USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland and its environs; the heart of new Connecticut > Part 6
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This orator and statesman was one of the direct ancestors of William A. Otis. The lat- ter was born in Massachusetts. February 2, 1794. About 1818 he started westward, travel- ing on foot to Pittsburgh. Here he found a humble task of employment with an iron estab- lishment and this employment was an experi- ence which no doubt bore fruit many years later in Cleveland. He was rapidly promoted,
but at the end of two years the company failed and he lost all his savings. With resolute spirit he started again on another western quest, walking all the distance to Bloomfield in Trumbull County, Ohio. Here he cleared a tract of land, and established a primitive mer- cantile business, furnishing the settlers goods in exchange for ashes, wheat and other produce. He also conducted a tavern for the entertainment of the traveling public. Ashes at that time were used in the manufacture of black salts or impure potash, and this was the only strictly cash article in the country. The casks of potash were hauled to the river and sent by flat boats to New Orleans and thence to New York. Mr. Otis, it is said, did much of his own teaming, transporting the goods by wagon to Pittsburgh and returning with mer- chandise for his store at Bloomfield.
The first important revelation of his large mindedness in a business way came about the time the Erie Canal was completed in 1825. The people of Northeastern Ohio were then raising an abundance of grain, which they gladly sold for 25 cents a bushel. It was Mr. Otis who determined to make a new outlet and market for Ohio flour at New York. He is credited with having shipped the first lot of Western Reserve flour to that market. As there had previously been no demand for flour barrels, there were no coopers at Bloomfield, and Mr. Otis sent men into the woods to manu- facture at first hand the staves for his rough but serviceable barrels. The flour was ground in a mill a few miles north of Bloomfield, was packed in the barrels, and hauled to Ashtabula Creek, where it was loaded on a schooner and taken to Buffalo and by way of canal to New York. The quality of the flour was regarded by New York merchants as in no way inferior to that of the Genesee country, which was then thought to produce the finest flour manufac- tured. The eastern merchants at once recog- nized the significance of trade with this new country on the shores of Lake Erie and offered every encouragement for the manufacture and shipment of flour and other commodities that might be produced in that section. Thus Mr. Otis was one of the primary factors in utiliz- ing the Lake Erie waterway for establishing reciprocal relations between the great market centers of the east and the productive regions of the west. He later took up the shipment of wool and pork, and for nearly twenty years was one of the leading shippers from his sec- tion of the Western Reserve.
He came to recognize the immense advan-
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tages and possibilities of Cleveland as a coming city, and in 1836 he removed his home to the lake port and thenceforward continued his mercantile operations with this city as his headquarters. He was one of the leading deal- ers in pork, flour and potash, and also became actively connected with the iron trade. It was his extensive business interests that caused him to give studious attention to the great problems of that day, as at present, transportation. The waterways were open to the eastern markets, but tremendous obstacles had to be overcome in getting the goods down to the docks. First of all he sought good highways, and his was an influence in opening one of the earliest turn- pikes of Northeastern Ohio through Bloomfield from Warren to Ashtabula. By the coopera- tion of steamers upon Lake Erie and the Ohio Canal the goods of the inland district were thus made more available. He also favored, protected and cooperated many of these inter- ests and also was an early advocate of railway building. His name is associated with the early history of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincin- nati, the Cleveland & Pittsburgh, and the Belle- fontaine & Indianapolis railroads. He not only had a commanding position among the powerful business interests of the country, but also moved easily and exerted his tactful in- fluence among the farmers and other indi- vidual producers, whose support was hardly less vital to the welfare and success of early railroads. For many years he served as a director of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincin- nati and the Cleveland & Pittsburgh.
William A. Otis was one of the pioneer iron- masters of Cleveland, and it was largely under his influence that Cleveland became one of the most important iron centers of the country.
When the law was enacted which authorized the State Bank of Ohio, he was among the first to perceive its advantages, and in company with others organized under its provisions the Commercial Branch Bank of Cleveland. He was its first president and save for a short interval continued at the head of the institu- tion throughout the twenty years of its exist- ence. On the expiration of its charter in 1865 the Commercial National Bank was organized and he was elected its president. an office lie held until the day of his death. He was other- wise closely identified with financial interests in Cleveland, and was one of the corporators and for a number of years president of the Society for Savings. He was a member of the banking firm of Wick, Otis & Brownell.
Finally at the age of seventy-two, wearied with the cares aud responsibilities of life, full
of years and honor, he was called upon to lay down the implements of toil and enter into his rest. His death occurred at Cleveland, May 11, 1868. Throughout the whole period of his life he had sustained an irreproachable char- acter and had exemplified the most eminent public and social virtues. While so conspic- uous in commercial and economic affairs, one of his chief interests for many years was the promotion of religion and the general public welfare. He was distinguished not alone for his energy, but by a remarkable simplicity of character, and was readily accorded the high- est esteem and confidence of all who knew him or were influenced directly or indirectly by his masterly handling of affairs. For a quarter of a century his name was associated with all of Cleveland's important commercial, financial and religious interests. A Cleveland paper at the time of his death said: "Scrupulously careful in the administration of the public trusts committed to him, shrewd and prudent as well as highly honorable in the management of his private business, his industry and enter- prise have been amply rewarded while his many excellent qualities of head and heart, his kindly and courteous demeanor toward all with whom he associated, has secured for him the universal esteem of the community." He was thoroughly a Christian and soon after coming to Cleveland united with the First Presbyterian Church, then under the pastoral charge of Reverend Doctor Aiken. He was soon chosen one of its elders and held that office until the Second Presbyterian Church was organized by a colony from the first church in 1844. Of this church he was one of the corporators and was chosen an elder at its first election. This office he continued to hold until his death.
It should also be recalled that he was one of the founders of the original Cleveland Board of Trade, and was one of the commissioners from that body which undertook the negotia- tions for the merging of Ohio City and Cleve- land as one city. The result was largely pro- moted through his quiet influence and diplo- macy. He was a man of great charity and gave liberally of his means to religious bodies and related philanthropies.
On December 22, 1825, William A. Otis mar- ried Eliza Proctor, of Manchester, Massachu- setts. To their marriage were born two sons and a daughter : Charles A. Otis, whose career is sketched on other pages; Eliza P., who be- came the wife of Hon. T. D. Crocker of Cleve- land: and William H., who became a well known resident of Indianapolis, Indiana.
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CHARLES A. OTIS, SR. While it was to the industrial and financial history of Cleveland that the late Charles A. Otis made his chief contribution, he is remembered not only as a man exceptionally forceful in the handling of large business responsibilities, but also for his genial personal character and the public spirit which made him a guiding power in the city's advancement and progress.
He was the strong central link in the family chain which has been one of the greatest sources of power to Cleveland during the last fourscore years. He inherited much from his father, William A. Otis, and his sturdy New England ancestors, and while the task of open- ing up markets and laying industrial founda- tions had largely been completed when he came upon the stage of activity, there is much of creative and pioneer work which can be credited to his individual achievements.
In the old home of his father at Bloomfield, Ohio, Charles A. Otis, Sr., was born January 30, 1827. A long life was vouchsafed to him, and it was in the fullness of years and the maturity of achievement that he died at the home of his son, Charles, Jr., at Cleveland, on June 28, 1905. His early instruction came chiefly from country schools, limited in curri- culum and facilities. While he would have been among the last to assert a claim to scholar- ship, he was in spite of early disadvantages a man of thorough learning, and of exceeding breadth of knowledge gained from long and intimate contact with men, affairs, and broad- ened by travel and keen and vitalizing intel- lect. When he was nine years of age his parents removed to Cleveland and his early experiences were as a worker in his father's store and the bank. At the age of twenty-one he became purser on one of the old Winslow boats. As stated elsewhere his father was the pioneer ironmaster of Cleveland, and it was in the iron and steel industry Charles A. Otis be- came a dominant figure in Cleveland industrial affairs.
In 1853 he organized the firm of Ford & Otis, and set up the first forge in Cleveland, beginning the manufacture of axles and bar iron. This factory was an innovation in Cleve- land and was the first of its kind west of Syra- cuse, New York. After the Civil war Mr. Otis spent some time abroad, and at Berlin learned a new process of making steel, and on return- ing to America arranged to make use of the process on the royalty basis. About that time he established the Otis Iron & Steel Company, later the Otis Steel Company, and built the
largest open hearth steel plant in the country. His associates in that enterprise were E. B. Thomas, Thomas Jopling, J. K. Bole and S. T. Wellman. Mr. Otis was the first president of the company and held that office until 1899, when the property was sold to an English syndicate, but he remained chairman of the board of directors for several years longer.
In 1894 Mr. Otis became president of the Commercial National Bank. This bank was the direct outgrowth of the old bank chartered as a branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and of which his honored father had for many years been the active executive head. Charles Otis was president of the Commercial National for ten years, until in 1904 it and the Mercantile National Bank were consolidated as the present National Commercial Bank, at which time Mr. Otis retired. His business interests made him a prominent figure in many sections of the country. He was one of the founders of the American Wire Company, which later became the American Steel and Wire Company, and was connected with The Standard Sewing Ma- chine Company, The American Steel Screw Company, The Cleveland Electric Railway Company, and The Society for Savings. At one time he was associated with Doctor Everett in the old East Cleveland lines.
The greater part of the last fifteen years of his life he spent in New York, and enjoyed a peculiar place of esteem and dignity among the financiers and business men of the metrop- olis. He was a member of the Ohio Society of New York. He also spent much time in travel, and knew all the places of interest both in his home land and in Europe. As a business man he retained many of the charac- teristies of the old-time industrial leader and the loyalty that was given was the direct and personal tribute of the worker to natural born leadership. A signal proof of his power and influence is that there was never a strike in the history of his iron and steel works.
While he always exemplified the spirit of service, he made his life count for most through the industries which he promoted and maintained and which were in the nature of a semi-publie institution. Only once did he fill important public office. In 1872 while he was arranging to build the largest open-hearth steel plant in the country he was elected to the office of mayor of Cleveland. He filled-a very successful term, but at its end declined to ac- cept renomination since his business interests made it imperative that he devote all his time to them. It is said that he was nominated for
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CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS
the office during his absence and without his knowledge, and was thus practically drafted into public service.
Concerning his business character perhaps the most succinct statement is found in the editorial columns of one of Cleveland's papers after his death. "In the death of Charles A. Otis the city loses one of the builders of Cleve- land. He was a pioneer in the creative indus- trial enterprises which made this city as it is today a possibility. He ran risks and reached the rewards of the path breaker, whose ven- tures into new fields are followed by less daring and able men. In the making of iron and steel, in banking, in varied manufacturing interests, Charles A. Otis was one of the most active forces in the growth of Cleveland. He pro- moted progress in all directions. The whole world of industry, finance and trade felt the stimulating effects of his many sided enter- prises. He was an inspiration and example for a goodly number of younger men who came within the scope of his personal influence. His great popularity bore witness that in this strong man's career success did not blunt humanity. He was loved and trusted by his employees as well as by his business associates. His judgment was as sound as his impulses were kindly. Enterprises which he founded went forward to great success. He was a stranger to defeat. The loss of such a citizen is a blow to Cleveland, which would be more felt if Charles A. Otis had not retired from active business and put his affairs in order some time before his death. Age and leisure had withdrawn him from the broad field of the city's productive interests before his long and useful life came to its end. A maker of Cleve- land is missed from the scene of his labors and triumphs."
Mr. Otis was twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Shepard, who died leaving two daughters: Mrs. Judge William B. Sanders and Mrs. Dr. J. Kent Sanders. For his second wife he married Miss Ann Eliza Shepard, sis- ter of his first wife. By this marriage there were three sons: William A., Charles A, and Harrison G.
Biography inevitably concerns itself largely with the material facts and incidents of life and often leaves the question of personality and of character-that which is above and in- eludes all material achievements-unanswered. For this reason there is special value in the remarks made by Rev. Paul F. Sutphen at the funeral of Mr. Otis. In these remarks he sought to interpret him as the man rather than
as the business leader. He said in part : "Probably those who were most intimate with Mr. Otis as they look back over the years in which they have known him, will think of two striking characteristics of his life. One of these undoubtedly was the large and generous sympathy for those who needed the services he could render and especially to those in the humbler walks of life. It has been said of him that of the large number of men with whom he was in a sense in contact in the years of active work, of the large number of men in the em- ploy of the great industries with which he was associated, he knew almost each man by name. The sympathy of a generous heart toward those in need was one of the characteristics of our friend. There are two ways of displaying or of executing the general impulses of life. One toward the great institutions representing public philanthropy ; the other the individual thought for the individual need. It is not easy to discriminate between these two or to speak of one as being of greater advantage than the other, yet doubtless it is a fact that he who feels the cry of another human soul and responds to its necessity, has reflected back in his own soul the sense of gratification and joy which is not attainable where the largest part of one's generosity is bestowed upon the public institutions. It is doubtless true that outside of the innermost circle of his associates and perhaps not even there, is it known how large and how constant were the kindly benefits be- stowed upon those to whom they were needful most. Undoubtedly a characteristic of our friend that will never be forgotton in the inner- most circle was the personal affectionate devo- tion to those who were near and dear to him. It is not always that as one creeps up in years to the number of those attained by Mr. Otis that a little child still finds congeniality there and the touch of sympathy. It was always found where this friend of ours came in con- tact with a little child.
"Seventy years I believe it is since Mr. Otis first came to this city ; then hardly more than a village. Now it is a great city and it has been by the activity and achievement of such men as he that this is so. I will mention the fact that it was Mr. Otis' father who was one of the founders of the Second Presbyterian church, which for these sixty-six years past has been one of the great religious forces in this community, and during all these years that have gone by there has never been a mo- ment when some member of this family has not been identified with its interests and a part
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CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS
of its life. It is a great thing to leave behind one tlie inheritance of stable worth. Men live in their children and in their children's chil- dren. No man liveth to himself-no man dieth to himself. He who fancies that his life con- cerns none but himself is vastly deceived. We could look back today and think of one un- known doubtless to many of us here-to most of us here-but one who is known by name at least to very many within these walls-the father of our departed friend-and the power and the godliness of that life transmitted by many channels into the life of this city is still living though he long since has passed away."
CHARLES A. OTIS, Cleveland capitalist, banker, civic worker, club man, sportsman and stock breeder, was born in Cleveland, July 9, 1868. His father was Charles A. Otis, founder of the Otis Iron & Steel Company, and his grandfather was William A. Otis, pioneer in commerce and banking of the Western Reserve, both of whom are mentioned more at length elsewhere.
Mr. Otis was educated in the public schools and at Brooks Military Academy in Cleveland, at Andover Preparatory School and at Yale University, being graduated from Sheffield School of the last-named institution in 1890 with a scientific degree.
His school days ended, he went to Colorado to live the cow puncher life. With D. D. Case- ment, of Painesville, Ohio, he rode the Una- weep range, the two doing much of their own cattle handling and ranch work. From this experience Mr. Otis brought back a keen inter- est in horsemanship and cattle breeding which never has waned.
Back in Cleveland in 1895, he took a hand in the iron and steel industry, as his father and grandfather had done, joining Addison H. Hough & Company under the new title of Otis, Hough & Company and engaging in the commission and agency business. For some years they represented Jones & Laughlin of Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Tube Company, Painter & Sons and other finishing mills.
The consolidation of the steel companies and establishment of their own agencies imposed upon Mr. Otis the important work of placing the securities of several big steel corporations and resulted in the transfer of his attention from dealing in iron and steel to dealing in investments. To facilitate the new work he bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange in 1900 (the first such seat owned in Cleve- land) and the firm was reorganized as Otis & Vol. II-3
Hough, bankers and brokers. This firm was largely instrumental in the formation of the Cleveland Stock Exchange, of which both Mr. Otis and Mr. Hough have served as president.
In 1912 the firm was again reorganized as Otis & Company, Mr. Hough retiring and Mr. Otis associating with himself Messrs. William A. Otis, M. C. Harvey, George W. York, Cyrus S. Eaton, Richard Inglis, Edward Bower, F. L. Griffith and Raymond Sargeant, several of whom had been connected with the house for some years.
Otis & Company retain extensive offices in the Cuyahoga Building, fronting Cleveland's noted public square, have dircet wire connec- tion with all important cities in the United States and Canada and deal largely in munic- ipal bonds and other staple securities, enjoy- ing wide repute for conservative and con- structive policies.
Though the principal business of Otis & Company is investment banking, the stock de- partment now maintains branch offices in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado; in Casper, Wyoming; and in Columbus, Akron and Youngstown, Ohio. An uptown branch is also operated in the Statler Hotel, Cleveland.
The expansion of his central commercial in- terest has never absorbed Mr. Otis' attention to the exclusion of other pursuits. He was the founder of The Cleveland News, forming it in 1905 by consolidating the News and Herald and the Evening Plain Dealer with the Cleveland World, already under his owner- ship. Until 1912, when he disposed of it to Dan R. Hanna, Mr. Otis was publisher of The News and through it exerted a palpable in- fluence on the interesting municipal develop- ments of the period.
Though frequently urged to become a candi- date, Mr. Otis has never sought political preferment or held an elective public office. The presidency of the chamber of commerce, called the highest non-political honor in Cleve- land's gift, has twice been his. Long active in the work of the organization, he was elected vice president in 1916, succeeded to the presi- dency on the resignation of the incumbent and was re-elected president in 1917, occupying the post during the busy months of America's en- trance into the World war.
His efforts in behalf of American arms have been put forth in other capacities as well. Mayor Harry L. Davis appointed him to the municipal war commission early in the con- flict. He bore a conspicuous part in the famous Red Cross fund campaign, in which Cleveland
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achieved special distinction. He is known for long and efficient support of various civic and philanthropie enterprises, particularly the Babies' Dispensary and Hospital, an institu- tion nationally famed for the efficacy of its work. In 1917 he was appointed an original member of Cleveland's subway commission, receiving the compliment of the five-year term.
He was active in the establishment of the Cleveland Athletic Club and served as its president. He was prominent for years in amateur harness racing, long a fashionable sport in Cleveland under the auspices of the Gentlemen's Driving Club. There is scarcely a social club of standing or a civic organiza- tion of repute in the city that has not benefited through his membership.
The Otis summer home is at Tannenbaum Farm, near Willoughby, Ohio, a large estate including several once-separate farms and the scene of Mr. Otis' activities as a stock breeder. His interest as a breeder has long centered in the development of milking shorthorn cattle, a hobby that has won for the Otis Herd no little fame of the sort breeders value. The enterprise, however, is more than a hobby. Long before beef conservation and farm de- velopment became national problems, made the more pressing by war's necessities, Mr. Otis observed the obsolescence of the great cattle ranges of the West and gave serious thought to the result, seemingly of menace to a nation's food.
"To produce a cow that will give large buckets full of milk with heaps of butter in it and then raise a steer that will bring big money at the butcher's," was the problem he set himself. In the milking shorthorn, per- fected under his supervision at Tannenbaum Farm, through years of experiment and co- operation with other breeders, he believes the ideal double-purpose breed, the perfect "farmer's cow," has been closely approxi- mated. Though few farmers could hope to own such costly specimens as the handsome animals of the Otis Herd. it is believed the development and popularizing of the breed will go far toward providing the world's future supply of milk and beef. Mr. Otis' efforts to- ward this end have been recognized by election to office in the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association and similar organizations.
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