south shore of Lake Erie. The flour was purchased readily, and the enterprising young merchant was told to follow the first consignment by others. He did so, and also added pork and wool to his shipments. He was busy, and was prospered financially. During his residence in Bloomfield he had a part in many local improvements and enterprises, and worked in many ways for the public good. He was one of the projectors of the turnpike road that ran from Warren to Ashtabula, and also among the earliest friends and support ers of the canals when those great artificial waterways were first proposed. In 1834 he was elected, much against his wish, as one of the representatives of Trumbull county to the general assembly of Ohio, and gave to his public duties the same care, attention and command of practical good sense that were such prominent features of his business life.

In 1836 Mr. Otis, feeling the need of a wider field and opportunities more. commensurate with his matured power, decided on a change of location, and selected Cleveland as his future home. The welcome given him here was equaled by the regret of his old friends and associates in Trumbull county. He became from the first the active, moving force in one place that he had been in the other. He had command of a considerable capital, and was justified in larger operations than had been possible before. He continued in the old line of business, buying and selling flour, pork and potash, to which iron was soon added. From the first he

took a leading position among the business men of Cleveland. The needs and prospects of the iron business took a strong hold on his interests from the first, and in 1840 he decided on a venture that took some courage and capital, but that seemed in his careful judgment to offer a sure reward for the future. He built the first iron works of any size in Cleveland, and thus laid the foundation of the marvelous industry that has since grown up within these borders. He was busy and helpful to the growing city in other ways. When the building of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati railroad was proposed, Mr. Otis was one of the first men to put his shoulders to the wheel, and to freely. offer his time and money to the advancement of an enterprise he had the vision to see would become one of Cleveland's surest roads to prosperity. He not only aided it himself, but he went forth and labored with others in its behalf. He was also an earnest friend to the Cleveland & Pittsburgh road, and to the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis line. He was a director in the two first named for many years, at a time when men managed roads in the interest of the owners and the public, and not for the benefit of a few railroad magnates. In these lines and the great benefit they have been to Cleveland, can be found enduring records of the wisdom, good judgment and honest purpose of William A. Otis and the men who labored with him in those days.

Mr..Otis, connection with the banks of Cleveland was of an enduring and beneficial character. The Commercial

bank of Cleveland was organized in 1845 as a branch bank of the State Bank of Ohio, with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Otis was one of the originators and chief moving spirits in bringing this great corporation into being, and was made a member of its first board of directors. He was also chosen its president, Mr. T. P. Handy becoming cashier. The capital stock was gradually increased as the demands of the business grew, until 1848, when it stood at one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. In November, 1858, Mr. Otis, by reason of the pressure of other business, decided to resign the presidency of the bank, and was succeeded by Mr. Handy. In January, 1862, Mr. Otis was again prevailed upon to accept his old place, and remained therein until the bank wound up its affairs, on the expiration of its charter in 1865. Its place was immediately taken by its successor, the Commercial National bank, that was organized with a capital stock of six hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Otis was one of the corporators, a member of the board of directors, and the president, which position he held until his death in 1868. The growth of the bank in business and reputation under his care was steady and permanent, so much so that the capital stock had to be increased from time to time. His wise counsel, good judgment, and far-seeing financial vision, were ever at the service of the bank, and his personal reputation was such as to inspire the fullest public confidence in the institution under his control. In 1851 Mr.

Otis became a member of the private banking house of Wicks, Otis & Brownell, but disposed of his interest to his partners in 1854. His work in connection with the Society for Savings was of a noble character, and demands for him the honor and gratitude of every person who has received benefit from that beneficient institution. It never could have become the great power for good into which it has grown had not Mr. Otis given it inspiration and aid in a time when it needed both. The history of that institution has already been given in these pages, and need not be repeated here. Mr. Otis was one of its corporators, and its friend from the day of its birth until the close of his life. He held the position of president for thirteen years, and that at a time when able financial management and the gaining of the confidence of the people were needed to make of it a success. He was also one of the means by which the State Bank of Ohio came into being, was one of its organizers, and a member of the board of control that had in its charge during the entire period of its existence. Of the work that was there done one of the historians of that institution* has said:

The State Bank of Ohio demonstrated the wisdom of its founders. It lived through some troublesome times, but kept its integrity. It did what it was designed to do, furnished a safe circulating medium for the people of the state, at all times convertible into coin, and at the same time paid its stockholders a good interest on their investment. But the success of the bank was assured under the control of such men as managed it. It is safe to assume that

* Honorable J. J. Janney, in Magazine of Western History for June, 1885.

no other organization existed in the state including such an array of men remarkable for intelligence, morality and upright business integrity.

Mr. Otis was connected with many

through the last thirty years of the life of Mr. Otis," recently said Hon. J. J. Janney of Columbus, "which brought me in close business relationship with

and carried forward in Cleveland during his residence here. He was one of the originators and first members of the Cleveland board of trade. He was

one of the commissioners representing Cleveland in the negotiations that culminated in the union of Ohio City and the city of Cleveland into one great corporate body, and that result was greatly aided by his quiet influence and diplomacy in handling any measure entrusted to his hands. In a short history

of the Cleveland water works I find the

following reference to the subject of this

sketch :

There was much preliminary discussion, many surveys and estimates made, and in 1854, a plan was adopted. To carry out this plan on the first day of May, 1854, the passage of an act of the legislature was procured, enabling the city to locate its reservoir and make its connections with the lake within the limits of the city of Ohio, and authorizing the

city to make a loan of one hundred thousand dollars to carry out the project. The loan was conditioned upon a vote of popular approval, which was given. Backed by the credit of such sterling men as Richard Hilliard and W. A. Otis, the city readily negotiated the loan, and the work was entered upon.

The history of Cleveland from 1836 to 1868 is full of such references to Mr. Otis, showing where he had been of public service, and always proving him useful, industrious and on the side of progress and right. He was one whom men could respect and honor, and in his long business life in Cleveland, no stain was ever cast upon his reputation.

"During an acquaintance extending

wisdom and integrity I could rely for counsel on all occasions and under all circumstances; one who did not put took it with him into the business of religion on as a Sunday garment, but every week day; to be in its fullest character, a Christian gentleman." The acceptance, that highest type of human echo of this sentiment could be discovered in the hearts of all who knew him well, and I could set down here many incidents in illustration of his stern and

unwavering honesty, and how it was so carried out in little things as to make a deep and lasting impression on the minds of his children and those about him. He was simple in his tastes and habits of life, and as wealth came to him as a reward for his application and industry, there was no increase of display on his part, but his charities were largely increased, and especially among those connected with his church. As a business man he was conservative and cautious, yet he knew when and where to take risks, and once embarked in an enterprise had the courage to see it through to the end. Personally, he was of a genial, pleasant disposition, enjoying the society of his friends and family, and living loyally up to every duty of his public, business or social life. He was one of those men who can be independent without being obstinate; conservative, but not harnessed to dogmas or