Otis Abell

OTIS ABELL, of the Winona Construction Company, is a man of wide business experience, enterprising and progressive, and among the valued citizens of his adopted county he is numbered. He was born in Otsego, Oswego County, N. Y., on the lath of May, 1844, and is a son of Lemuel and Sallie W. (Watson) Abell. The father was born in the Empire State in the year 1810, and there resided until 1848, when he removed to the West, locating in Dodge County, Wis. There he remained for seven years engaged in farming. In 1855 he came to Minnesota, and took up his residence in Wiscoy Township, Winona County* where he entered one hundred and twenty acres of land, having obtained it from the Government It was in a wild and unimproved state, but with characteristic energy he began its development and in course of time transformed it into rich and

Google fertile fields, which yielded to him a good income. For many years he was one of the representative citizens of his township, serving for a long period as Chairman of the Town Committee, and in all public affairs was recognized as a leader. In early days he was an Abolitionist, and supported that party when devotion to its principles caused much sacrifice. When the Republican party was formed to prevent th extension of slavery, he at once joined its ranks and was one of its earnest advocates throughout his remaining days. He took a deep interest in religious affairs, and was a member of the regular Baptist Church. His wife, a daughter of Pelatiah Watson, was born in Vermont in 1808, and is still living in Wiscoy Township, on the farm where they located on coming to the state. The Abell family numbered six children, namely: Austin, on the old homestead; Minerva L., widow of Alvin Ford; George, deceased; Otis,of this notice; and two who died in infancy.

Pelatiah Watson was a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. After his marriage he located in New York State, and in 1848 came West, settling in Dodge County, Wis. His death occurred at Trenton, that state, when in his eighty-second year. He had a family of three sons and three daughters, namely: Sallie W., who is still living, at the age of eighty-six; James, Candice, John, Louisa A. and Henry.

Otis Abell was a child of four summers when by his parents he was taken to Wisconsin, and was a lad of eleven years when he came to Minnesota. The educational privileges afforded him were those of the common schools. His services were muck in demand upon the farm, and he early became familiar with the arduous task of developing the wild prairie, but to his father he gave the benefit of his services until twenty-five years of age, when he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A.Hand, the ceremony being performed on the 26th of July,

Mrs. Abell was born in Wayne County, N. Y., and a daughter of Alphonso and Mary Ann

Itand. The family came to the West in 1866, and settled in Minnesota, but the parents are both now deceased, the father having passed away at the age of sixty-three, while the mother was called to the home beyond at the age of thirty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Abell now have three children: May, wife of Walter Birdlebaugh; Annie M. and Ida E.

After his marriage, Mr. Abell built a home and began life in earnest. He later engaged in railroading and contracting, to which work he devoted his energies for several years, and also sold agricultural implements. He then built a store at Centreville, where he engaged in merchandising for eight years, after which. he sold out, and in 1885 came to Winona, where he has since made his home. For a year and a-half he engaged in merchandising, and then sold out his interest in his store. He later embarked alone in the business of laying asphalt sidewalks, which proved a profitable venture, but he is now associated with other parties: In 1893 he became one of the partners in the Winona Construction Company, which is to-day recognized as one of the successful business firms of the city. They enjoy a liberal patronage, which is constantly increasing, and the contracts which they have made have yielded them a good income.

During the late war, Mr. Abell manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by responding to the President's call for troops. In 1862 he donned the blue, enrolling his name among the comrades of Company K,. Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, in which he faithfully served until discharged in 1864. He is now a memlier of John Ball Post,

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota: containing ... (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.