In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printings (1902 and 1908) are folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1837
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908), A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902), The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
WILLIAM T. OTSTOT, farmer; P. O. Springfield. Mr. O. is the son of Daniel and Hannah (Dushane) Otstot, and was born Dec. 16, 1837, on the farm where he now lives, in the old house which stood near his present residence. He has always lived on the farm excepting while in the army. He enlisted, in 1861, in the 44th O. V. I, and served in said regiment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He was in every battle in which said regiment was engaged, and never received a wound. He was married, Jan. 2, 1868, to Mary A. Willis, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shanks) Willis. They had born unto them three children—Nellie Willis, born Feb. 9, 1870; Walter W. Dec. 16, 1873; Harry M., Dec. 15, 1877; Walter, died Jan. 20, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Otstot are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and live consistent lives in accordance with the teachings of said church. Mr. O. is a man of true gentlemanly principles, and Mrs. O. is a noble-hearted lady, who knows well how to make home cheerful and pleasant. Mr. O.s parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1837 and located in this county. Mrs. 0.’s father was born in England, and emigrated to America in 1837. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM T. OTSTOT.
William T. Otstot, well known as an enterprising agriculturist of Clark county, was born in December, 1837, on the old homestead farm which his father purchased in that year, and it is still his home. He is a son of Daniel and Hannah (Dushane) Otstot. The former was born and reared in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and by his marriage became the father of ten children, of whom the subject of this review is the youngest.
In early life William T. Otstot became familiar with farm work through the assistance which he rendered tó his father in cultivating the fields of the home farm. He was thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when aroused by a spirit of patriotism he offered his services to the government, enlisting in September, 1861, as a member of the Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he served continuously until January, 1804. a member of the Eighth Cavalry, with which he continued until July, 1865. The war having closed, he was then mustered out at Camp Dennison. He had first enlisted in the Sprinfield fair grounds and he re-enlisted at Strawberry Plains, in east Tennessee. His duty largely took him to the outposts, but he participated in the siege of Knoxville
He then re-enlisted as and was always true to the old flag, faithfully responding to every call made upon him and to every military task which was assigned him. After his return home he resumed farming upon the old home place which his father had purchased in 1837, paying eighteen dollars per acre for it. In 1881 Mr. Otstot purchased this farm from the other heirs, paying one hundred dollars per acre for the tract of one hundred acres. This rise of value indicates the improved condition of the farm as well as the advanced progress caused by the growth in population in the county. He keeps his farm under a good state of cultivation and it is equipped with modern machinery and all accessories found upon a model farm of the twentieth century.
In 1868 Mr. Otstot was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Willis, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Willis, of Columbus, Ohio, both of whom are now deceased. _ Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children, but Walter, the second, died in infancy. The daughter, Nellie,. is at home, and Harry, who is now twenty-. four years of age, assists his father in the work of the farm. Mr. Otstot is connected with Mitchell Post, No. 45, G. A. R., and is to-day a loyal citizen, very deeply interested in the welfare of his county, state and nation, and their substantial progress.
As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM T. OTSTOT, a representative citizen and leading agriculturist of Springfield Township, who resides on his home farm of seventy-five acres, which is situated in section 31, owns thirty acres more, just across the road, practically in the same farm. Mr. Otstot was born in the old log house which then stood on this farm, December 19, 1837, and is a son of Daniel and Hannah (Dushane) Otstot.
Daniel Otstot was born in Pennsylvania, in 1795, and died at Springtield, Ohio, in November, 1881, aged eighty-six years. His father, Adam Otstot, was born in Germany. Daniel Otstot was married in Pennsylvania, to Hannah Dushane, who was born in Delaware, of French parentage, and die on the present home farm, in February, 1860. All of their ten children, with the exception of William T., the youngest, were born before the family left Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1837 there was a great movement of settlers from the East to Ohio, and among these came Daniel Otstot, wife and seven children, two having died prior to this, and after they reached Clark County, the father secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, sixty of which he soon transferred to a brother. A small clearing had been made, on which stood a log cabin, but all the remainder of the land was covered with forest. Daniel Otstot immediately began to clear up the land and to put it under cultivation. In 1850, he built the large brick house which his son
William T. occupies. He remained active until advanced in years, when he retired to Springfield. His children were: Martha Ann, who married AVilliam Bunvan, both deceased; John Dushane, residing at Springfield, aged eighty-six years; Mary Jane, who married John W. Randall, both deceased; Adam Hunter, Alfred Walraven, Thomas Miller and Sarah Catherine, all deceased; two children died young; and William T., of Springfield Township.
William T. Otstot obtained his education in the neighborhood schools and grew to manhood on the home farm, twelve acres of which he cleared of timber. Mr. Otstot is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted first on September 20, 1861, in Company I, Forty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and during his three long years of service, took part in many very serious battles through Kentucky and Virginia. Before the expiration of his first enlistment he re-enlisted in January, 1864, becoming a member of the; Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and was finally mustered out at Clarksburg, West Virginia, July 30, 1865. Mr. Otstot is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Springfield. After the close of his military service, he returned to Springfield Township and has been engaged in farming here until the present. In 1906 he erected the comfortable frame residence adjoining his own, which is occupied by his son.
On January 2, 1868, Mr. Otstot was married to Mary A. Willis, who was reared near Columbus, in Franklin County, and is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shanks) Willis. They have had three children, namely: Nellie W.; Walter W., who was born in December, 1873, and died aged four years; and Harry M., who was born in December, 1877. He married Bessie Starliey. Mr. Otstot and family belong to the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church at Springfield.
Keifer was married in April, 1902, to Mary Wilson, a daughter of T. B. Wilson, of Madison Countv, Ohio.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.