Harvey Otter

HARVEY OTTER, farmer and dealer in lumber, coal, salt, etc., in Atwood, was born April 9, 1822, in Wayne County, Ohio, and is the son of James and Martha (Molatt) Otter; his father was born in Scotland, and emigrated to Virginia when young; his mother was a native of Virginia.

Their parents removed to Ohio when young. James Otter, father of this subject, died in Warren County, Ohio, in January, 1833, aged thirty-four years. Soon after, his mother moved to Fountain County, Ind., where she died, aged sixty-two years.

Harvey lived on his mother's farm till the age of twenty-four, when he moved to Cedar County, Iowa, entered 120 acres of land, and lived there for a period of about six years. In 1850, he removed to Coles (now Douglas) County, entered 200 acres in Section 29, and there remained till February, 1875, when he moved to Section 31, where he now lives, and owns 160 acres, improved with a comfortable house, built in 1875, which cost about $2,000; the barn, built at the same time, cost about $800; it has also other improvements.

His brother John was a soldier in the Mexican war, and died in March, 1882, aged fifty-five years, in Fountain County, Ind. His father's family consisted of six children, viz., Harvey, Peter, John, Mary J., Elizabeth and Agnes Ann.

Harvey was married, in 1846, to Eliza Griffin. She was born September 3, 1823, in Pickaway County, Ohio. They had nine children, six of whom are living, viz.:

• Martha J. (now Mrs. Cochran),
• Elizabeth (now Mrs. Collins),
• Henrietta (now Mrs. Bishop),
• Harvey H., Mary and
• Thomas G.

They lost two in infancy, and William died in 1871, aged twenty-four years.

Mr. Otter owns 164 acres of land in Piatt County, which is improved; he also owns a large number of lots in Atwood, a residence there, besides other buildings. A part of the town of Atwood was laid out on his land.