Written by RICHARD OTT (DickOtt@aol.com), APRIL, 1996

Prepared for internet by Jurg Ott (ott@rockefeller.edu). Early individuals of Ott family members going back to the 1300s may be found here, communicated to me by Marcia Ott.

See pictorial representations of the family tree , displayed in various tables. See also Arnold Ott's (1840-1911, Table 8) Festdrama for the 1901 Centenary celebration in Schaffhausen.

Dick's great grandfather, Georg Heinrich Ott (1844-1897, Tables 8 and 10), and Jurg's grandfather, Paul Heinrich Ott (1844-1929, Tables 8 and 11), were brothers. This makes us second cousins once removed. Jurg is in Table 11, Dick's father in Table 10. In the descriptions below, dates are given in the American manner, that is, as month/day/year.

This is the story of a family that is first heard of in the northern part of Switzerland. They were primarily members of the weaver's guild and ran a bleaching factory on the outside of Schaffhausen, a beautiful city on the Rhine near the Rhinefalls. The town is first mentioned in 1045 when it was given the right to mint coins and hold a market by Henry III. Several years later, a monastery (Monastery of All Saints) was founded and the city began to flourish. Schaffhausen joined the Swiss confederation in 1501. Most of the old town still remains and the homes and buildings have been maintained in a beautiful condition. The OTTs were very much a part of the history of this town and obtained positions of importance and respect from guild-masters to clerics to mayor. The earliest member of this family identified was Georg Ott who came from Zurich, some 30 miles south, and became a citizen of Schaffhausen in the 1560's by paying 30 florins to the city council and 20 more to the weaver's guild. He set up a bleaching factory just outside of town. His parentage is not known for certain although he most assuredly descended from Felix Ott (1398-1444), a citizen of Zurich who was beheaded while defending Greifensee in the war between Zurich and the Swiss Confederates. His son was Kilian Ott (1434-1500), who was a dyer and bought a house on the grounds of the Munsterhof or minister court at Zurich. His son Hermann (1470-1521) attained the honor of guild-master and chief magistrate at Dietlikon as well as ambassador at Zug. Hermann's son, Felix (1490-1558), also a dyer, remained in the Catholic church. He traditionally took the altar donated by his family in his house after the reformation. Another son, Hans fell in the battle of Cappel in 1528/29. While Georg is purported to be a descendant of Hans, exactly where Georg fits in with this family is still not known for certain.

This book is written by a descendent of Georg who emigrated to America in the 1860's and fought in America's civil war. Much information was gathered from the archives of Schaffhausen, from the historical works of Franz Meyerhans, and from information obtained by my Swiss cousins Elsbeth Ott, and Wera Schneider.
 

GEORG OTT (FROM ZURICH)

Georg was the son of Georg Ott originally from Zurich and Sibilla Hildbrand and was born in Schaffhausen on Sept. 15, 1588. He married Sibilla Hurter (daughter of Hans Jacob and Anna {Vögelin} Hurter, born May 23, 1588 in Schaffhausen) on September 8, 1608. They lived at a property named "At the Sign of the Head", now called "Unity", which he purchased from Josua Veith’s heirs. He and Sybilla had nine children between 1609 and 1621. Sibilla may have died at childbirth in July, 1621 at age 33, when twins were born. George married a year later to Elisabetha Oschwald, (daughter of Beat William and Anna {Stabinger} Oschwald, born March, 28, 1596) on July 8, 1622. This marriage produced seven more children from 1623 to 1631. In 1627, Georg became guildmaster (Zunftmeister) at age 39. Two years later, he was named an honorary emissary (Ehrengesandter) to Italy and named Obervogt, a senior administrator, similar to mayor, at Merishausen, a town just north of Schaffhausen. In 1632, he was named rural administrator (Landvogt) at Lugano. In 1635, at 47, he was guildmaster for the second time and also master of the armory (Zeugherr). The armory was located at the top of the hill in the Munot which was the town fortification built in 1564 and located in center of Schaffhausen. In 1636, he was named Obervogt or mayor at Neuhausen, the sister city of Schaffhausen by the Rhine falls. In 1638, he was treasurer (Sekelmeister) and Obervogt at Thaingen, now Thayngen, a town just north-west of Schaffhausen. On July 1, 1639; he married for the third time to Sabina Oschwald (daughter of Hans Georg and Margaretha {Im Thurn} Oschwald, born April 28, 1615 in Schaffhausen). Sabina was a distant cousin of Elizabetha. Whether Elizabetha died or not is not known. Sabina and Georg had one son, Hans Wilhelm. Shortly after his birth, Georg died on Sept. 17, 1641 at age 53. Sabina married twice after Georg’s death to Georg Von Waldkirch and Hartman Hofmeister of Zurich.

Hans Georg was the oldest child of Georg and Sybilla (Hurter) Ott, born Aug. 7, 1609 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He married Margaretha Nieppe (daughter of Hans Nieppe at the Simelring and Elizabeth von Ulm) on Dec. 6, 1630. They had 14 children between 1631 and 1646 and lived in Hans Georg’s father’s house "At the Sign of the Head". His ran a bleaching factory. In 1632, he became a judge in the lower court (Urteilsprecher). In 1639, he was administrator for the monastery (Klosterpfleger) and leased his bleaching works to Hans Ott, son of Issac Ott (no known relation) for six years. In 1641, he was a city court judge (Vogtrichter) and guildmaster in 1652. He was also selected as senior administrator of Schleitheim in 1654. He, like his father, became honorary emissary to Italy in 1656 and treasurer in 1659. In 1660, he became vice mayor or senior judge (Stadthalter) and Obervogt or mayor of Thayngen.

Sometime after 1646, he married a second time to Anna Merzler, widow of Hans Ulrich Hageloch, guildmaster. They had no known children. Whether Margaretha previously died is not known. Hans Georg died on Aug. 6, 1666 at age 55. He bequeathed, to the city a fourth part of his land in the jurisdiction of Hasslach (probably Haslacherhof, 7 km. northwest of Thayngen) and 50 florins to the almshouse (Seelhaus).
 
 
 
 
 

Daughter of Hans Georg and Dorothea (Amman) Ott (named after Hans Georg’s mother), born Aug. 28, 1659 in Schaffhausen. She died young

Hans Georg was the oldest son of Hans Heinrich and Anna Maria (Baumann) Ott, born Sept. 28, 1685 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He married a distant cousin, Dorothea Ott (N7A)(daughter of Hans Ulrich and Margaretha {Hurter} Ott, born Nov. 9, 1688 in Schaffhausen) on March 22, 1708. Hans Georg and Dorothea had 13 children from 1708 to 1729, seven of which died young. They also were located "on the Bleaching Grounds". In 1711, he was a judge in the lower court. He became a judge in the city court in 1728 and guildmaster in 1730. He was Inspector of Seals (Visitator der Siegel) and City Quartermaster in 1734 and city treasurer in 1736. He died on Aug. 22, 1739 at age 54. Dorothea died on June 26, 1759 at age 70.

A2E2A. MARIA MARGARETHA OTT (1)

Oldest child of Hans Georg and Dorothea (Ott) Ott, born Oct. 19, 1708. She died young in 1709. A2E2B. JOHANN HEINRICH OTT (1) Oldest son of Hans Georg and Dorothea (Ott) Ott, born Oct. 6, 1709. He also died young. A2E2C. JOHANN HEINRICH OTT (2) Son of Hans Georg and Dorothea (Ott) Ott, born Mar. 7, 1711. He died young in 1712. A2E2D. JOHANN HEINRICH OTT (3) Oldest surviving child of Hans Georg and Dorothea (Ott) Ott, born Sep. 7, 1712 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He married Anna Margaretha Oschwald on Mar. 16, 1750. Johann Heinrich was on the town council in 1736, a city court judge in 1744 and guildmaster in 1757. They had a daughter, Dorothea (named after his mother) in 1751. Johann Heinrich died on July 7, 1758 at age 45. Anna Margaretha died on July 21, 1800.

Oldest surviving child of Johannes and and second wife Maria Anna (Oschwald) Ott, born May 12, 1751 in Schaffhausen. She had an illegitimate son, Johann Melchior by Leonard Paravicini at age 18 in 1769. He was of a well to do family in Basel, Switzerland. He later married Ursula Fatio in 1778 and was a magistrate there. Dorothea later married Johannes Ritter from Marthalen in Canton Zurich. She died on Nov. 17, 1821 at age 70. A2E2F2A. JOHANN MELCHIOR OTT Only son of Dorothea Ott and Leonard Paravicini, born Sept. 28, 1769 in Schaffhausen. Being illegitimate, he had to reapply for citizenship upon reaching his majority. He married Francisca Seiler (daughter of Johann Georg and Maria Magdalena {Ott} Seiler, born Oct. 28, 1772 in Schaffhausen) on Aug. 14, 1801. He became a merchant in the town and they lived in the house called "at the Sign of the Rainbow". Johann and Francisca had five children between 1802 and 1812. Johann became a district judge (Bezirksrichter). Francisca died on May 28, 1814 at age 41. Johann married for the second time to Regina Ursula Raader of Lindau on March 25, 1816 and had four additional children by her. She died shortly after her fourth child on Dec. 13, 1823. Johann lived on until April 13, 1842 when he died at age 72. A2E2F2A1. GEORG HEINRICH OTT Georg was the oldest child of Johann Melchior and Francisca (Seiler) Ott, born May or June 7, 1802. The archive records show both dates. He was probably born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. His mother died when he was only 12, and he was raised by his step-mother Regina Raader. He married Veronika Entlebucher, born June 27, 1806, also from Schaffhausen, on Oct. 1, 1827. Georg was a major in the military. Although they had only one son who died shortly after birth, they raised his nephew Arnold Albert Ott, the famous doctor and poet, and were largely responsible for his education and development. They lived in the house "of the Rainbow" (Regenbogen) in the old part of Schaffhausen. Veronika died on Nov. 29, 1871 at age 65. In her will, she left most of her estate to her brothers-in-law Arthur, Albert, Albert’s family, and her nephew Hermann Freuler. It consisted of about 10000 sf along with other property, furniture, and jewelry. Georg died on May 7, 1887 in Schaffhausen at age 85. Georg’s estate was divided between his brother Albert, step-sister Maria Hintermeister, and his nephews Arnold, Henry, Arthur, and Georg (living in America). This estate was nearly 50,000sf plus property, furniture,etc.

A2E2F2A1A. JOHANN MELCHIOR OTT

Only child of Georg and Veronika (Entlebucher) Ott, born in Oct.,1828 and died shorly after birth. A2E2F2A2. MARIA ELISABETH OTT Maria was the only daughter of Johann Melchior and Francisca (Seiler) Ott, born June 19, 1806 in Schaffhausen. She died on Feb. 28, 1810 at age 3. A2E2F2A3. ALBERT OTT (1) The first Albert was born Sept. 21, 1807 in Schaffhausen. He also died the winter of 1810 on Jan. 2 at age 2. A2E2F2A4. ALBERT OTT (2) The second Albert was the son of Johann Melchior and Francisca (Seiler) Ott, born March 2, 1811 in Schaffhausen. He was only three when his mother died and was raised by his step-mother Regina Raader. He earned a PhD and was Professor and Headmaster at the College of Schaffhausen. He married Pauline Seiler, born Sep. 26, 1816, on Apr. 27, 1848 in Schaffhausen. They had four children of their own and also raised the nephew of his brother Hermann, Paul Heinrich. Albert inherited a large portion of his brother Georg’s estate in 1887. He died on May 17, 1892 at age 81 in Schaffhausen. Pauline died there on Feb. 12, 1899 at age 82.

A2E2F2A4A. MARIA FRANZISKA (FANNY) OTT

Oldest child of Dr. Albert and Pauline (Seiler) Ott, born on Feb. 15, 1849 in Schaffhausen. She was left the diamond broach of her Aunt Veronika Ott, wife of Georg Ott in 1888. She died unmarried in Schaffhausen on June 30, 1933 at age 84. A2E2F2A4B. THEODOR HEINRICH OTT Oldest son of Dr. Albert and Pauline (Seiler) Ott, born on Jan. 20, 1851 in the house "Regenbogen" in Schaffhausen. He was a businessman in Manilla. He died there on Mar. 26, 1886 at age 35. He was unmarried. A2E2F2A4C. CONRAD ALBERT OTT Second son of Dr. Albert and Pauline (Seiler) Ott, born on Apr. 7, 1852 at "Regenbogen" in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He was a machine engineer in Milan. He died in Schaffhausen unmarried on May 7, 1926 at age 74. A2E2F2A4D. EMILIE PAULINE OTT Youngest child of Dr. Albert and Pauline (Seiler) Ott, born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland on Sep. 8, 1855. She died in Schaffhausen on Jan. 26, 1947 at age 91. A2E2F2A5. HERMANN OTT Hermann was the youngest son of Johann Melchior and Francisca (Seiler) Ott, born Sept. 18, 1812 in Schaffhausen. He was a very lively child and when growing up he could no longer be mastered. After the death of his stepmother Ursula Raeder in 1823, he was sent to the orphanage at Schaffhausen. There the methods of education were very severe and this embittered him completely against his family. The intelligent but unsettled youth was apprenticed to become a lathe operator and established himself at Vevey at the end of the 1830’s. He married Louise Elise Tissot (daughter of Jean David Louis and Marian {Marie} {Marguerat} Tissot) in August, 1839. She was born Feb. 27, 1813 in Vevey in Vaud Canton, Switzerland and was christened on June 10, 1813). The Tissot family came from the Chardonnay-Montaubain region of Vaud. One distant ancestor was commander of the Vaudians and fell in the battle of St. Jacob on the Birs. Hermann and Louise had five children between 1840 and 1850. The biography of his son Arnold tells the following about the family. They lived in Vevey until 1847, then moved to Le Locle where he was well known for the manufacture of billiard balls. Louise opened a milliner shop there. The talkative, agile man with his lively black piercing eyes was a popular companion full of jokes and ideas who knew above all to pun and to be satirical. The frequent visits to the pub took a bad effect on his business and his family life. The couple was often separated, but were never divorced. Two of the children, Arnold and Paul Heinrich were sent to Hermann’s older brother’s (George and Albert) to be raised. The other two surviving brothers, George and Arthur, were sent to the orphanage at Schaffhausen where a monthly amount was paid for their education. Two other brothers, George and Alphonse Albert Louis were sent to the orphanage at Schaffhausen in May, 1853 at ages 9 and 8 where a monthly amount was paid for their education. Alphons died at age 12 in 1857. It is not certain when, or if, their younger brother, Arthur, was sent to the orphanage. Hermann died on April 7, 1874 at age 61. Louise died on April 6, 1882 at 69.

A2E2F2A5A. ARNOLD ALBERT OTT

Arnold Albert Ott was the eldest son of Hermann and Louise (Tissot) Ott, born Dec. 5, 1840 in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. In 1847, the family moves to Le Locle, Switzerland where his mother opens a shop as a milliner. Arnold at age 7 is sent to live with his Uncle Georg Henrich (who was a major in the military) in Schaffhuasen and lived in the house "zum Regenbogen" (the Rainbow). Later in 1853, his brothers, Georg, Alphons, and Albert were admitted to the orphanage in Schaffhausen. His brother Paul Heinrich was sent to live with another Uncle, Albert, who was a college professor. In 1856, at age 16, he studied architecture and then chemistry in Stuttgart. He enrolled in medicine at the University of Tübingen in 1860 and finishes his studies in chemistry in Zürich. In 1862, he enrolls in medicine at the University of Zürich, specializing in opthamology. In 1867, he graduates as Doctor of Medicine and is licenced as a physician, surgeon, and obstetrician in Schaffhausen Canton; and sets up a practice in Neuhausen. On May 31, 1869, Arnold marries Anna Maria Sporli, daughter of Conrad and Regula (Küng) Sporli of Neuhausen (born Feb. 10, 1850) in the Reformed Church in Neuhausen. In 1870-71, he spends time in the German-French war as a doctor and is at the Swiss-French frontier. In 1872-73, he goes to Paris and Vienna for further training as an oculist and ear specialist. In 1875, he serves as drama critic for a Schaffhausen newspaper. In 1876, he moves his family and practice to Lucerne, Switzerland. and serves on the town council from 1879 to 1883. About this time, he begins to write poems about Napoleon and Richard Wagner. In 1887-88, he writes his first dramatic works, "Konradin" and "Agnes Bernauer" and sends it to the Duke of Saxon-Meiningen and his wife, Baroness of Heldburg whom he later visits. The Duke is favorable impressed and "Agnes Bernauer" is performed in 1889 in Meiningen and is successful. Through 1904, Arnold writes many other dramas and becomes very well known throughout Switzerland. He breaks a leg at his residence in Lucerne and suffers from complications. He received allowances form Meinigen and the Schiller Institute for the rest of his life and his works are continually performed. He died on September 30, 1910 at age 70 and is buried in an honorary plot in Luzern, kept up by the city. A bust of him was placed in Lucerne on the lake front. His wife, Anna Maria, died on Dec. 16, 1925 at age 75 in Luzern. Arnold and Anna Maria had six children. Arnold is the most celebrated Ott in Switzerland and one of the most famous Ott’s in the world.

Virginie was the oldest daughter of Joseph and Virginie (Ott) Widmer, born March 31, 1904 in Luzern. She married Gustav Merz, son of Albert and Clara (Wildi) Merz of Reinach, in Sept. 1934. Gustav was born in Reinach on Jan. 16, 1904. Gustav was a well known goldsmith in Zurich and collected antiques. He died of a heart attack on March 11, 1974 at age 70. She died after a fall on August 11, 1992 in Zurich at age 88.

A2E2F2A5A1A1B. BEAT HUMBEL - born Nov. 11, 1958

A2E2F2A5A1A1C. FELIX HUMBEL - born Nov. 6, 1961

A2E2F2A5A1A1D. ADRIAN HUMBEL - born Oct. 6, 1964

A2E2F2A5A1A1E. OLIVER HUMBEL - born Oct. 6, 1965

A2E2F2A5A1A2. ALICE CLARA MERZ

Born Nov. 29, 1977

A2E2F2A5A1A3B. JULIA STEINBACH

Born Apr. 22, 1980

A2E2F2A5A1B. JOHANNA EMMA WIDMER

A2E2F2A5A2. GEORG ALBERT OTT

Henry called Riquet was the youngest son of Paul and Marie (Deschere) Ott, born Nov. 1, 1925 in Le Lude, France. He was forced to work in a German munition factory in France during the war. He returned to Schaffhausen, Switzerland after the war to serve his military duty as he was still a Swiss citizen and remained in Schaffhausen. He worked for George Fisher Lmt. in the shot blast division. He negotiated contracts in the sales department. He retired in 1991 and still resides in Schaffhausen. He is unmarried.

Georg Heinrich or as he was later called George Henry was the second son of Hermann and Louise (Tissot) Ott, born March 27, 1844 in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland according to Schaffhausen, Switzerland city records. Later New York documents have his birth sometime between Dec., 1842 and Feb. 1843. George moved with his family from Vevey to Le Locle in 1847 and later to Neuhausen. After his mother and father separated, he and his four brothers were separated; with brothers, Arnold and Paul being raised by his father’s brothers; and he, his brother Arthur, and his brother Alphons, who died young in 1857 were sent to the orphanage in Schaffhausen in May 1853, where a small monthly allowance was paid for their education. George was 9 year old at the time. Sometime around 1860, he left the orphanage and went to New York in America. He lived in Astoria, Long Island City, New York. He enlisted in the Union Army in Sept. 1864 and was a private in the 7th New York Infantry Volunteers. He indicated that he was a confectioner at his enlistment. He served about a year and participated in the final Petersburg to Appomatix campaign. He received a gunshot wound in the arm during this time. He married Catherine Mary Reed (daughter of Thomas and Mary Reed, born sometime between 1849 and 1855) on Nov. 21, 1869. She was born at sea when her parents came to New York from Ireland. They had five known children and perhaps several others. He became a mason. In 1887, he received a small inheritance upon his Uncle George’s (in Switzerland) death. In a letter to his surviving Uncle Albert, he indicated that he owned his own place and his business was progressing. In the 1890’s, he tried unsuccessfully twice to get a disability pension based on his wounds. On July 20, 1897, at age 53, he died suddenly. He allegedly was killed on the job by an Italian co-worker with a blunt instrument. He was buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery in New York. His wife and family was left without means. The family story is that the children were divided between Protestant and catholic homes (Catherine being Catholic). The older three children including George were probably on their own by then as he would have been 21. She eventually received a small widow’s pension but died soon after around 1898 around age 46. She is buried at Emmereal Street Cemetery in New York.

A2E2F2A5B2. THOMAS HERMAN OTT

A2E2F2A5B3. MARY E. (MAMIE) OTT

George Henry Jr. was the second oldest surviving son of George Henry Sr. and Catherine (Reed) Ott, born on Dec. 24, 1876 in Astoria, Long Island City, Queens county, New York. George was one of four to eight children. He had an older brother Thomas, an older sister Mary (Mamie), and a younger sister Julia. There may have been an older brother George who died shortly after birth. Other possible younger children were: Joseph, Christina, and Anne. He wrote a letter after his father's death to the U.S. Pension Office to expedite his mothers widow's pension (his father having served in the civil war). Sometime after his mother's death between 1898 and 1899 but before 1903, he left New York and went to Baltimore as a lineman to help convert Baltimore streets from gas to electric lights. Sometime after his arrival, he met Rosie Lee Simonds of Baltimore and they married on August 25, 1903. He was 27 years old and she was 18. Rosie was the daughter of Richard Hiram and Laura Virginia (Robinson) Simonds, born on February 25, 1885 in Baltimore City, Maryland. Rosie was one of as many as 15 children. The family had moved from Laurel in Prince Georges County, Maryland to Baltimore City around 1880. They had at least 10 children between 1904 and 1926. There are family stories of a set of twins who died shortly after birth. George's sister Mamie died in New York in 1911 and George went to New York for the funeral. His family lived on Stockton Street in 1907 and moved to Ridgewood Road by 1920. Shortly afterwards, they moved to Darby St. in the Hampden area of Baltimore. In January, 1928, Mildred died at age two and was buried at St. Mary's Episcopal Church on Roland Avenue in Hampden. At some point, George took a job in the cotton mills in the area. Rosie was very musically inclined and played the piano. She gave piano lessons to make some additional money. Several of her children also played musical instruments. George tried to locate his brother in New York, but was never able to make contact. In June, 1930, William or Bill as he was called died at age 17. After the war broke out, son Walter went into the Army and was killed in an automobile accident during training in April, 1943. George and Rosie ran a grocery store out of their home for some years on Darby Street in Baltimore. George died on March of 1951 or 1953 ? at age 75 and was buried at Lorraine next to sons Bill and Walt. Rosie was much loved by her children and grandchildren. She died on January 6, 1962 after a long illness at age 77 and was also buried at Lorraine.

Died in an accident in the Army and was buried at Loraine Cemetery in Baltimore. A2E2F2A5B4C. RICHARD HENRY OTT SR. Richard Henry (Dick) was the third son of George Henry Ott Jr. of Astoria, Long Island, New York and Rosie Lee (Simonds) Ott of Baltimore, born on September 6, 1907 in Baltimore, Md. Richard was inflicted with a mysterious illness thought to be polio at about five years old and was sent away to a Catholic hospital in Catonsville, Md. for about a year and a half. He however recovered with no aftereffects. The family moved several times while he was a child and finally settled on Darby Street in Hampden. He attended the advanced Robert E. Lee Junior High School and started at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Because of his family situation, he had to leave school to work. He first worked as a copy boy for the Baltimore News. After a year, his father got him a job in the cotton mill. He later worked at the toothbrush factory for about a year and then went to work in a small brush factory for another year before they closed down. He then went back to work in the cotton mill. In 1932, the depression set in and many of the mills moved south. He was offered a job in Alabama but refused to go. He was very active in sports especially amateur baseball and became a very good second baseman. He also played basketball and football and participated in several charity minstrel shows with several neighborhood boy's clubs. He saved coins especially pennies as a hobby. Also around 1932, he met Grace Frock of Woodberry in Baltimore, daughter of Harry and Elsie (Sullivan) Frock. They were married on July 14, 1936 at her parents house.

Grace was the youngest daughter of Harry and Elsie (Sullivan) Frock, born May 15,1916 in Baltimore City, Md. They initially rented in the Pikesville area and then rented across the street from her mother around 1938. Times were tough as the depression was ending and Grace supplemented Dick's income from the mill by running a snowball stand. Dick took a job with an awning and canvas Company as a mechanic where he worked until his retirement around 1970. Grace worked for the Montgomery Wards Company as a clerk for a number of years and around 1953, she went to work for the Maryland Casualty Insurance Company as a clerk until her retirement around 1973.

Grace's other sister Thelma had moved to a farm in Manchester in Carroll County around 1948 but the three sisters and the parents were very close. They and their families would gather together nearly every weekend either at their mothers or at Manchester or Edgemere for a family dinner. Holidays were very special and they had thanksgiving at their parents and celebrated the 4th of July first at Edgemere and later at Manchester. Christmas dinner was spent at her parents after the families had visited each other's house. For family vacations, they would drive to Frederick and board on a dairy farm. Everyone had a grand time but it really looked like they were paying to work on the farm.

Grace was really the head of the family and was very strong willed and intelligent. She took care of the finances and was very frugal; however she saw that they had everything that they wanted such as having one of the first televisions on the street. Dick was very laid back and more then willing to let Grace make the family decisions. They took a vacation each year and when Dick Jr. was about ten years old, they took him with them. Many of these were to Florida or New England. Grace and Dick saved their money and were determined that their son would someday go to college. They sent him to Virginia Tech, a military school in Blacksburg, Virginia in 1961. Shortly after Dick Jr.'s graduation in 1961, Grace was hospitalized and diagnosed as a diabetic and would take insulin for the rest of her life. After Dick Jr. took a job with NASA, Grace and Dick drove with him to Texas, helped him get his apartment in shape and took the train back home. After their son’s marriage, Grace and Dick basically lived for her grandchildren, first Jayne from her daughter-in-law Jane’s first marriage, then Wendy born in 1968, and especially Ricky who was born with Cerebral Palsy in 1970. In 1969, they moved to Owings Mills, Md. near Dick Jr. and his family. They retired not too long after, Dick in 1970 and Grace in 1973. They took the children on vacations with them, kept them on weekends, and joined Dick and Jane on their vacations which were generally to the beach or to Florida. They whole family still celebrated the 4th of July at her sister Thelma's farm. Another tradition was New Year's eve. Grace and Dick for many years spent New Years with their close friends who were all from the Woodberry area. Grace died on 8/29/1980 at age 64 from an infection resulting from her diabetic condition. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore. Dick lived on in Owings Mills, Balto. Co., Md. until 5/12/1993 where he passed away due to heart failure at age 85. He was buried next to Grace in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Only son of Richard and Grace (Frock) Ott, born 17 June 1939 in the Woodberry area of Baltimore. He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic High School there in 1956 and obtained a B.S. in Aero. Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1961. In 1961, he went to work for NASA at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. then to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Tex. from 1962-1963, and then to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. from 1963-1977. He received a M.S. in Space Science and Applied Physics from Catholic University in Wash. D.C. in 1966. He married Jane Elvie Myers (daughter of Murray and Alelaide {Holbrook} Myers, born 2/18/1944 in Woodberry) on 8/20/1966. Jane was previously married to Francis Offutt from 1963-1966 and had one daughter Jayne who was adopted by Dick after their marriage. They lived in Reisterstown, Md. and had daughter Wendy in 1968 and son Richard III in 1970. Dick transferred to NASA HQs in 1977 to work in the Space Shuttle Office. He later was Director of Space Processing for NASA. They moved back to Baltimore City in the Medfield area in 1982 where he retired in March, 1995. Their children are: A2E2F2A5B4C1A. JAYNE GEORGEANNA (OFFUTT) OTT Daughter of Francis and Jane (Myers) Offutt, born 10/10/1963 in Baltimore City, Md. She was adopted by her step-father Richard Ott in 1966. She attended Franklin High School and married Donald Lee Groves Jr.(son of Donald Sr. and Nancy Groves of Baltimore) on 10/10/1984. They have since divorced and Jayne married Michael Shipley from whom she is currently separated. She lives with her parents in Baltimore.

Daughter of Richard Jr. and Jane (Myers-Offutt) Ott, born 7/20/1968 in Reisterstown, Balto. Co., Md. After moving to Balto. City with her parents in 1982, She graduated from Seton High School in 1986 and from Clarion University of Pa. in 1989 with a B.A. in Political Science. She worked a year for Clean Water Action, an environmental group and now in a doctor's office. She married David Brian Eppers (son of David Dawson and Rita {Howard-Eppers} Littleton) on 5/4/1991. He works in the Pepsi Cola laboratory and they live in Reisterstown, Md. They have one child.

Born 1/4/93 in Baltimore, Co., Md.

Son of Richard and Jane (Myers-Offutt) Ott, born 3/13/1970 in Reisterstown, Balto. Co., Md. He was born with Cerebral Palsy and attended Baer School in Baltimore City. He currently lives with his parents.

A2E2F2A5B4D2B. KIRK SPICER

A2E2F2A5B4D2C. SCOTT SPICER

A2E2F2A5B4D2D. KEITH SPICER

A2E2F2A5B4D2E. MARK SPICER

A2E2F2A5B4D2F. ERIC SPICER

A2E2F2A5B4E. ROSALEE OTT

A2E2F2A5B4E2. PATRICIA CATHERINE DAVIDSON

Pat was born on Mar. 17, 1945 in Baltimore. She married Raymond B. Mack, a dentist. They had two daughters and lived in Towson. Pat died of cancer on July 29, 1992 at age 47 and was buried at Oaklawn Cemetery in Baltimore.

A2E2F2A5B4E2B. ELIZABETH OTT MACK

A2E2F2A5B4F. WILLIAM HIRAM OTT

Currently lives on the Md. Eastern Shore.

A2E2F2A5B4G3. MILLIE OTT

Currently lives on the Md. Eastern Shore.

A2E2F2A5B4G4. Daughter OTT

A2E2F2A5B4H. WALTER FRANCIS OTT

Robert was the son of George Henry Ott Jr. of Astoria, Long Island, New York and Rosie Lee (Simonds) Ott of Baltimore, born on Mar. 25, 1923 in Baltimore, Md. He married Louella Rhinedollar on Sep. 1, 1939. Rob served in the Army during World War II against the Germans. Rob worked for many years for the railroad and is currently retired. He also was musically inclined and played the mandelin. They had one daughter and currently live on 3129 Crittendon Place in Baltimore Md.

A2E2F2A5B4I1B. Son

A2E2F2A5B4J. MILDRED LUCILLE OTT

Possibly a daughter of of George Henry Sr. and Catherine (Reed) Ott, born in Astoria, New York. A2E2F2A5C. ALPHONSE ALBERT LOUIS OTT Alphonse was the son of Hermann and Louise (Tissot) Ott, born Feb. 18, 1845 in Switzerland. After his parents were separated, he was placed in the Schaffhausen orphanage in 1853 at age 8 in return for a small amount of board. He died on Sep. 9, 1857 at age 12. A2E2F2A5D. PAUL HEINRICH OTT Paul Heinrich was the son of Hermann and Louise (Tissot) Ott, born July 4, 1848 in Neuhausen in Schaffhausen Canton, Switzerland. He married Anna Keller of Rudlingen on Jan. 7, 1875. She was born July 20, 1854, daughter of Conrad and Barbara (Kung) Keller. He was first an erection engineer at a machine factory in Schaffhausen and later became a bailiff. Anna died on April 17, 1911 at age 56. Paul Heinrich died on May 10, 1929 in Schaffhausen at age 80. They had 7 children:

A2E2F2A5D3. HEINRICH HERMANN OTT

Hermann was the eldest son of Paul Heinrich and Anna (Keller) Ott, born Dec. 28, 1878 in Neuhausen, Switzerland. He married Frieda Lermann from Wurzburg, Bayern on May 14, 1913 in Neuhausen. Frieda was born on Sep. 14, 1882, the daughter of Martin and Frieda (Spiess) Lermann. Herrmann was municipal administrator at Neuhausen. He lived at 2 Schwanenfelsstrasse in Neuhausen for many years. His daughter Elsbeth still lives in the house. Frieda died on Mar. 20, 1947 at age 64. Hermann died at Neuhausen on March 8, 1971 at age 92. They had 2 children, Heinrich and Elsbeth, both still alive (in 2006).

Heinrich was the oldest child of Hermann and Frieda (Lermann) Ott, born April 3, 1914 in Neuhausen, Switzerland. He married Erika Votsch (born Sep. 18, 1924) on April 30, 1946. Their family first lived in Siblingen, then in Dorflingen, Schaffhausen Canton, where he was a clergyman. He retired at Schleitheim. Erika died on Nov. 26, 1995 at age 71. Heinrich and Erika had 3 daughters.

Annegret is the oldest daughter of Heinrich and Erika (Votsch) Ott, born in Schaffhausen on Feb. 7, 1947. She married Kurt Müller, born Feb. 1, 1952. He is an engineer and works for Sulzer Ltd., Dept. of Refrigerationin Winterthur, Canton Zurich. His family were farmers and later specialized in wine cultivation. They have three children and live in Gächlingen, Schaffhausen canton.

                    Son of Annegret and Kurt

A2E2F2A5D3A1B. Susann Elisabeth Müller                   First daughter of Annegret and Kurt Müller-Ott, born Apr 30, 1982

A2E2F2A5D3A1C. Lucia Johanna Müller                        Second daughter of Annegret and Kurt Müller-Ott, born Apr 7, 1984

A2E2F2A5D3A2B. Daughter

A2E2F2A5D3A3. MARIE LOUISE OTT

A2E2F2A5D3A3B. Daughter

A2E2F2A5D3B. ELSBETH OTT

A2E2F2A5D5B1B. Child #2

A2E2F2A5D5B2. ALFRED KNOBEL

A2E2F2A5D5B2B. Child #2

A2E2F2A5D6. BERTHA LOUISE OTT

Werner is the youngest son of Heinrich and Anna (Prag) Ott, born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He married Beatrice Raetz in 1969. They have one daughter, Nicole.