I found these BIOs in History of Lycoming Co, 1892 which can be added to the board since they were in Reading: THE OTTO FAMILY. - The ancestor of the American branch of the Otto family was Dr. Bodo Otto, who was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany. He was a graduate of the University of Gottingen, and a learned and able physician, and immigrated with his family to Philadelphia in 1755, where he soon acquired a high reputation for his literary and medical ability. After residing in Philadelphia for eighteen years, he, in 1773, followed the tide of German emigration up the Schuylkill valley, and located in Reading, where he continued the practice of his profession. About this time the Revolutionary sentiment in the Colonies was gathering force, and Dr. Otto’s influence among his countrymen in opposing British oppression was widely felt. He was chosen a delegate to represent Berks, county in the Provincial Conference which met at Carpenter’s Hall, in Philadelphia, June 18, 1776, and early in the progress of the Revolution he joined the patriot army as surgeon, and served in that cap! acity until the close of the war-brought liberty to the struggling Colonies. During the dark days of Valley Forge, Dr. Otto, assisted by his sons Drs. Bodo, Jr., and John A. Otto, was surgeon in charge of the camp hospital, and while devoting himself to the care of the sick and wounded, he endured all the privations incident to that critical period in the history of Washington’s army. At the close of the Revolution Dr. Otto returned to Reading and resumed his practice, which he continued up to his death, June 13, 1787. He also took a prominent part in the administration of local affairs, and was active in promoting the best interests of the community. He was thrice married, and was the father of one daughter by his first marriage, and three sons and one daughter by his second. His sons, Bodo, Jr., and John A. Otto, took up their father’s profession, and both served as surgeons in the Continental Army. They were born in Hanover, Germany, and came to Philadelphia with their parents, and thence to Reading. Bodo died in 1782, during his service in the Revolution, leaving, three children, one of whom, John C. Otto, was a prominent physician of Philadelphia for many years. John A. returned to Reading, after the war closed, where he continued in active practice as one of the leading physicians of his time and locality up to his death, in December, 1834. He was one of the court of justices under the State Constitution of 1776, and was appointed prothonotary of Berks county in 1790. He married Catharine Hitner of Marble Hall, Montgomery county, and reared two sons and five daughters. His youngest son, Dr. John B. Otto, was a native of Reading, and a graduate of Princeton College and the Medical University of Pennsylvania. At the time of his death, August 2, 1858, he was the oldest physician in Reading, where for half a century he enjoyed a large and varied professional experience. He served for a short time in the war of 1812, and was with the army at York when General Ross was marching on Baltimore. Dr. Otto was married in 1810 to Esther G., daughter of Judge William Whitman. Three sons and three daughters were the fruits of this union. Mrs. Otto survived her husband twenty-two years, and died July 10, 1880. Both were life-long residents of Reading, and prominent in the social and material development of that city. HON. JOHN AUGUSTUS OTTO was for thirty years one of the well known and most highly respected and successful business men of Williamsport. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1814, and was the oldest son of Dr. John B. and Esther G. Otto. He was educated in his native town, and remained at home with his father assisting him in his office and in attending to his large real -estate interests. He took a practical course of surveying through Berks and Schuylkill counties, and subsequently spent three years learning the iron business, as clerk with the leading iron manufacturers of Berks and Dauphin counties. He next engaged in exploring his father’s unseated lands in the counties of Schuylkill, Carbon, and Clearfield. He opened the coal veins and made some improvements on what are called the Otto mines in Schuylkill county. In 1835 his father purchased the Mahanoy Iron Works in the latter county, and the following year our subject commenced operations. He was marri! ed, November 23, 1840, to Caroline F. Mohr, of Mohrs-ville, Berks county. In connection with the iron business he was occupied with farming, lumbering, milling, merchandising, etc. He also filled the office of justice of the peace, and in 1849 he was, elected to the legislature and served on the committee of domestic manufactures. In 1859 he removed to Williamsport and embarked in the lumber business, which he prosecuted very successfully for many years. In 1870 he purchased the property known as the Blue Mill," on Third and Grier streets, and carried on a planing mill, to which he added a sash, door, and blind department, and furnished employment to a large number of workmen. At this time he associated with him his two oldest sons, Dr. Luther M. and H. How-ard Otto, and the firm became John A. Otto & Sons. John M. and Frank 11. Were subsequently taken into the business. The mill was struck by lightning and burned, September 1, 1881, but they immediately commenced rebuildin! g a more substantial brick structure, which now forms a part o! f the ex tensive furniture plant of John A. Otto’s Sons. On its completion Mr. Otto retired from active business, though-still looking after the welfare of his children. He died, October 1, 1889; his widow occupies the old homestead. on Fourth street. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living and residents of Williamsport, as follows: Mrs. William F. Thompson; Mrs. William Gibson; Luther M.; H. Howard; Mrs. J. H. B. Reese; John M., and Frank R. The deceased are: Anna, Emma, and Augusta, all of whom died in infancy. The following just tribute to Mr. Otto’s character appeared in one of the city papers at the time of his death: "Mr. Otto was a thorough gentleman, of easy and unassuming manners, and no citizen of Williamsport is more respected than was be, while there are comparatively few em-ployers held in the esteem which has always been accorded him by his men. As a citizen he was broad-minded and highly regarded in the business and social world. He was a member! of St. Paul’s Lutheran church, and to his liberality that prosper-ous congregation is probably more indebted than to any other man." DR. LUTHER M. OTTO was born in Taylorsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1846, and is, the eldest son of John A. Otto. He received his education in the public schools and at Dickinson Seminary. He served with the Emergency Men during Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania, although under age. After completing his education he studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Lyon of Williamsport, and graduated from the Medical University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Otto followed his profession in this city for several years, until he became a member of the firm of John A. Otto & Sons, when he gave up his practice and has since devoted his attention to the varied interests of his business. He was the leading spirit in the organization of the Otto Chemical Company, and has been president of that institution, and he also originated the American Furniture Exposition of New York City, an enterprise which has proven highly beneficial to the furniture manufacturers of the United States. Dr. O! tto married Eleanor, daughter of Lindsey Mahaffey, and is the father of five children: Howard H., deceased; Florence; Luther; Delos, and Alice E. H. HOWARD OTTO was born in Taylorsville, Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, February 2, 1848, and is the second son of John A. Otto. He received a public school education, and learned the printer’s trade. When Lee invaded the State he went out as a drummer boy with Colonel Trout’s Emergency Men, and was the youngest boy to enlist from Lycoming county. In 1864 he graduated from Eastman’s National Business College. Poughkeepsie, New York. At the age of seventeen he entered the lumber business, and subsequently became a member of the firm of John A. Otto & Sons, with which he has since been connected. Mr. Otto was one of the founders of the Y. M. C. A. of Williamsport, and has since been closely identified with that organization, and for a number of years its president. For the past seventeen years he has been a member of the State executive committee, and has been prominent in Y. M. C. A. work in this section of Pennsylvania. He also organized the Woman’s Christian Association! , and was instrumental in obtaining the aid of John Wanamaker to the erection of the Home of the Friendless in this city. Mr. Otto is one of the organizers of St. Paul’s Lutheran church and Sunday school, and in 1874 he organized a Sunday school in the lumber office of the Otto factory, which is known as St. John’s Lutheran Sunday school. He was also one of the founders of the City Mission. He married Mary E., only daughter of the late Col. Phaon Jarrett of Lock Haven, and has two children: Eugene Jarrett, and Caroline M. JOHN M. AND FRANK R. OTTO are the junior members of John A. Otto’s Sons. The former was born in Taylorsville, Schuylkill county, December 14, 1858, and the latter in Williamsport, February 2, 1861. John M. was educated in the public schools of Williamsport and at Dickinson Seminary, and afterwards attended school at Kingston, Pennsylvania, and Cheshire and Waterbury, Connecticut. He is a member of the firm of John A. Otto’s Sons. Frank R. received his education in the Williamsport public schools, and at Norristown, Pennsylvania, and Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Massachusetts. He read law with William H. Armstrong of Williamsport, and was admitted to the Lycoming county bar. He became a member of the firm of John A. Otto’s Sons in 1882 and has since devoted his attention to that business. Diana in AL audianaq@msn.com gerifelker@webtv.net had written on Sun, 2 Mar 2008 Subject: [PABERKS] odds and ends phila. co 1766, sept 18, podo (bodo) otto, (physician) to maria margaretha paris (L) ships lists otto (otte) jamaica galley, feb. 7, 1739 includes, hendrich otte, age 21 ship-neptune, oct. 7, 1755 includes- a-list, potto otta-b-list bodo otto-c-list bodo otto