Representative Otis Whittemore View All Years
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Otis Whittemore
Jones County
Born in Fitzwilliam, Cheshire County, N.H., March 5, 1816. He was the youngest child of William Snow Whittemore and Molly (Locke) Whittemore, the daughter of William Locke, of Fitzwilliam, Cheshire Co., N. H. During his entire minority, Mr. Whittemore lived with his father upon the home farm, but, in the meantime, he obtained a practical education in the excellent public schools of his native town. He was married, August 31, 1841, to Miss Harriet M. Eaton, of Fitzwilliam, Cheshire County, N.H. In 1843, the westward tide of emigration brought many sturdy pioneers beyond the Mississippi, and landed them in the beautiful Iowa country, which now contains the homes and marts of an intelligent, enterprising and freedom-loving commonwealth. In that year, he, with his worthy wife, began Western life at Bowen’s Prairie, Jones County, Iowa. His small “claim” was afterward increased to fully two hundred choice acres, whereon he erected a substantial farmhouse. Mr. Whittemore built the first frame house in the settlement, and afterward erected the first frame schoolhouse in the county that was built by taxation and was actively instrumental in the erection of a church within a few rods of his dwelling. In 1844, next year after his arrival, he, with others, built a church at Cascade, where he continued his membership until the church at Bowen’s Prairie was built. In common with other beginners, his first efforts at farming were in the line of grain-raising, but soon changed to the more profitable one of stock-raising, in which he took a commendable pride. For fifteen years, he was in demand as a carpenter; his trade and his farm combined to tax his energy and industry. In 1854, he platted the town of Bowen’s Prairie, and duly recorded the same in the Clerk’s Office. About this date, he engaged in merchandising, and continued therein for five years. From the organization of the first temperance society in Jones County, at Bowen’s Prairie, in 1844, to the present time, Mr. Whittemore has been an active, consistent temperance man. He was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives during the years 1862 and 1863, and to his earnest and skillful opposition we are largely indebted for the defeat of the huge petition for the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law. From early manhood, he has been a firm opponent of American slavery. His time, his money, his voice and his votes have always been in the interest of freedom and loyalty, benevolence and humanity; whether in private life or in official station, he was always the liberal friend of the soldiers. His fellow-citizens accord him the honor of perfect integrity and faithfulness in all positions of trust. His high sense of duty and love of justice render him reliable both in the commonalities of life and in the greatest emergencies. The Whittemores have had no children of their own, but have adopted several, who have now attained their majority and are well settled in life. He is a friend of education, public-spirited, willing to suffer for the general welfare. He was a Republican to the core. For many years, he was actively identified with the Congregational Church and Sabbath school, but is not a member of any secret organization. He is a liberal patron of several societies designed to promote the moral and religious elevation of the race.
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