Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/168

 OTEY

OTiS

honors from the University of North Carolina, A.B., 1820, A.M., 1823. He wtvs tutor in Latin and Greek at the university, 1820-21, and taut^lit in a private school, Warrentou, N.C. He studied theology under Bishop Ravenscroft; was ad- mitted by him to the diaconate and to the priest- hood, and was rector of St. Paul's, Franklin, Tenn., 1827-35, and of St. Peter's, Columbia. He was elected the first bishop of Tennessee in 1834, and was consecrated by Bishops White, Onder- donk and Doane, Jan. 14. 1834. As pioneer bisliop of the church in the southwest, he had missionary jurisdiction over Arkansas, Louisiana, Indian Territory, Mississippi and Florida. He made St. Peter's church, Columbia, the cathedral church in 1835, and removed to Memphis, Tenn., wliere he erected St. Mary's cathedral. At the outbreak of the civil war he opposed secession, and altliough he was a firm friend and co-worker with Bishop Polk, refused to attend the conven- tion of soutliern bishops held in Georgia, and re- mained loyal to the government. He established Columbia institute, a school for girls at Columbia, Tenn., while residing there, and was one of the first to propose the theological school which be- came the University of the South at Sewanee. The honorary degree of S.T.D. was conferred upon him by Columbia college in 1833 and that of LL.D. by the Universitj- of North Carolina in 1859. He is the author of: The Unity of the Church (1852). and of many sermons. He died in Mempliis, Tenn.. April 23, 1863.

OTEY, Peter Johnston, representative, was born in Lynchburg, Va., Dec. 22, 1840; son of John M. and Lucy Wilhelmina (Norvell) Otey; grandson of Isaac Otey, for thirty years a state senator, and a descendant of John Otey of Revo- lutionary fame, and of Capt. Matthews, who served at Point Pleasant, Va., Oct. 10, 1774. He was graduated from the Virginia Military insti- tute, Lexington, Va., in July, 1860, and while a cadet took part in the defence of the state during the John Brown raid. He engaged as a civil en- gineer on the Virginia and Kentucky railroad, and in April, 1861, joined the Confederate army, serving throughout the war with the Armj- of Northern Virginia. He was severely wounded at the battle of New Market, Va., May 15, 1864, and as senior field officer commanded a brigade under General Early in the battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864. Upon the close of the war he re- turned to Lynchburg and engaged in the railroad, banking and insurance busine.ss. He was a Democratic representative in the 54th, 55th. 56th and 57th congresses, 189.5-1902. He died at Lynchburg. Va.. May 4. 1902.

OTIS, Eliza Henderson (Boardman), author, was born in Boston. Mass.. .July 27. 1796; daugh- ter of William H. and Elizabeth (Henderson)

Boardman, and granddaughter of Joseph Hender- son, who read tiie proclamation announcing " A Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and America," from the Old State House balcon}-, Boston, April 23, 1783. She was carefully edu- cated, and was married, May 6, 1817, to Harrison Gray Otis, 2d (1793-1827); Harvard, A.B., 1811, A.M., 1814. Shortly after his death .she went to Europe, where she resided seven years and where her two sons were educated. While in Europe she was presented at several courts and after her return to Boston was prominent in society. She was interested in various charitable institutions, especially the Blind asylum and the Sailors' Snug Harbor. She aided in the purcha.se of Mt. Ver- non, the home of Washington, and in the erection of the Washington equestrian statue, and was the first to celebrate regularly Wasliington's birthday, throwing open her house to tiie public on each succeeding February 22. Through her appeal to the legislature the day was set aside as a legal holiday by Massachusetts, which was the first state to recognize it as such. Upon the out- break of civil war, she took charge of the Evans House aid committee, for which she was thanked by the mayor and council. Her portrait, painted by George P. A. Healy, is owned by the Bostonian society. She is the author of: The Barclays of Boston (1854). and articles in the Boston Trans- cript. She died in Boston, Mass., Jan. 21, 1873.

OTIS, Elwell Stephen, soldier, was born in Frederick, Md., March 25, 1838; son of William and Maiy Ann Catharine (Late) Otis; grandson of Elwell and Sallie (Evans) Otis, and of Michael and Maria Late, and descendant of John Otis, born at Barnstaple. Devon- shire, England, 1581, who came to this country in 1635 and settled in Hingham, Mass. He was gradu- ated from the Univer- sity of Rochester in 1858, and from the Harvard Law school in 1861; practiced law in Rochester, N. Y., 1860-62, and join- ed the Federal army, Sept. 13, 1862, as cap- tain in the 140tli New York volunteer in- fantry attached to Warren's brigade, Sykes's di- vision, and afterward to Ayres's brigade. Griffin's division, 5th army corps. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Get- tysburg, Rappahannock Station. Mine Run, the Wilderness. Spotlsylvania, North Anna, Tolopo- tomy and Bethesda Church: was promoted lieu-

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