared and married. He followed his trade of wagon-making in Columbia until 1835, and after spending a few months upon the farm, came with his wife and children to Ohio. He spent the winter in Columbus, and the following spring took up his abode in Clark County, purchasing a tract of timber land three and one-half miles south of Springfield. A log cabin stood in a half-acre clearing, that being the only improvement upon the place. He cleared the land and made various improvements upon the place, residing there for many years. He then removed to Springfield, and rested from his labors until called hence in November, 1880. He had lived to see railroads take the place of many of the old trails, domestic animals that of wild game, and the dense forests give place to cultivated fields and thriving towns. His wife was known in her girlhood as Miss Hannah Dushane. She was born in Delaware, February 11, 1796, and died at the home farm herein 1861. She had reared eight children, carefully instilling into their minds the principles of right living, and herself enjoying with her husband the respect of the community.

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This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

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